Sills, steps & sliders...

The Unit · Aug 12, 2019

Hi all. Wonder if anyone can help with some beneficial suggestions...
I have conventional 90 sills on my Defender, albeit covered with black chequer-plate, which I'd like to keep on. However, I also want to fit some form of sliders and my wife wants me to put steps on it (so she can get in - not sure about this!). So, question for all you erudite Defender fans is simple - do you know of anyone who supplies combined rock sliders & steps which do not replace the original sills? From what I can figure out, all sliders are fitted instead of sills - is this necessarily true?
Thanks in advance.

zeaphod · Aug 13, 2019

Most of the side step/sliders do not require the existing sill panels to be removed - google is your friend. Many have checkerplate tops to aid using them as steps too.

Blaven · Aug 13, 2019

Here’s a comparison for you. My 110 with rock sliders and steps.

The Unit · Aug 16, 2019

Blaven said:
Here’s a comparison for you. My 110 with rock sliders and steps.View attachment 186687

Thanks for that, but it is exactly what I want to avoid! You have removed the original sills to fit the rock sliders, and the steps probably stop them from working properly anyway. Can you actually use the two jacking points in the sliders with the steps on?
At the end of the day, what people do to their vehicles is their choice, and I totally respect that, but to me this is a victim of fashion over function.

Flossie · Aug 16, 2019

The step in the pic above also acts as a rock slider to some extent, got them on my 110 and they have saved off road damage quite well.

Blaven · Aug 16, 2019

Well, sorry you think that!
The sliders are there for a reason!. They protect the underside.
The side steps are there for a reason! They assist getting in and out.
Yes I can (and have) used the jacking points.
Because you think they are ‘bling’ doesn’t mean everybody else does and we don’t all fit parts to our cars as fashion statements.

lynall · Aug 16, 2019

Blaven said:
Here’s a comparison for you. My 110 with rock sliders and steps.View attachment 186687

That is a nice looking car

Blaven · Aug 16, 2019

lynall said:
That is a nice looking car

Thanks . Everything on and in it is for a purpose

Sofasurfer · Aug 16, 2019

Got sliders on the side of my 90, previous owner put them on. Complete waste of time because the fuel tank is lower! Can't be bothered to take them off.

lynall · Aug 16, 2019

Sofasurfer said:
Got sliders on the side of my 90, previous owner put them on. Complete waste of time because the fuel tank is lower! Can't be bothered to take them off.

Mine are the same, but they are meant to protect the side of the car from trees and not the underneath.

Knappster · Aug 17, 2019

I’ve got a new set of galvanised sliders with bars for my ninety. Just need time to fit them.

I’d imagine they will make it a bit more difficult to get in over my current sills and rusty steps but I’ll take that over careless idiots opening car doors into the Landy. They’ll only hit the tree slider once!

I’ll put some grip tape on the bars but more as a means to stand on to access the roof rack.

At the end of the day, a slider is there to protect the vehicle. Steps are to get in. A compromise of both will only give you some benefits of each but won’t be good at both. I’d decide which is more important. And don’t forget some pics if you do get both.

ogb · Aug 18, 2019

If your sliders are the normal type you can modify the standard LR steps to fit between the tube and the sill. These can be made to be removeable but in that case they tend to ride up after a rugged offroad session and prevent the door from opening. If it's the passenger door, you can go to the pub and leave the co-driver on board to take you home!

dag019 · Aug 19, 2019

You will not get a slider that fit without removing the sills because they mount to the chassis outriggers which are behind the sills. Step will fit without removing the sill however. The steps you can get (like pictured by @Blaven) can work as sliders but will not have the strength and protection of proper sliders, they will offer protection around the supermarket car-park, but against a tree of a rock will just bend the mounting brackets. I have tree sliders fitted so have the box section rock slider and then an external bar as well (see below). Although this bar is the same level as the sill, it does act as a step and makes getting in and out significantly easier than before it was fitted. Just something else to consider and may be worth seeing how she manages to get in/out of one with tree bars fitted, if that is no problem and easier you don't needs steps and slider.

Sills, steps & sliders...

The Unit

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zeaphod

Well-Known Member

Blaven

Active Member

The Unit

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Flossie

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Blaven

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lynall

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Blaven

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Sofasurfer

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lynall

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Knappster

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ogb

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dag019

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