Pics of my sliders.

[colbystephens]

This has been a much longer process than I had originally anticipated, but I'm real happy with the outcome. Figured I'd post this here, as well as my build thread, since folks frequently like to see slider picture threads.

This pic shows that the mild tree bumper actually provides a pretty significant amount of extra protection, while keeping the truck as narrow as a fullsize Blazer is.

Hard to really see, but I like how subtle the sliders are.

The tree bumper tube has a slight upward angle to it:

The ends of the sliders are cut and capped at 45*. The Tree bumper tubes come off at a 30* angle. I may add a couple of cross tubes at some point to further support the tree bumper, but while I wheel nice crawling trails, I'm pretty gentle on my truck, so it's probably not necessary.

The brackets are from DIY4x, and include a backing plate to bolt to the body mounts. I will at some point pick up some fabricator's bushings and tie these into the frame as well with those bushings to allow for flex and avoid cracking the frame, but will help take the load so the bolt holes in the body mounts don't wallow out.

 

[wazzabie]

These look really nice. I can't tell however how they are mounted. Do you still have all of your rockers? Are they bolted on the front floor support brace?

On my K5 the brace is so weak they would fall off I think.

 

[NorCal69]

Nice work, Colby. I like how you did the slight angle up on the outer tubes.

 

[badmix]

Looks good. I did mine very similiar but added an extra tie in piece to sorta kinda tie mine into the frame while still allowing body movement.

 

[colbystephens]

These look really nice. I can't tell however how they are mounted. Do you still have all of your rockers? Are they bolted on the front floor support brace?

On my K5 the brace is so weak they would fall off I think.

You'd surely have to have a truck with perfect rockers for this to be an option. Fortunately, my truck has been a Nevada desert truck its entire life. They're bolted on the floor support. But, like I said, I will also add some frame-to-slider mounts with fabricators bushings to make it really nice and solid. Exactly like what Badmix has done. Also, your picture isn't working - at least not on my computer.

 

[badmix]

You'd surely have to have a truck with perfect rockers for this to be an option. Fortunately, my truck has been a Nevada desert truck its entire life. They're bolted on the floor support. But, like I said, I will also add some frame-to-slider mounts with fabricators bushings to make it really nice and solid. Exactly like what Badmix has done. Also, your picture isn't working - at least not on my computer.

Best part is, you dont have to drill the frame, there are plenty of big holes already there.

 

[K5 Jess]

Colby do you use them as steps??? Can you get a picture of them with one of the doors open?

 

[colbystephens]

I'll get you a door-open pic. But, it doesn't provide much of a step at all. Might be an inch or two lower than the door sill, and only a couple inches out from the edge. A step wasn't really my intent.

 

[K5 Jess]

I'll get you a door-open pic. But, it doesn't provide much of a step at all. Might be an inch or two lower than the door sill, and only a couple inches out from the edge. A step wasn't really my intent.

I know. I was just wondering if it could double as a step. My ol lady is 5'4" after she stretches and puts shoes on. So, when I build my sliders I need them to double as a step. And Im trying to decide between 2x6 or 2x4 tubing. If 2x4 works, it can save me a little weight and cash. 2x6 aint cheap.

 

[colbystephens]

I see. Well, because I've angled the tubes up, it wouldn't work as a step. However, as I was working through these sliders I had originally considered not tucking the mounting bracket into the 2x4, but just welding it to the outside. In such a case, it would have functioned as a pretty decent step. So, I think a 2x4 would be just fine, so long as you are happy to just have the inner edge of the 2x4 sitting directly below the pinch weld/body seam.

I didn't want to add much width, and I wanted to use the round tube for bumper bars, so I ended up tucking my 2x3 1.5" under the pinch weld/seam. In the last picture of my original post you can see that I cut a slot into the 2x3 and slipped the mounting bracket inside and welded it back up.

Using a 2x4 as a combined slider/step will provide a step that is roughly 4 inches lower than the floor board of the truck.

 

[y5mgisi]

Looks good Colby!

 

[K5 Jess]

I see. Well, because I've angled the tubes up, it wouldn't work as a step. However, as I was working through these sliders I had originally considered not tucking the mounting bracket into the 2x4, but just welding it to the outside. In such a case, it would have functioned as a pretty decent step. So, I think a 2x4 would be just fine, so long as you are happy to just have the inner edge of the 2x4 sitting directly below the pinch weld/body seam.

I didn't want to add much width, and I wanted to use the round tube for bumper bars, so I ended up tucking my 2x3 1.5" under the pinch weld/seam. In the last picture of my original post you can see that I cut a slot into the 2x3 and slipped the mounting bracket inside and welded it back up.

Using a 2x4 as a combined slider/step will provide a step that is roughly 4 inches lower than the floor board of the truck.

Gotcha

 

[badmix]

I meant to ask, did you notch the square tubing and "insert" the backing plates in and then weld it? That is what I did. I wanted the backing/mounting plates to be part of the rock slider not just welded to it on the outside. Mine went in 3/4 - 1 inch and got welded all the way around.

 

[colbystephens]

yes, i notched and inserted the mounting plate. 1.5" on mine.

 

[kis2]

those are awesome! I want something just like that that goes to the frame and somehow works around my steps

very nice

 

[CK5]

Good job, way beef'ier than these sliders!

 

[Snoozer]

Those look awesome! Very clean.

 

[BLUIDVL]

Nice fab work on the sliders!

Did you use DOM tubing?

 

[colbystephens]

No, just HREW. After last weekend's wheeling, I need to re-do the passenger side round-tube part, and I need to gusset the tubes. I bent it. The sliders and mounts, however, are holding up great, with FAR more use than I would like for them to see.

 

[blazinzuk]

Nice fab work on the sliders!

Did you use DOM tubing?

Something that I have done is make the tube part out of 1.5 and than split a 1.75" .120 wall tube and weld it on so that the wall thickness is more where you hit it the most.