OEM Rock Rails Install Write-Up DIY, Photos, Review

TacoFreak said:

Nice review @hemlockz. Do those come far enough out from the body to work as steps too?

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hemlockz said:

Toyota makes a decent set of rock sliders that come on the Trailhunter. You can consistently find them online for around $365 each, but shipping is not usually possible. I took a screenshot to my local dealer and got them to price match and was able to pick them up today.

Rock Rails:
PT738-35243 (Right Side - Shortbed)
PT738-35242 (Left Side - Shortbed)
Weight: 56 lbs. each including 11 bolts, and warning card that says not to jack it from the ends of the rails (which are just floating)

Powder coating seems great and the welds and bends and cuts are all perfect. They've doubled up on the steel on the back of the mounting points. This helps strength but also spaces the rest of the bracket face off the frame by a 1/4" so it won't trap as much water against it.

Installing takes about an hour, and totally doable by one person. One of the back bolts is designed so you can thread the bolt to the frame first them hang the rail on it, while you go to the other end and prop it up with your knee while centering and tightening the front bolt.

Takes several turns of the ratchet, especially the higher of the two bolts. I wrapped some vinyl tape on my ratchet handle so I could "bounce" it off the two sides of the bracket without damaging the coating while spinning on the bolts:

I didn't read the TIS, and not actually sure what the torque values should be but will add it if someone knows in the comments!

Anyway, perfect OEM fitment, well-designed, and easy to bolt on. Here are the installed pics:

Click to expand...

massm22 said:

I removed mine from my TRD Pro and installed some steps instead. If anyone is interested in mine, I was looking for $450 for the pair. The were removed less than a week after I bought my truck.

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massm22 said:

I removed mine from my TRD Pro and installed some steps instead. If anyone is interested in mine, I was looking for $450 for the pair. The were removed less than a week after I bought my truck.

Click to expand...

hemlockz said:

Thanks.. I thought I heard those TRD Pro steps are hanging off the body, not bolted to the frame rails like the Trailhunter rock rails? Hard to tell from the pics can you confirm?

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massm22 said:

ll did not install the steps but from the looks of it, my steps that I replaced the rails with are not attached to the frame but it looks like there were bolts attached to the frame. I just looked.

The dealership was closed here but thinking outside of the box, I called up a dealer in Hawaii (6 hours earlier there) and was told they bolt to the body not the frame

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hemlockz said:

Thanks.. I thought I heard those TRD Pro steps are hanging off the body, not bolted to the frame rails like the Trailhunter rock rails? Hard to tell from the pics can you confirm?

Click to expand...

hemlockz said:

Toyota makes a decent set of rock sliders that come on the Trailhunter. You can consistently find them online for around $365 each, but shipping is not usually possible. I took a screenshot to my local dealer and got them to price match and was able to pick them up today.

Rock Rails:
PT738-35243 (Right Side - Shortbed)
PT738-35242 (Left Side - Shortbed)
Weight: 56 lbs. each including 11 bolts, and warning card that says not to jack it from the ends of the rails (which are just floating)

Powder coating seems great and the welds and bends and cuts are all perfect. They've doubled up on the steel on the back of the mounting points. This helps strength but also spaces the rest of the bracket face off the frame by a 1/4" so it won't trap as much water against it.

Installing takes about an hour, and totally doable by one person. One of the back bolts is designed so you can thread the bolt to the frame first them hang the rail on it, while you go to the other end and prop it up with your knee while centering and tightening the front bolt.

Takes several turns of the ratchet, especially the higher of the two bolts. I wrapped some vinyl tape on my ratchet handle so I could "bounce" it off the two sides of the bracket without damaging the coating while spinning on the bolts:

I didn't read the TIS, and not actually sure what the torque values should be but will add it if someone knows in the comments!

Anyway, perfect OEM fitment, well-designed, and easy to bolt on. Here are the installed pics:

Click to expand...

Chewmeista said:

Great write up. I just removed my rock rails and was wondering if before you installed yours, was there anything in the bolt holes in the frame that you needed to remove? Or was it just a threaded hole in the frame? I'm just wondering if i need to plug the holes. Thanks.

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hemlockz said:

No. No plugs were originally in my Offroad. At least some models which don't have threads just holes for the recovery hook points at the back come with a plug, but I think maybe all models come with threads on the side for sliders? Maybe you'd have to look under a few trucks to know, its a possibility.

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