I assume the extra damage from keeping them on is because they are not attached to the frame, correct? I guess I will remove them. Just hate to do a little sideways slide without something there. I was thinking until I get sliders they would be like bubble wrap. Slide and the step dents and not the rocker. Next slide the rocker gets it.
Been looking at the WK website. It's only a little more but is the DOM worth it? I'm far more overland than rock crawler. The reason I damaged my steps and hit my skids (rock crawling Coral Canyon) was because I've only had the Xterra trail ready enough less than a year and wanted to see what it's limitations are. I've found that often rocks get between me and where I'm going. So, I need to know when to turn around and when to go for it. I might slide on them a decent amount but rarely will I land hard on them. Pony up the extra $40?
It is both from the attachment to the body "tub" (which can bend the body panels), and also because you essentially lose clearance with them. They won't drag across your obstacles, they'll simply push up into to the body panels of your vehicle and damage the panels. You can come down on a smaller rock right in the middle portion of your step rail, and it will push the entire rail up into the side of the vehicle (potentially damaging your rocker panel, and both the front and rear doors). Without the step in place, you've got a better chance (maybe another inch or two) of clearing the rock in the first place. But even if you don't clear it, it'll only damage the spot it hits.
The example Steve gave about the brush guard is similar. If you hit, let's say a small animal - without a brush guard, it'll damage the part of the car that was hit. With a brush guard, it'll hit the guard and push it back into your grill, your bumper, your hood, and will pull out the bottom part of your radiator support. Small problem now = big problem.
