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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
My original plan was to tie to the frame, but the general consensus was that I'd tear up the body without also having the cage.
You’re right…I was thinking tying to the frame but just running them up close to the cab and not actually welding them to it, disregard lol. I saw a set once where a guy cut his rockers out and had sliders tied to the frame but they went in the gap where rockers used to be, not actually welded to the cab though. Yea tying to the frame and the cab wouldn’t be too good without a full cage because the frame will try to flex independent of the body.
 
I did @Capt Ron truck rockers by cutting the rockers out and putting sliders in their place. Tied to the frame also. Gave a lot more clearance than the sliders under the rockers.
 
You’re right…I was thinking tying to the frame but just running them up close to the cab and not actually welding them to it, disregard lol. I saw a set once where a guy cut his rockers out and had sliders tied to the frame but they went in the gap where rockers used to be, not actually welded to the cab though. Yea tying to the frame and the cab wouldn’t be too good without a full cage because the frame will try to flex independent of the body.
Oh, yeah, I can see what you're talking about. I knew someone that did something similar. They didn't cut the rockers out just did frame mounted sliders underneath. I stood on them once and was surprised how much they could move up and down with just my ample body weight. I figured the best way to do those would be to tie the 2 frame rails together top and bottom as well.

I guess it all boils down to having the best I can manage without a cage to tie it all together. If the price of steel does what some are saying, there's even less chance I'll ever do a cage in this truck.


You are making me want to do sliders on my truck again.
I never could come up with a good way to mount sliders on the original bed. Although it just occurred to me you could tie the bed sliders into the frame since the bed itself is just bolted to the frame. MAN! I can't believe I never thought of that until now. :doah:

Another thing I've thought of, if you didn't want to cut the rockers out, is to just add a piece of 1/8" steel plate over the top for some extra armor.
 
Oh, yeah, I can see what you're talking about. I knew someone that did something similar. They didn't cut the rockers out just did frame mounted sliders underneath. I stood on them once and was surprised how much they could move up and down with just my ample body weight. I figured the best way to do those would be to tie the 2 frame rails together top and bottom as well.

I guess it all boils down to having the best I can manage without a cage to tie it all together. If the price of steel does what some are saying, there's even less chance I'll ever do a cage in this truck.



I never could come up with a good way to mount sliders on the original bed. Although it just occurred to me you could tie the bed sliders into the frame since the bed itself is just bolted to the frame. MAN! I can't believe I never thought of that until now. :doah:

Another thing I've thought of, if you didn't want to cut the rockers out, is to just add a piece of 1/8" steel plate over the top for some extra armor.
Never thought of that, for me its just going around the 20 gallon tank that is the issue. I'm looking to get away from wheeling the truck in the rock the next few years and not even sure I'll do it.
 
Never thought of that, for me its just going around the 20 gallon tank that is the issue. I'm looking to get away from wheeling the truck in the rock the next few years and not even sure I'll do it.
I thought maybe you had put a suburban tank between the frame rails and I just didn't remember. I often contemplated mounting a 12" wide piece of 3/16" steel under the saddle tanks. I'd tie them into the mounting brackets. The idea was more to keep the tank from getting dented up, not something you would slide on intentionally.
 
I thought maybe you had put a suburban tank between the frame rails and I just didn't remember. I often contemplated mounting a 12" wide piece of 3/16" steel under the saddle tanks. I'd tie them into the mounting brackets. The idea was more to keep the tank from getting dented up, not something you would slide on intentionally.
I can't keep the 14b off the rocks, I think a burb tank would be a even bigger boat anchor. The next phase of the truck could get one sense it will help out in multiple ways.
 
I can't keep the 14b off the rocks, I think a burb tank would be a even bigger boat anchor. The next phase of the truck could get one sense it will help out in multiple ways.
You could go with a 26gal K5 tank. Although I don't know if those came with baffles for EFI.
 
You could go with a 26gal K5 tank. Although I don't know if those came with baffles for EFI.
I would just do the 30 gal EFI tank, when this time comes it will be full on camping duty and just messing around in the desert, woods and scenic Moab trails. It's what I built the truck for anyway, it just happened to be pretty dang good at crawling some trails that was unexpected.
 
I never could come up with a good way to mount sliders on the original bed. Although it just occurred to me you could tie the bed sliders into the frame since the bed itself is just bolted to the frame. MAN! I can't believe I never thought of that until now. :doah:
Never thought of that, for me its just going around the 20 gallon tank that is the issue. I'm looking to get away from wheeling the truck in the rock the next few years and not even sure I'll do it.

It's been done.... :flipoff7:

full

full
 
Have you had any issues with it?

Not any issues with that particular part no. I have the same issues as Scott with the rocker collapsing and the door not fitting after a summer of wheeling. Granted, I'm pretty rough on the rockers and I've had them for 7 years like that.
 
I was just thinking about that with mine, technically they have lasted 12 years. The sliders were one of the first mods I did after converting to 4wd.
 

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