Sliders through the rockers

[wahlstrom1]

I'm looking to build a set of sliders here soon, and had an idea I've seen on other vehicles before but not on rangers....

Has anyone here run the slider-frame tubes through the rocker panel's as to not lose any ground clearance, and how has it worked for you?

 

[martin]

The frame hangs down well below the rocker panels so I don't think ground clearance would be much of an issue either way. The rocker panels on my exploder were rusted out when I got the truck so I replaced them with 3/16 wall rectangular tubing. they have saved the doors a few times and after checking the underside for bumps and scrapes perhaps ground clearance might be an issue after all. Post pictures when you do it.

 

[4x4junkie]

Rocks almost always tag the rockers before the frame, even with them higher up.

I cut the rockers off completely on mine, then mounted the sliders directly underneath. I think I lost at the most a ¼" clearance doing it this way.

 

[Bray D]

Do it. I've thought about rebuilding my sliders and doing the same. With no body lift, the bottom of my rockers are closer to the bottom of my frame; so any added ground clearance would help I'm sure.

 

[Toreadorranger]

I just cut the rockers out completely.

 

[metalmacguyver]

The catch is that no matter how well you mount the sliders, the frame rails will twist and the body will put weight on to the slider......


It can still be done but you need to make sure you can account for that...

 

[wahlstrom1]

Well, I plan to add a few more crossmember's as well and I hope 1/2" clearance around the tubes should be sufficient as I really don't get that much frame flex. Even when fully flexed, my body twist is less then the thickness of the bodyline. I'll post pics as soon as I can get on this project. I'm about to get elbow deep in my old mans 97' Foreman as I blew the rear drive outta the tranny and the fender brackets all need repaired.....and the lift has to go in too.....

 

[meatheaded nucklebuster]

dang how did you manage the foreman destruction

 

[wahlstrom1]

Really crappy loading ramps and steep angles with slush.....I hit the ramps in third gear, made it until the front tires hit the wheel wells, slid sideways off the ramps and landed on the rear tires only. It would have been ok, but I had the throttle pinned as I was falling off the back of the machine as it fell towards me......

I took it apart tonight and it turns out I just stripped the worn out splines on the rear axle, so it was more a matter of time then of total carnage....

As it sits, no rear axle assembly....

 

[wahlstrom1]

So...like every project of mine, it get's done but never on my intended schedule!

Here's the beginning of the passenger side slider.

 

[TireIron]

The only suggestion i would make is to cut back the jog out in the front, it looks like it's just screaming to get caught up on things.

 

[wahlstrom1]

It'll be getting cut parallel to the body, just had to get enough material hanging out to have the inside part flush. I'm not sure if I'll add another outer loop or not....Opinions?

Here's the intended cut up front:

Here's the rear mount:

 

[slammer67]

Hmm, not a bad idea

good fab work

but they seem a little too high, your rockers can still take a beating, which defeats the purpose of a slider, but it shouldn't be so bad that you cant get the doors open, which i've seen happen in rocker vs rock situations.

but why did you turn out the front of the slider and not the back? and it does look like it would get caught on things, especially if you cut it like you have shown - it looks like it would tear some stuff up. I wouldn't want to be your spotter. lol

but I'm just messin - like I said, good work

 

[wahlstrom1]

Lol, I plan on adding a mini fender flare outta 1/8" aluminum from the lower bodyline to just below the slider to attach a removeable mudflap to in an attempt to keep the truck semi-clean.

I was thinking about adding another outer tube and didn't wanna leave a large gap between the body and inner tube to get a log/tree jammed into. They are just flush with the rockers, no higher but I know where your coming from....I just didn't wanna lose any clearance. Figured any protection is better then no protection!

 

[dhinch279]

It looks good, what kind of tubing are you using and how long are the tubes that run from the frame to the sliders?