Side-Step Removal?

[broughton]

Hi, I recently bought my second Rav4, an NRG model, and I'm not sure I'm sold on the side-steps fitted - they look a bit unnecessary and, for me, spoil the shape a bit. Is there any reason why I shouldn't remove them ? There might be some value or purpose I'm not seeing. Is it hard to get them off? I'd welcome any comments.

Kevin

[firemac]

I must admit that I like the sidesteps and have them on both of ours; they add a certain chunkiness to the profile.

Re usefulness, I originally fitted them because we were doing quite a bit of driving to stables, etc on unmade roads and the sidesteps were brilliant for keeping all the excrement off the bodywork. They still do now although it's only run-of-the-mill road grit etc and not horse excrement. They do help prevent stone chipping etc.

[Big Kev]

I must admit that I like the sidesteps and have them on both of ours; they add a certain chunkiness to the profile.

Re usefulness, I originally fitted them because we were doing quite a bit of driving to stables, etc on unmade roads and the sidesteps were brilliant for keeping all the excrement off the bodywork. They still do now although it's only run-of-the-mill road grit etc and not horse excrement. They do help prevent stone chipping etc.

Concur totally with Firemac, Kevin......somebody did what you are talking about, didn't like the look without them, and remarked that the amount OF DOOR DIRT INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. They are like full length mud flaps IMHO. Do a wee search.

Big Urra Kev

[Hoovie]

I think the people who HAVE removed them decided to put them back on again later ;)

[broughton]

I think I'm getting the idea! Thanks for all the friendly info. Also, someone a bit smaller than me has just mentiond that she uses the step to climb in! I never noticed - I just open the door and sit down. I've got another question - on buying the car I somehow failed to notice that someone seems to have tried to break in at some point in the past, and the black trim - it's an odd thing that goes from a flat black film to a channelled rubber edge - around the driver side window has been rucked up and deformed, and I'm wondering what the answer to that might be. But it would probably be better to take a pic and post that. Thanks again for the answers. Kevin

[Guest]

You are just coming to the time that the side steps earn their keep when the roads get patched with fresh tarmc and they lay fresh line paint down.

Spend the next few days using a release spray on the bolts, then when they have sheared and you have drilled them out and removed the steps don't forget to get some stainless steel bolts for when you reinstall the steps as you are fed up with removing tar, paint and mud off the side of the car.

Or learn to love them and leave them on along with front and rear mudflaps :)

Gus

[firemac]

I think I'm getting the idea! Thanks for all the friendly info. Also, someone a bit smaller than me has just mentiond that she uses the step to climb in! I never noticed - I just open the door and sit down. I've got another question - on buying the car I somehow failed to notice that someone seems to have tried to break in at some point in the past, and the black trim - it's an odd thing that goes from a flat black film to a channelled rubber edge - around the driver side window has been rucked up and deformed, and I'm wondering what the answer to that might be. But it would probably be better to take a pic and post that. Thanks again for the answers. Kevin

If your talking about the window rubber immediately above the door mirror finisher ( for about an inch & a half?) that appears to be a design feature. Both our RAV's have exactly the same feature. I think it is meant to direct rainwater as it comes off the windscreen.

It's on both front door windows of our 5-dr but only on the driver's side of the 3 dr.