Cherokee.Dreamer

Getting Rock sliders and would like to know the pros and cons of each. TO many things come up to mind when i try to narrow down the possibilities of wht could happen but would just like some other opinions/facts. Thanks

BuckH

Why not bolted and welded.?

thatXJguy

In my opinion, bolt on would be my choice.

I would like the ability to put on/take off when I want to, because I don't really like the look of them.

Weld is obviously a much more permanent option, but may be stronger in some cases.

NorCalJeep

Bolt, IMO. Easy to take off and work on. Welding is more of a permanent solution.

caged

as long as it's a good design, bolt on is better, for obvious reasons.
but weld on would also work, as long as it's a good design.
if it's a bad design and welded, you could do more damage if the slider bends and tears the frame where it's welded.

holycaveman

Never had bolt ons. But I have seen plenty of bent ones. In my observance they are not as durable.

I simply cut out my rockers and welded a 3x5 beam in. I have beat them quite a bit. Never bend, or even dent. Rock solid. Most people don't even know they are not factory! LOL









Not to mention you gain quite a lot of clearance.

Power73

why 3x5? looks odd to me. i like the 2x4/2x6 better

holycaveman

To me the 2x6 looks like those cheesy truck running boards, LOL. jk, I got the 3x5 because they are stronger than the 2x6. I have seen pictures of bent 2x6 and 2x4 rails. These things are not bending. I have landed on rocks, used them as pivot points, not even a dent. Doors sit 1/8" from the beam. You can jack up one corner of the slider and it does not bend towards the door even a 32ond.

I was trying this crazy rock ledge the other day and I kept dropping off the ledge right on to the left slider. BAM! it would slam ever time. Never even a dent. Did not even move.

They fit perfect with the pinch seams so you dont have to bend the lower seam over. I believe also this is better to support the beams.

They may be noticable in pictures. But everyone does not even know they are there until I point them out. Most people say they thought they were factory.

So looks wise I could not be happier.

storm101

If I did it over again I'd bolt them on...unless you're cutting out the rocker and replacing and fabbing the whole unit as one.

Welded correctly I'm sure will last longer and be stronger, but if you're living in a place like I do that uses a crap ton of salt in the winter (if you're the daily driver type ), you're eventually going to wish you could pop the sliders off for rocker replacement or the slider rocker combination previously mentioned.

holycaveman

There is some truth here. If I would have welded them on they would have fallen off already LOL

I gave a body shop guy a hundred bucks to weld them in. Well worth it. He welded about a hundred holes(spot welds) and welded the seams.

ktmracer419

You will not bend the 2x6, so thats a moot point. (as long as it isnt like 1/8" thick lol, but yours will also bend/dent at 1/8") I used the same pieces of 2x6 on both of my xjs and on both of them the unibody got crushed in. I could just grind down the rock gouges and they would look like a fresh piece of steel.

And they will bend in towards the door if you hit them like you say you do.

smeltmaster1

i would like to see some pics of your unibody bent from the sliders bc i am going to be doing this soon and i want to know the weak points

ktmracer419

the sliders just crushed into the doors, bent the door lips, door seals turned into big gaps. it was pretty even through the length of the slider. my doors are now welded shut, so i cant really take a picture of the most visible damage

Just went outside to look, and the front of the sliders are pushed about an inch towards the middle and 3/4" up. the rear of the sliders are maybe 3/4" up and the body is crinkled right above it (2 door)

Cherokee.Dreamer

the Guy welding.them.on and building.the has close to 15 years of experience and has made/ sold many sliders to other people and have welded them to there rigs as.well and have not had any problems

N20jeep

that little extra width of the 2x6 helps out a good bit in tight trails. not to mention the 1" ground clearence advantage it has over the 3x5.


and I'm willing to bet, anything that would bend my 2x6 would have no problem bending your 3x5