Before I got my SR5 I couldn't find very many clear pics of the base stock steps nor the trd cast aluminum. Well now I got an sr5 with the basic steps and got a set of the cast aluminum from a 3rd party, and took a few pics of them while swapping.
Effortless swap. Both models bolt to the same place on the body not the frame. (a question I couldn't answer before actually buying them)
Inconsquencial quirks:
The stock ones have an install/remove convenience feature, a single bolt hole in the middle has a slot and a big hole bigger than the head of the bolt. So you can remove 5 bolts and leave that single one in but loose, and have both hands free to slide the step off.
The cast aluminum have no slide-off hole like that. They have one hole in the center that is round and all the rest are slotted, so you tighten that one in the center first. But no hanger/helper like the stock one has.
The cast aluminum are significantly heavier. 9.4 vs 17 lb each. So they add 15.2 lbs to the vehicle.
The cast steps are about 1 inch narrower and 3/4 inch higher.
The stock steps thin plastic looks like it must surely break on cold days in winter if it takes a hit, especially after a few years.
I like the slots in the cast steps so the step can't collect junk.
I don't actually dislike the looks of the stock steps that much, if you ignore the construction. Not like how I really hated the nerf bars on 3rd gen.
Effortless swap. Both models bolt to the same place on the body not the frame. (a question I couldn't answer before actually buying them)
Inconsquencial quirks:
The stock ones have an install/remove convenience feature, a single bolt hole in the middle has a slot and a big hole bigger than the head of the bolt. So you can remove 5 bolts and leave that single one in but loose, and have both hands free to slide the step off.
The cast aluminum have no slide-off hole like that. They have one hole in the center that is round and all the rest are slotted, so you tighten that one in the center first. But no hanger/helper like the stock one has.
The cast aluminum are significantly heavier. 9.4 vs 17 lb each. So they add 15.2 lbs to the vehicle.
The cast steps are about 1 inch narrower and 3/4 inch higher.
The stock steps thin plastic looks like it must surely break on cold days in winter if it takes a hit, especially after a few years.
I like the slots in the cast steps so the step can't collect junk.
I don't actually dislike the looks of the stock steps that much, if you ignore the construction. Not like how I really hated the nerf bars on 3rd gen.
