Building Slider Considerations

[85_Ranger4x4]

Anybody have anything they liked/didn't like when they built theirs?

One kind of questionable things I see with mine is the frame kicks below the cab so all the mounting plates won't be inline. Not sure if that will effect anything with frame twist.

 

[ericbphoto]

I’ve been contemplating that for a while. I think I’m eventually going to have to prop something up where I want the slider and then start mocking up mounting brackets with cardboard in the locations where I want them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have been thinking about it for years and if I could incorporate mounts for my camper they would be really nice for that too.

 

[ericbphoto]

I want something like these. This was Nick Swanson’s truck at Attica. But I want to bolt them to my frame instead of welding directly to it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I also want bolt ons. I was thinking more just square tube than the cagey style. My rockers are different than the later trucks, there isn’t much meat to put sliders in front of.

 

[ericbphoto]

Square tube might provide better places for a Hi-Lift jack to grab. Square or rectangular tube is still in my mind for this.

 

[snoranger]

I want something like these. This was Nick Swanson’s truck at Attica. But I want to bolt them to my frame instead of welding directly to it.

Bolt on with large plates to spread the load would be the best option. Personally, I would cut the rockers off and tuck the sliders in where the rocker used to be.

Also... I see my feet in that pic.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bolt on with large plates to spread the load would be the best option. Personally, I would cut the rockers off and tuck the sliders in where the rocker used to be.

Also... I see my feet in that pic.

Affordable offroad actually makes up armored rockers to replace the rockers on the later trucks.

I have less than an inch between the bottom of my door and the bottom my no-longer-available rocker panel.

I don’t really go looking for for trouble but it would be nice to have something especially after I get the truck redone. And after building frame mounts for the camper I would already be halfway there anyway.

 

[Shran]

I put Trail Gear sliders on my Explorer. I think for what they cost and what they are made out of and what they look like, it's really hard to beat them... you just have to figure out how to attach them to your frame.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I put Trail Gear sliders on my Explorer. I think for what they cost and what they are made out of and what they look like, it's really hard to beat them... you just have to figure out how to attach them to your frame.

Dang, I haven't put a tape to my truck yet but for $250... that is pretty cheap.

Trail Gear 120002-1-KIT Trail-Gear Rock Sliders | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Trail-Gear Rock Sliders with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Running Boards, Nerf Bars and Truck Steps at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[ericbphoto]

Dang, I haven't put a tape to my truck yet but for $250... that is pretty cheap.

Trail Gear 120002-1-KIT Trail-Gear Rock Sliders | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Trail-Gear Rock Sliders with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Running Boards, Nerf Bars and Truck Steps at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

That would make a nice start. Then modify as needed to get them mounted. I haven't priced materials yet. So I don't know how that compares to building from scratch. But a lot of the work is already done with a kit like that.

 

[Shran]

I was able to get mine set in place with jack stands and then made some plates out of 3/16 flat stock. I think most of them ended up being around 4x5" rectangles. All bolted to the frame, driver's side was kind of a bitch, I had to remove the gas tank, lol

Once you've got the slider itself positioned it's really easy to make your angle cuts on the mounting tubes and tack it together. I have the longest set they make on the Explorer, I think there's three sizes. I had to cut out about 4" to make them fit right.

They have sure been used a lot! The driver's side one got bent when I had to winch myself out of a creek in AZ and there's not much paint left on the bottom sides from dragging them over rocks. Armor plating that truck is the best thing I did for it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That would make a nice start. Then modify as needed to get them mounted. I haven't priced materials yet. So I don't know how that compares to building from scratch. But a lot of the work is already done with a kit like that.

Yours would be like $225 on sale at summit right now, that is like $110 a side. Fancy rounded bit with notched tubes and most of the welding is done. A 3' chunk of 2" 1/8" wall square tube was like $20 for my tire carrier...

Eh, I need to tweak my fuel sender anyway...

I stuck tape a under the truck, 67" is probably going to be about right. Just eyeballing it the rear mounts are going to be a big PITA, it is going to end up right about where the front spring mount is unless I angle it up and aft.

I need to play with it some more yet... and black friday is coming.

 

[Shran]

Easy button on my Ranger years ago was to just cut the rockers out and replace them with 2x4 rectangle tubing. I welded that in place and then welded an additional 3/16" plate to the bottom. It's not real pretty but it's very functional. If I had to do it again, I'd try to keep the outer rocker skin intact... or use something like 2x5 or 2x6 tubing. The smaller 4" tubing lets mud collect on the bottom side of the doors because it was slightly smaller than the original sheet metal it replaced.

Trail gear sliders

 

[sgtsandman]

It might be overkill for the tubing but I think 3/16” or 1/4” tubing would be better since they are going to be taking all the stress when the slider hits something. Possibly with the full weight of the vehicle.