G'Day Fella's,
I have never been really happy with the factory side steps/running boards on my 1990 vintage, Toyota BJ73, MWB.
The gap between the inside edge of these steps and the sill/body of the vehicle seems to trap small rocks and these grind thru the paint if not removed.
So a few weeks back, I purchased some steel RHS and Channel, and got to it.
I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted as a final outcome, so it was just a matter of making ideas into hard copies.
I was only interested in mounting the new side steps, to the same anchor points of the factory side steps.
So I unbolted these factory brackets measured them up and then cut up and fabricated their replacements.
I then mounted them in place, disconnected the batteries and tack welded the 75x25mm RHS to these new brackets.
I then pulled this back off, and welded the brackets to the step/RHS.
I then repeated this again on the left side of the vehicle.
As you can see, I have a bit more clearance, and getting small rocks stuck in the gap, shouldn't be an issue......
The end product worked out just as I had hoped for, and I'm pretty happy with them.
I have left the ends of the steps open, until I have a better feeling of how far forward and rearward I want them to extend.
So until I get them powder coated, I will leave them as they are, and then make any final cuts and blank them off then
I will also cut (to the as yet, unknown OAL) and fold up some Aluminium checker plate, and attach this, to the top of the new steps, once their back from the powder coaters.
Hope that helps
Merry Christmas
Homer