Surfrider77
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- May 17, 2013
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I would imagine the rest of the truck (minus side steps) is 100% the same as previous years.
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Here are a few photos of the brackets from when I installed side steps on my 2011 LR4. They bolt to existing threaded holes and the steps don't reduce ground clearance. I installed them so my wife could get in and out easier but didn't realize how much I liked them until I had a loaner that didn't have them.
Since this topic has popped up again as new MY15 owners are joining the ranks I thought I would offer a couple thoughts.
First, my dealer service rep (pretty reliable and well connected LR guy) said that the safety issue is not only protecting the people in the vehicle but (and maybe more importantly) when a lower slung vehicle hits the LR4 in a side impact, the LR4 is more likely to ride up on the smaller/lower car which then goes underneath it increasing the risk to the people in the smaller/lower car. The existence of a solid "bar" lower to the ground and not angled inwards helps prevent this from happening. I can see how that would make sense given the higher clearance and body shape of the LR4. But I tend to be a bit old school and wonder when the obsession with safety (not all bad) will go too far. Combine that with the obsession of MPG and maybe we should just all stay home and travel no further than we can walk.
I suspect the reason for all of the "do not remove" wording is that it clears Land Rover of any liability should you have a side impact accident where some protection like that would have made a difference. I suspect a lot of what drives the safety-oriented design changes and restrictions (i.e. not being able to use the Nav screen while moving which will be true in future models as it is in many other current vehicle models) is in part to avoid law suits and safety recalls.
BTW, I know some of you will be disappointed that I am not going to go with hefty, rock sliders. But I was given a great deal on some black side protection tubes. I'll show pics once I get them installed.
I use the Voyager LR4 slider with steps and couldn't be happier. I think the stock LR step looks terrible and flimsy as hell. I can't fathom how they argue it adds safety. The Voyager ones weigh about 80lb a piece!
Here's some pics of the Voyager sliders (not mine):
My dealer gave the same explanation - it is for the vehicle hitting the side and that it will not go under.
Again, I do not mind having steps, but is there a set of nerf bars, rock sliders, etc. that will look better but still add the safety of the steps?