Thread: Show us your Deefers !

Originally Posted by cafe latte

Hi Tact,
I have been after a pic of a Defender with side steps for a couple of weeks as I cant decide if I should go the rock slider or side steps. Sorry for the off topic, PM me if you like, I would love your input on the topic. Basically I dont want to ruin the new leather seats in my new Puma by sliding in and out so I want some sort of step.
Chris

Hey CL, hope this helps. These are my factory side steps. They're good all purpose, make it easy to climb in, but they hang too low for serious off-roading. If I was going for new ones I'd look at Mulgo side steps/rock sliders. They sit right up under the doors and are much more solid.

Originally Posted by protonpills

Exciting for grown men too

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Who came in?

Originally Posted by tact

It's not off topic if I post another pic of my Defender.

Mine had the foldies fitted stock per the previous photo. They got badly hammered on a section of the Sungei Bil (Bil River, Malaysia) trail that is called "The Rock Garden" for good reason. Actually most of the trail is strewn with decent sized boulders. Was doing a lot of rock sliding, without rock sliders! Fortunately (or was it skillful line picking) the only sill damage was some minor dents where the foldies pressed while being destroyed from below.

So I just removed the foldies (see pic) and been running like this for some time now.

My leg length is such that I can just slip my butt onto the seat getting in and out. (This will change by year end when some larger tyres are fitted and the barge will be an inch or so taller)

Wife and son tragically are "vertically challenged" so they have to do some climbing ingress/egress (Wife has ducks disease, son will be tall as me when he has grown, he is only 6yo now).

At some stage I will fit some locally made tubular rock sliders. Their REAL purpose will require them to be robust enough to be used for jacking the car up when grounded. (Not primarily for ingress/egress or sliding over rocks)

Hmm I go off road a lot so maybe rock sliders are the go. I am 6 foot 3 inches so I have no problem getting in I just dont want my new Defender to have a drivers seat like every pic on Gumtree (ie collapsed). Many of the sliders seem narrow and a bit too high to use getting in and out. Risking off topic again any pic of various types of sliders? That would be more Defender pics anyway which we all like
Cheers
Chris

Originally Posted by cafe latte

Hmm I go off road a lot so maybe rock sliders are the go. I am 6 foot 3 inches so I have no problem getting in I just dont want my new Defender to have a drivers seat like every pic on Gumtree (ie collapsed). Many of the sliders seem narrow and a bit too high to use getting in and out. Risking off topic again any pic of various types of sliders? That would be more Defender pics anyway which we all like
Cheers
Chris

That's the thing, Chris. As MrLandy mentions, many of the aftermarket sidesteps are too low for serious off-roading. And good sliders, jacking rails, should be up enough to not limit clearance.

I do a fair bit of serious off-roading too. (Witness: one trail destroying my foldies) After removing the side steps and raising up the rear plough blade (stock tow bar arrangement) - I find the chassis grounds (or transmission brake!) long before I need to worry about protection for the sills.

Yes - day will come when I slip sideways into a tree or Boulder and wish then I had side bars to protect sills. Day will also come when I wish I had side jacking bars too. Will figure something for that some day. Taller tyres come first.

You can get something good as sidesteps, you can get something for rock sliding or jacking. Not sure there is anything that does both without compromise to both functions. (Too high/low...etc)

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Hey CL, hope this helps. These are my factory side steps. They're good all purpose, make it easy to climb in, but they hang too low for serious off-roading. If I was going for new ones I'd look at Mulgo side steps/rock sliders. They sit right up under the doors and are much more solid.

These are JUST THAT STEPS. they offer no protection, and are never marketed as rock sliders, rock sliders are the way to go if you untiles your vehcile for off road use, or if you want a step that offers both functionality and protection then a Landystep would be the way to go.

When I've got the cash, these Mulgo side rails/steps would be my choice.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

When I've got the cash, these Mulgo side rails/steps would be my choice.

if you use a high-lift under those mulgo rails to lift the vehicle - ok or not?

Originally Posted by MrLandy

When I've got the cash, these Mulgo side rails/steps would be my choice.

Definitely go the ones with the checkerplate. I've got them without and they get a bit slippery in the mud or rain or if I spill my latte.