Rock Sliders

[mudbuggy]

Since it has warmed up enough for me to get out and make some measurements, that's what I did. I made the tubing rails about a month ago, tapered, capped, and cleaned.

This past week, with the weather getting warm enough to take good measurements, I did. Went to the local steel shop and took the material to work with me. Started to hack up the steel and burnt some together.

So here I am, raining and 45 degrees and all of these damn parts I want to play with, hopefully I'll get something done this week!

 

[mudbuggy]

more pics

more pics attached here, think I have a couple on my work camera. If I do I will upload to my pda, email home and upload tomorrow night!

 

[The Pumpkinator]

I'm diggin' the gusset work!

 

[K85 Octane]

I've always thought about running some bumpstops on the top of the rock sliders. Not the main part, but the tubes that go towards the frame. You can get them super close to the body, with the bumpstop touching it, and that way with severe hits, it can be absorbed some by the body.

Dunno if that sounds dumb or not.

 

[The Pumpkinator]

I don't think they would flex that much, I don't see any harm in adding bumpstops either (you're thinking between the tubing that ties to the frame and the base of the floor pan?). It look like he is tying it into the frame like how I did before I rebuilt my sliders, mine are mainly mounted to the body structure but with a single tie-in to the frame to compensate for leverage under load.

 

[mudbuggy]

Thanks

 

[mudbuggy]

Good idea but, "and that way with severe hits, it can be absorbed some by the body." - not a lot of the driver's side still survives, will have to remove that side to repair rust at a later date.

 

[mudbuggy]

Original idea reasoning

My wife and daughter originally always complain because of the difficulty of getting in and out (they are of the vertically challenged attitude). I would like to move up to 35" tires one day and this is one thing that will be needed for that to be accomplished in the future.

I will be adding a step to the bottom of the 2x3 tube that will run the length of the door areas on both rails before I send these to powder coating.

 

[76zimmer]

I extended mine out past the body 2" for protection of the lower sheetmetal, and for more of a step assist platform getting in the truck. But they're 2x6 also.

 

[mudbuggy]

76zimmer- How far past your tires does your slider stick out?

I have 12.5 wide on factory back spacing but I also have left 3 1/2" for the step. Got a few ideas but nothing set in stone

 

[mudbuggy]

Got something done today

Well the mercury was at 65 degrees kind of windy, but no rain or snow, makes that a very good day. Got my gear dragged out and started to set up. Remembered about taking pictures after I started doing things. So here's the proof!

 

[mudbuggy]

More Pics

 

[76zimmer]

76zimmer- How far past your tires does your slider stick out?

I have 12.5 wide on factory back spacing but I also have left 3 1/2" for the step. Got a few ideas but nothing set in stone

I haven't had the 40's on since the body went back on....so ????

 

[mudbuggy]

Guess I'll put the passenger side together next weekend, then start figuring out what I want to do for the step. I do know that the next set of tire will be larger. Don't know what yet, If I can get everything to fall together at the same time might just go with the 40 and swap the axles too.

Would have liked to do the other side but the family things come first.

 

[the_mule]

size

Dang just the other day I decided to do this as well love the design.

What sizes of steel are you using? I have 2x3 3/16" for the sliders but what are the supports and the gussets made out of (thickness please) I don't want to hijack what are other people using

 

[mudbuggy]

material

Tube slider - 2"x 3"x 1/4"x I think 90"
Outriggers - 3" c channel 4.5 pounds per foot
Mounting plates - 1/4"
Gussets - 1/4"

 

[badmix]

Looks good

 

[mudbuggy]

Thanks

 

[mudbuggy]

Warm Dry Weather - the odessey continues

Yesterday was as warm or warmer then last week when I did the ds, so I opted to drag my gear out and tack up the ps. All went well until I decieded to start tacking, (****ing murphy!) the wind kicked up so bad that the flags were straight out. So like any good marine, I improvised, set up some tarps on the ds of the truck and went to town. See attached

 

[mudbuggy]

More pics. Biggest problem that I ran into, other then having to crawl under then realize I forgot something, then go get it and get back under is, my wife wanted to go to dinner, so we went to outback steakhouse, and I forgot to bring the slider in the garage after we got home. And murphy (being the dick that he is), it rained on the fresh paint. Oh, well at least that part is done. The next thing I need to figure out is how to space the fuel lines off of the framerail so the backing plates mount on the backside of the framerail and don't smash the fuel lines. Not really a pita, but they are the original fuel lines and I really don't want to make new ones. Matter of fact, I hate making fuel lines! Once that's figured out then its on to the reason for doing this, installation of a step for my wife and daughter, they are short! Anyone have any idea?