Our Personal Experience:

We have owned our APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps since May 2022 and absolutely love them. We went without side steps for over a year after doing our van conversion because nothing on the market our needs.

Initially we wanted retractable side-steps but didn’t like the idea of adding the complication of movable parts, they also seemed easier to damage if we scraped them on a rock or obstacle while off-roading. That left us with a fixed step options and we couldn’t find one that checked off all our boxes until we stumbled across Backland Expedition Gear APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps.

Here are the reasons we believe these are the ultimate side steps available.

Functionality:

While Backland EG’s APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are rock sliders, you will likely be using them as side steps far more often. As side steps, they excel in their functionality by providing a consistent, flat and large surface.

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are symmetrical on the driver and passenger side of the van and have a flat surface, free of obstacles that exist on other side steps. This consistently flat surface means you don’t have to think about where you are stepping or placing items on the steps, you have the whole length of the step to work with.

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are large, without looking or feeling that way. The steps are a comfortable 6 inches deep, giving you plenty of room for stepping or setting items on.

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are tapered in the front and the back of the step to reduce the chance of getting hung-up on offroad or roadside objects. While these are large steps, the clean lines and tapered ends reduce this visually, so you get a nice step without looking awkward.

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps come in 2 styles, Regular and Drop:

Regular:
The Regular style has zero drop from the pinch-seam on the side of the van, this places the step 6 inches below the factory interior step in Sprinter vans. You’ll lose about an inch of clearance on the sides of your van, which is great if you like having as much clearance as possible or just like the aesthetic of a high-clearance van! If you are on the taller side or just want as much clearance as possible, then the Regular style might be the best option.

Drop:
The Drop style has a 3-inch drop from the pinch seam on the side of the van, this places the step 9 inches below the factory interior step in Sprinter vans. If you are on the shorter side or your van has a big lift-kit, the Drop style might be the best option.

While the style of APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps depends on your situation, you’ll get the same functionality out of either style.

Safety:

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are not just functional, they are also safer than many steps on the market.

A consistently flat surface is safer because you aren’t going to get your foot hung-up on an uneven or varying surface. APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are coated in Indy Protective Coating, providing grip in all weather conditions. You’ll also appreciate the rounded shape of the edges, which provide relief if you accidentally knock your leg against it.

These safety advantages are most noticeable when entering or exiting your van. Because of their depth and distance from the factory interior step, you can confidently exit the van without having to contort your body to find a safe foot placement on the step. When you are stepping into the van you don’t have to worry about your foot getting hung-up and tripping, which can be an issue with steps that are suspended below the van.

Protection:

As functional as APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are as side-steps, they also provide protection to your van in several ways.

Their 6-inch depth means they extend beyond the tires on the sides of the van, this provides protection from objects that might otherwise impact your van body, such as post or poles in parking lots. While they cannot protect your van from damage in all situations, they do add a layer of protection from obstacles that other steps do not.

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps run virtually the entire length of the van between the tires on both sides. This provides protection from rock and obstacle below the van, adding another angle of protection to your van.

Strength:

APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are strong! They are mounted/attached to the pinch-seam of your van, which is a very strong connection point. Because they are mounted to and extend below the pinch-seam, they provide an excellent place to use a jack, without damaging the pinch-seam.

They are also attached with brackets that add rigidity to the steps, creating a firm and confident feel when entering, existing or standing on the steps.

Beauty:

While this should probably be low on the list of important features for this type of product, the aesthetics are important. I’d rather have a product that checks all the functionality boxes AND looks great, APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps absolutely do this.

The clean-lines, symmetrical-shape, rugged-construction and high-clearance make APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps look as good as they perform.

Summary:

Backland Expedition Gear’s APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps are the best side steps we have seen for Sprinter vans. The combination of functionality, safety, protection, strength and beauty make APEX Rock Sliders/Side Steps an easy recommendation for anyone upfitting a van or replacing an inferior product.

While we have thankfully not needed to fully utilize the rock slider feature, we have hit objects, and the steps still look and perform like they did the day we first had them installed. Knowing the build quality and how the owners of Backland Expedition Gear use and test their products on their own van, I am sure that when the day comes, these will protect our van.

Promo Code Disclaimer:

We received a discount from Backland Expedition Gear in exchange for writing reviews, compensation is also received for purchases using our promo code. However, our reviews are honest and not influenced by these discounts, they are based on our personal usage and hands-on experience with these products.

Use promo code CALICOVAN at checkout for Backland Expedition Gear orders if this review influenced your decision! Using this code supports our future reviews.