i have seen where guys cut out there rocker panels and throw in some thick rectangular tubing. are these strong enough to use as sliders. would i still need to connect it to the unibody?

 

you would weld it into the body to replace the existing rocker thus making it part of the unibody. you can use it as sliders as long as its thick enough. 3/16 should do it for you

 

thats why people replace there rockers with square tube in the first place...

 

What size tubing do they usually use?

 

ok, just making sure it wont hurt anything

 

depends on how much rocker you cut out...

 

This is for people who have deystroyed thier rockers, have rotted out rockers, want rockers that will handle some abuse, want to ditch thier lower clearance rocker guards,etc.....

Install time: factor in 3 hours for the first side at a leisurely pace, and the next side about cut that in half because you know exactly what you are doing

whadaya need!?
Some box tubing, i have seen people use 2x4 for it, but i prefer 2x6 for the door protection. 1/8" might be sufficient, but i would reccomend 3/16" or 1/4" if you really abuse your junk. you will need 57 1/4" per side.

tools for cutting/ grinding metal, sawzall, angle grinder and whatnot

measuring tape

welder. a simple 110 mig would do just fine

paint fo bling

SAFETY STUFF, goggles and gloves, welding mask.

a few strong men, or a jack capable of positioning the tube in place while you weld it on.





admire the old busted junk



cut that old junk out via cut off wheels or sawzall blades or both. i cut to the flat spot on the top of the old rocker and on the bottom left about 1/2" of the old rocker sheet metal coming off the floor.

this pic is untrimmed



trimmed and all neatened up.


cap the ends so junk dont get inside them, could also use them as airtanks now.





mocked her up

she looks pretty in there. i ended up using 57 1/4" of 2x6 on each side, fits perfect in place of the stock rocker.


began welding. basically just weld it wherever metal touches. i did a couple inches per time and clamped it together with a c clamp to pull it tight in places.


BAM!




for most wheeling that will do just fine, but if you constantly bounce off boulders and whatnot it isnt a bad idea to tie it into the framerails

 

Ehh, rock sliders would be nice, but I have nerf bars that take the abuse just fine. Then again, I don't put them through hell.

 

you made that look significantly easier then building and installing the sliders I just made. I guess i goofed up. but my junk wasnt as trashed as that, a little dented, not rusty though, and the sliders cover it up. Nice work though and im diggin the air tank idea.

 

Nice write up thanks

 

this thread is for rock sliders,not significantly weaker, low clearance alternatives. if nerf bars get the job done for you thats fine and dandy.

thank ya, this is my second set of sliders like that and i kinda goofed up on the first set, but it got the job done. had to trim and bend my doors and didn't cap the ends then so crap got inside and foolishly left more stock rocker underneath so that got mangled.



thank you!

 

Did you weld it into the pinch seam? I would like to do this but with re long arm kit the belly pan runs up to the pinch seam and bolts into it. Any ideas will this work?

 

youll have to alter the crossmember to bolt to the rock rails...

 

Has anyone done this?

 

Hi, I am going to do this to my xj. Did you tie the 2x6 to the frame or just to the body? Thanks.