2015 side step -- really a side impact safety feature?

[Dubroz]

So I got my new 2015 yesterday, the first thing I did was remove the sidestep.

The metal bar that supports the steps goes the whole length of the door curtain. The bar flange says 'SAFTEY ITEM DO NOT REMOVE'. When you remove it ... behind the flange are several extruded aluminum blocks. This is my first time exploring this area of the LR4 so I don't remember if this was on the 2014.

Pics below.

 

[umbertob]

Those look a lot more substantial than the side steps I remember (at least those on my old Sport), which basically consisted of 3 or 4 small brackets serving as mounts for an aluminum platform. Those in your photos may indeed offer some real protection from side impacts. Is that bar made of steel? I still think the car looks better without them though, and they could have probably achieved the same results without reducing ground clearance and increasing the car's footprint with those steps. Very interesting though, thanks for the photos.

 

[Dubroz]

Is that bar made of steel?

It is a square steel bar welded to thick steel flanges and square steel cross beams. I'd guess each side weighs 40lbs+.

I removwd the aluminum extrusions ... They were blocks mounted to the frame of the car. I believe they are supposed to transfer any impact to the chassis. This is no ordinary side step.

 

[Hoyas06]

Great looking Land Rover. Awesome color combo.

 

[Derman]

Now that you've seen the stamped "safety" wording on these, are you going to leave them off or put them back on? Your rig definitely looks better without them.

I've read somewhere else that a dealer wouldn't take them off due to safety as well.

 

[Dubroz]

The LR dealer knew I was taking it off an did not prevent me or warn me that this is now a safety feature. My logic is that the car without a sidestep makes it just as safe as a 2014.

Maybe the safety text is there because they don't want you to replace it with a dirt cheap side step. I can imagine getting into an accident with a flimsy side step can create a sheet metal piercing situation.

So yes, until otherwise instructed by LR ... I'm leaving it off.

 

[colorover]

This is what they dealer gave me when we bought our 15. Seeing the pics is very helpful, but I still have a hard time understanding how this could possibly *positively* influence the safety of the car in a side impact.

 

[Surfrider77]

I honestly think they had a truck with side steps for crash testing this model year. LR can't make changes once those tests are completed or they are invalidated. There's no way that thing adds any structural support over what it is bolted into.

I just don't buy it.

 

[colorover]

I honestly think they had a truck with side steps for crash testing this model year. LR can't make changes once those tests are completed or they are invalidated. There's no way that thing adds any structural support over what it is bolted into.

I just don't buy it.

Agree, that is what I posted in another thread a few weeks back. The dealer had no explanation, although that isn't particularly surprising.

 

[epiclr4]

This blows my mind but can you tell if structurally it would make it easier for mounting sliders vs previous generations?