Top Step Bracket Scratches the Paint
"Insufficient Clearance - 2023 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro The top step bracket hooks scratch the paint off the body/frame when opening and closing the hatch. I installed the bracket exactly as instructed, with it fully against the top edge of the hatch and positioned 100 mm from the inside edge. There is simply not enough clearance between the metal hooks and the vehicle body. The hooks are too thick and contact the painted frame as the hatch is opened and closed. The product includes U-channel rubber to protect the bottom edge, but there is no equivalent protection for the top hooks, even though the hooks sit directly against a painted surface. Metal contacting the painted body will inevitably damage the paint. Adding U-channel rubber to the hooks is not a practical solution because there is already insufficient clearance. The bare metal hooks scratch the paint; adding rubber would only make the clearance problem worse. In my experience, you must accept damage to the vehicle's paint in order to use this ladder as designed. That is a serious design flaw for a product intended to be installed on a painted vehicle. I would not recommend this ladder unless the manufacturer addresses the clearance and provides a proper way to protect the vehicle's paint at the top mounting points."