The INEOS Grenadier runs two types of side steps from DVA — fixed and electric. They solve different problems and can be installed simultaneously. What most owners don't think through until they're on trail is what each configuration does to your clearance profile and what takes the first hit when things get tight. This guide covers both: the clearance numbers by configuration, what fixed steps actually do on trail, and what you need to know about running electric boards in terrain where rocker protection matters.
Fixed side steps ($269): Permanent mount at factory points. Stay deployed on trail. Hang ~4 inches below the rocker panel. On mild terrain, they absorb side contact and spare the rocker — but only if they're structural enough to handle the load. DVA fixed steps are aluminum, not frame-mounted steel sliders. They protect against brush and minor rocks.
Electric power running boards ($1,799): Auto-deploy when any door opens, retract flush against the body when closed. When retracted, the mounting brackets sit just below the rocker panel — they don't disappear. The rocker panel and brackets become the side-contact point on trail. Best for owners who want easy entry/exit while preserving clearance during driving.
What Fixed Side Steps Do on Trail
Fixed steps are a permanent reduction in side clearance. With stock suspension and 265/70R18 tires, the Grenadier's rocker panel sits approximately 15–16 inches (380–400mm) from the ground. Fixed steps hang roughly 4 inches below the rocker, putting the step surface at approximately 11–12 inches (280–305mm) from the ground. That's the new first contact point on anything approaching from the side.
On forest roads, fire access tracks, and moderate overlanding — which describes the vast majority of Grenadier use — this is irrelevant. The terrain never gets close. The tradeoff only matters in technical sections where you're threading through rocks, sliding down off-camber slopes, or high-centering.
The critical question on trail is not whether the step will contact terrain — it's what happens when it does. A decorative step that mounts to body panels transfers force directly to the door and rocker panel. A structural rock slider that mounts to frame transfers force to the frame instead. DVA fixed steps are aluminum hinge-bolt mounts — they'll absorb brush and light rock contact, but they are not frame-mounted steel sliders. For serious rocky terrain, a dedicated rock slider is a separate category entirely.
Side runners are a great option if you need a step, and don't need protection on rocky trails. This happens because side runners reduce ground clearance, making it more likely that you hit a rock, and the impact to the side runner can damage your rocker panel, and maybe your door.
— TheIneosForum member, Side Runners or Rock Sliders thread
The practical read: fixed steps are an appropriate choice for owners who run mild-to-moderate terrain and want a permanent step surface available without thinking about it. For technical terrain where side contact is likely, they're not protection — they're the point of first contact, and that contact can transfer to the rocker.
Electric Steps: Clearance When It Counts
Electric power running boards retract when the doors close — that's the core of their trail appeal. But "retracted" doesn't mean flush with the body in a way that eliminates side profile. The mounting arm mechanism sits approximately 1–1.5 inches (25–40mm) below the rocker panel bottom when fully retracted, putting the lowest side point at roughly 14–15 inches (355–375mm) from the ground. That's meaningfully better clearance than deployed fixed steps, but it's not zero.
On trail with electric boards retracted: the mounting bracket arm is now the first side contact point, followed immediately by the rocker panel itself. If you make contact, it's the bracket that absorbs the hit first — and bracket damage can affect the deploy/retract mechanism. On serious rocky terrain, forum members are consistent: electric steps are not rock sliders.
These are not sliders… the mounting brackets would likely bend / break and the step would snap like a matchstick no doubt if you mashed them / dragged on a rock… but nonetheless for overlanding (not Moab rock crawling) and daily driving these look really appealing.
— Forum member asnes.9046234, TheIneosForum — Electric Deployable Side Steps
The manual lockout switch (included with DVA electric boards) is the right move for trail days with technical sections: lock them retracted, and you know they won't auto-deploy mid-trail when a door opens at camp. It also means the system won't try to deploy if the step contacts an obstacle during driving.
Ground Clearance by Step Configuration
All figures below are approximate for stock suspension and 265/70R18 tires. Side step clearance is lateral — it determines when the step contacts terrain approaching from the side, not obstacles directly below the belly.
| Configuration | Approx. Side Clearance | First Contact Point |
|---|---|---|
| No steps (bare rocker) | ~15–16 in (380–400mm) | Rocker panel / sill |
| Fixed steps (OEM or DVA aftermarket) | ~11–12 in (280–305mm) | Step surface — transfers to rocker if hard contact |
| Electric boards — retracted | ~14–15 in (355–375mm) | Mounting bracket arm, then rocker panel |
| Electric boards — deployed | ~7–8 in (180–200mm) | Step surface — do not use in technical terrain |
| Frame-mounted rock sliders | Varies — typically ~11–13 in | Slider tube — transfers to frame, not rocker |
The meaningful difference is not fixed vs electric — it's what happens at the point of contact. Frame-mounted rock sliders take the hit at the frame. Hinge-mounted steps and electric board brackets take it at the mount point, which can transfer to body panels. If your trails regularly include rock contact, the right answer is a dedicated rock slider, regardless of which step configuration you run.
What Takes a Hit With Electric Steps Retracted
When electric running boards are fully retracted, the structural side profile from lowest to highest is:
- Mounting bracket arm — the first thing to contact a rock or ledge from the side. Bending this bracket affects the deploy/retract mechanism and can prevent the step from operating correctly. It's repairable but not trivial.
- Rocker panel / sill — the factory sheet metal directly above the bracket. No inherent protection. A hard hit here is a body damage event.
- Door bottom edge — below the door weatherstripping. Less exposed than the sill but still in play on off-camber terrain.
The bracket arm is not structural protection — it's a hinge mechanism. Contact that would slide off a rock slider will likely bend or crack the bracket. The practical risk on technical terrain is losing step functionality, not catastrophic vehicle damage, but repairing or replacing a bent bracket on a motorized system is more involved than replacing a dented fixed step.
Preventing Damage on Trail With Electric Steps
- Use the manual lockout before technical sections. Locked retracted means the step won't try to deploy at unexpected moments — a door that swings open at a precarious angle on a side-slope won't auto-extend the board into terrain.
- Treat electric boards as clearance tools, not rock sliders. They improve your side profile while driving. They don't absorb rock impacts structurally. Plan your line accordingly.
- Add rock sliders for dedicated trail protection. Frame-mounted sliders coexist with electric boards — the boards deploy inside the slider's footprint on most setups. You get auto-retract clearance while driving and frame-level protection when you need it.
- Avoid side-loading the brackets. Parking in tight spots where the step might contact a curb or bollard while deployed is the most common non-trail damage scenario. Standard caution applies.
Decision Framework
| Use Case | Fixed Steps ($269) | Electric Boards ($1,799) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driver — easy entry/exit | Fine (permanent step, always there) | Best fit (auto-deploy on door open) |
| Mild overlanding / dirt roads | ✓ Appropriate | ✓ Appropriate |
| Moderate trail — occasional rocks | Acceptable — step takes light contact | Better — retract for driving, more clearance |
| Technical terrain — rock contact likely | Steps transfer force to rocker — add sliders | Brackets take first hit — add sliders |
| Want rocker panel protection | Frame-mounted rock sliders (separate product — both step types coexist with sliders) | |
| Budget-first decision | ✓ $269 for the set | $1,530 more — trail clearance benefit |
What the Hub Article Links Here
The INEOS Grenadier Accessories Hub covers the full accessory ecosystem by category. Side steps and running boards fall under the exterior/trail-access category alongside rock sliders, bumpers, and exterior storage. The hub links back here for buyers evaluating step configurations as part of a broader build.
For full install instructions on the fixed side steps — hinge-bolt torque sequence and alignment — see the INEOS Grenadier Side Steps Install Guide.
DVA Side Steps & Running Boards
Both available for the INEOS Grenadier — choose what fits your use
Fixed steps at $269 for owners who want a permanent step and mild trail capability. Electric boards at $1,799 for owners who want clearance preserved automatically while driving. Both ship from the US.
Fixed Side Steps → Electric Power Boards →
