If the goal is to take your truck off-road, you’re very likely going to need protection. After 15+ years of building and off-roading different Toyotas, I’ve learned what works and what’s priority when you start a new build. A fully armored truck (among other mods) is the goal, especially if you really want to push it in the rocks. But very few of us are going out there and spending $10k on all the armor on day one.
So… what are the best pieces of armor to start with? I recommend rock sliders and skid plates. They are hit the most often, and provide a barrier to crucial parts like your engine, transmission, and body panels. I know this to be especially true with the new 4th Gen Tacomas. Now, they built a great truck and I really enjoy mine, but compared to the 2nd & 3rd Gens, they have weak area. Ground clearance.
The more technical terrain you hit, the more you start to value and understand that every inch matters. The new gens have bigger (taller) cabs and a flatter belly. But this comes at a cost. You lose several inches of ground clearance in two areas that will see the most action. That said, one of my first priorities was to protect the rock panels and doors.
I’ve run Cali Raised products for years, and they’ve always done well. On my 3G, I had their Step Edition sliders. 0 degree, top plate, kickout. But with the loss in ground clearance, I knew I had to fight for every inch. So I decided to run the angled Trail Edition version. Less suited as a step, but it had the best and most tucked design.
Table Of Contents
YouTube Video
Features & Specs
- made in America, from American steel (1.75″ x .120 DOM tubing)
- comes with all required Grade 8 hardware
- available kickout (no extra charge!)
- comes in raw finish, or powder coated black (fair cost to upgrade)
- options for short and long bed, and compatible with gas and hybrid models
- 100% bolt on installation (plenty of install resources)
- low lead times
- 25 degree angled design
- ~100 lbs. for full set
- free shipping
Trail Edition Vs. Step Edition
The above image is from my old 3rd Gen, for reference. These are the Step Edition.
As you can see, they are much more flat. The mount the same, but stick out a lot farther from the truck. The top plates are bolted to the slider, and can be installed with the dimples facing up (more traction) or down (cleaner profile). This setup was great for pivoting around big obstacles like rocks and tree stumps. And the flat step portion made it super easy to access the roof. If you have kids, carry passengers, dogs, or want your steel to push your truck as far away from things as possible, this is it.
In all the other shots in this post, you’ll see my current Trail Edition set. Compared to the Step, they are way more low profile. They hug the rocker panel and body really tightly. If you can live without a step, and a sleek piece of armor is the goal, this is the one to get. Which is exactly what I did this time, given the clearance issues on these new gens.
Installation Experience
In the YouTube video I linked above, I go through a quick overview of the install process.
Cali Raised also has great video guides. You can check them out below.
I’ve installed a lot of rock sliders over the years. In general, most of them of pretty simple to mount. The biggest help will be having an extra set of hands to lift them onto the frame. You can try to bench press them or use a jack, but it’s obviously more tricky. I didn’t run into any issues with these and they went on pretty quickly.
Daily Use & Practicality
Since many of us still use our truck as daily drivers, you have to think about how certain mods impact the practical use of your truck.
Since these are not immediately designed for use as a step, there really isn’t much surface area to place your feet on. I can still get the front of my feet on for a quick boost to the roof, but its tight. Its easier to stand on the back compared to the front. I don’t have a roof rack now, so not the end of the world. Even if I did, I prefer the clearance to the functional step with this build.
When you have sliders, you should note that you’ll need to be more careful getting in and out of the truck when it’s dirty. The protruding slider often rubs up against your legs. So if you have a big interview and a dirty truck, you just have to be more careful.
Paint chips have been a mild issue on these new trucks. While not providing as much coverage as the step version, I can tell you the rocks thrown by my tires hit the slider much more frequently than the actual body panels.
As for any noise or rattles, I haven’t had any issues. They have a ton of hardware holding them on and they’ve been rock solid.
On a final point, while these do weigh 100 lbs., it’s similar to have a larger child in the truck. You don’t really notice any performance changes from the sliders alone.
Off-Road Performance
Naturally, and obviously, we buy rock sliders for the trail. So how has this setup held up off-road?
As I’ve progressed through the hobby, I’ve pushed my truck through tougher and tougher terrains. On our trip out to Colorado this year, we hit 3 fairly difficult and rocky trails. I would rate them from 6-9 out of 10. These were narrow and technical trails, and hitting the undercarriage was guaranteed.
As you can see in the above photo, there were some pretty sizable boulders. This particular one was big enough that I got stuck, with the full weight of the truck dragging across the rock slider. I ended up having to have my buddy winch me out of this one.
My skids and sliders took a beating. More than anything else. The entire bottom of the sliders are missing paint, with a few deeper gouges. But even after all of that, they’re still super stout and they did their job. A quick sand and a coat of paint, we should be good as new.
Much like my other set, these have worked great and protected my Tacoma from costly repairs while giving me more confidence to send it through a rock garden.
Long Term Expectations
Cali Raised makes good stuff. Me and the homies ran their 3G products for 2+ years. They never had any real issues or areas of concern.
The materials and construction are great, and their customer support is amazing. The powder coat is also really good. Even after several years in the salt-ridden Midwest winters, with routine washing, the coatings never failed.
These rock sliders are so beefy that they’d last for a few hundred years if you threw them in a field without any paint. A dramatic example, but they are well made. Don’t expect to run into any problems long term. Keep your truck clean and fix and scrapes in the powder coat to prevent rust. That’s it!
Final Thoughts
Cali Raised does a really good job with their armor lines. They’re among the most complete and they offer a ton of options and configurations. The lead times are low, shipping is fast and free, installation instructions are dialed, prices are fair, good American materials are used… the list goes on.
If you’re thinking about buying some sliders. I highly recommend you check these out. Let me know if you have any questions.
