Side step help Side Airbags

[D8Jake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close D8Jake]

Hi PP, firstly love the info from all of you I need your help. I'm after advice on replacing my now bent stock steps.
Had too much fun at Jake'm farm in SA, both sides are bent one side ripped a mount off. I have a 2003 grande with side airbags, which sliders would you advise me to look at, which are compatible & also insurance friendly. I've gone from making them to buying some to I have no idea now? Details are: 2003 Petrol automatic 4 door. Thank you

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Hi PP, firstly love the info from all of you I need your help. I'm after advice on replacing my now bent stock steps.
Had too much fun at Jake'm farm in SA, both sides are bent one side ripped a mount off. I have a 2003 grande with side airbags, which sliders would you advise me to look at, which are compatible & also insurance friendly. I've gone from making them to buying some to I have no idea now? Details are: 2003 Petrol automatic 4 door. Thank you

PM AJ120. He makes them and does a bloody good job. He even fixed my Autocraft ones that never sat properly.

Alternatively I have a set of originals for $100 if you pick them up.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Ditto to what mlc has said. Can't go pas AJ120's sliders. Great bit of kit that's strong and has saved my Prado from damage a number of times. Not to mention the additional clearance they offer. Link Here

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

I'd also love a pair of AJ's but with the side airbags not even he would attest to them being legal.

[D8Jake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close D8Jake]

Thanks for the replies, I'm a big fan of AJs and also have read all his threads, so much info wow! Need to ask him about the side airbag issue. I was going to make some but was scared off after reading about the ECU and motion sensors/ premature deployment etc. re original steps MIDLIFECRISIS I may take up that offer, trying to prefab this weekend if no good, I'll contact you.
Thank you all again, still chasing ARB on some technical details re: side airbag compliance, I will post any info I discover.
Love this site, about to post my rigs mods with info for all--thanks PP

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I'd also love a pair of AJ's but with the side airbags not even he would attest to them being legal.

Not quite sure I would agree with that 100%, they aren't illegal even if you have airbags, but I would say they haven't been tested to be airbag compatible.

There actually is no law or standard around steel side steps and their testing for airbag compatibility. The only real way to test them and to be 100% within the scope of all laws and rules is to have a full side impact crash test done. This testing will set you back around 100 grand assuming you get it right the first time. To my knowledge no one gets that done.

What everyone does, including the big boys is get an engineer to sign off saying they wont affect the airbags based on whatever criteria that particular engineer deems necessary, which doesn't exactly make them any more legal or not than mine, it just means they have a met a standard that has no legal basis.

My understanding on the Prado is that the side airbag sensor is high up in the B pillar, so not likely it would be affected by the side steps, but everyone has to make their own decision as to whether they think they will cause an issue.

Cheers Andrew

[D8Jake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close D8Jake]

Top words AJ, thanks for your input, I value your opinion and knowledge on this, As I do like your engineering and sliders, any chance of a certificate from an engineer on you sliders? Happy to do any homework for you?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Top words AJ, thanks for your input, I value your opinion and knowledge on this, As I do like your engineering and sliders, any chance of a certificate from an engineer on you sliders? Happy to do any homework for you?

Very little chance at this stage. I have had a discussion with an engineer that can "certify" them, he has outlined the test procedure he would go through. Interestingly that procedure has no relevance to the individual vehicle or the placement of the sensors, its just a generic test to satisfy him.

The test would cost me in the vicinity of 4 grand in total, Given how few 120's have side airbags for the 120 alone its not really worth my while. Also my gut feeling is that my current design would be marginal as far as passing, if it doesn't pass its another 4 grand, so I would need to redesign my sliders, change the jig............. its a lot of money that honestly for me at the moment just isn't worth it, if I miss a few sales then so be it, I am still so far out of pocket on my rear bar that I am a bit wary of pouring more money into Prado products at this point.

I wouldn't rule it out in the future as I am looking at some equipment that would go a long way towards being able to easily and cheaply produce a generic slider mount so I could make these for any model car, but that's a long way of in both time and $$ at this stage.

Cheers Andrew

[D8Jake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close D8Jake]

No probs, that's is a hefty investment, fully understand good luck. Thanks for your time.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Not quite sure I would agree with that 100%, they aren't illegal even if you have airbags, but I would say they haven't been tested to be airbag compatible.

There actually is no law or standard around steel side steps and their testing for airbag compatibility. The only real way to test them and to be 100% within the scope of all laws and rules is to have a full side impact crash test done. This testing will set you back around 100 grand assuming you get it right the first time. To my knowledge no one gets that done.

What everyone does, including the big boys is get an engineer to sign off saying they wont affect the airbags based on whatever criteria that particular engineer deems necessary, which doesn't exactly make them any more legal or not than mine, it just means they have a met a standard that has no legal basis.

My understanding on the Prado is that the side airbag sensor is high up in the B pillar, so not likely it would be affected by the side steps, but everyone has to make their own decision as to whether they think they will cause an issue.

Cheers Andrew

Andrew, just going by a comment you made about a year or two ago, can't remember exact words, when someone had put a pair of yours up for sale and I asked if they were ok for a VX. Anyway it put me off buying them, my concern being that your side steps being much more rigid than the plastic oems would interfere with the triggering of the airbags and might compromise any insurance claim. But as you said it's up to the individual to make that call for themselves.

Cheers Jim.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I have side airbags and a set of AJ's sliders fitted. I agonised over the decision for a few years until I spoke with an automotive engineer who has experience in accident assessment. Based on his explanation of how the safety systems work I am comfortable with my decision.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

I have side airbags and a set of AJ's sliders fitted. I agonised over the decision for a few years until I spoke with an automotive engineer who has experience in accident assessment. Based on his explanation of how the safety systems work I am comfortable with my decision.

Fair enough. Might go the same way. I see you have rope on your Warn XP. ARB told me I had to use steel as it'll get too hot for rope.

Cheers Jim.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I see you have rope on your Warn XP. ARB told me I had to use steel as it'll get too hot for rope.

Common comment from the uninformed. The drum on a low mount Warn heats up when the brake is engaged. The brake is engaged only when powering out under load i.e. lowering the vehicle whilst under tension. This is a no no as the winch is not designed as a hoist. Hence don't power out under load, no brake engaged therefore no heat. You can also add a layer of rope protector to the bottom wrap to protect the rope from the drum.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Jim ..D8Jake. From this forum quite a few grande owners now use AJ120 sliders. Went thru x2 plastic sidesteps not trying too hard and thought to myself, stop procrastinating (as even the breakers charge handsomely), so I bought the aftermarket set. If I sell the car I could always put plastic one's on again....it's no biggie and AJ's are easy to install. I try not to worry about too much 'trivial' stuff now (I know it's not.. Insurance etc) as throughout my life I used to over analyse/complicate things making me very stuffy/conservative. I'm not implying you are!! It's my living time now!!

I also thought about changing my steel rope to synthetic rope to save some kgs. Yep, spooling out under load is a no no but your basic recovery of another vehicle is fine. Just could not justify the messing around/money as the winch is hardly used so all left alone atm.

Cheers.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Andrew, just going by a comment you made about a year or two ago, can't remember exact words, when someone had put a pair of yours up for sale and I asked if they were ok for a VX.

That was Quicky who was selling them, I didn't answer you in the thread so cant recall what I said exactly. I imagine I said that they have not been tested to be airbag compliant and I cant guarantee they wont affect the airbag, or words to that effect.

That doesn't make them Illegal, there is no requirement to have them tested and there is no requirement to have a sticker saying they are compatible. As I have said I suspect they would have no affect at all, but I cant give a guarantee, that's all.

The testing and the sticker is really about making the customer feel comfortable and covering your backside if something goes horribly wrong.

Cheers Andrew