Rock Sliders

Trying to get knowledgeable on rock sliders, e.g., round tube, square tube, kick out, no kick out, etc. What the hell to do or think on this subject?

Currently, I have basic running boards (RB10s) on the truck...so just curious as to the forum's opinions.

 

I think the look of round vs square is a matter of preference - I like straight edges. However DOM round tubing is much stronger than square.

if you wheel hard then I would recommend some sort of kick out to protect the body or make sure they stick out a lot like the Demello Rock Crusher sliders that I have. When you’re doing a pivot move on a big rock, you don’t want those rocks anywhere near the body panel.

 

Well, went for @Caliraisedled rock sliders...good looking, shipped fast, had a few scratches on them but nothing a little paint will not solve. Now, I'm going to vent for a minute or two...

1. The product is robust but dammit, how about spend a little time to include some instructions and maybe a parts list in the shipment. A box of fasteners and plates really do not mean much at that point.
2. Yes, I know you have a video showing the install...but is does NOT show the difficulty of the driver's side using the handles (this is conveniently forgotten similar to the light bar install...hard ass parts are not shown or talked about). Speaking of the handles, they are not bent at the right angles to screw the bolt in...if you position the handle flush against the frame, it is about 1.5" above the bolt hole. I cannot pull the handle down to start the bolt because of the damn gas tank.
   
3. The parts shown on the table at 3:21 does NOT match the parts list at 3:53. The handles...and spacers...it's easy to see which ones are not like the other. And, the video does not reference anything about shorter spacers or a 90 degree handle.

I'm pretty decent with my hands (workworking and wrench a few cars with my Dad as a kid) but this install is kicking my ass...it took me 3.5 hours to get the effing easy bolt in. I even got the wife out on the ground to try to help me line up the bolts with the handles and that shit didn't work.

Anybody have any ideas to prove I'm a dumbass?

 

@Caliraisedled

Sorry I can't help, maybe manufacturer can help.

 

Does anyone have experience with the Tyger brand? I’ve seen the Star Armor line and like the looks but know nothing of the brand.

 

I've already got a chat going with them...figured tomorrow I may not be as nice as I was today.

 

That's frustrating. I've had two sets. Victory and WKOR. The WKOR was super easy. Hardest part was drilling the frame but it was worth it.

 

White Knuckle Off-Road.... best in the biz!!

 

Took about 4 hrs to install my caliraised, I did remove the gas tank skid for easier access. Your pics do show they screwed up my spacers as I got 2 long and the rest were short, opposite of yours. I ended up using stainless nuts to increase the length of spacers. Other than that I did have to file down one of the square holes to fit a square nut, it was a little tight and wouldn't thread properly. And you'll prob have to notch the skid plate after you install to get it back due to the new hardware to mount the sliders.

 

How do you like your Rock Crushers? How was the install?
I’m close to ordering a set of them because I need to have a slider that can serve as a step (3 kids) and I’m not a fan of the big kick-outs in the back... 2nd choice would be WKOR with full top plate that will run a couple hundred more than the Demello.

 

I vote for the WKOR sliders!

 

I’m running demello rock crushers as well. Square tube ftw, they double as a great step as well

Hey cruzer did you ever get that support welded on your rock crushers? I have been wheeling pretty hard lately and I always think of the flex on the sliders you showed on a previous post.

 

not cruzer but I can answer the install question... it’s pretty straight forward, lines up perfectly as you would expect a demello product too, only thing is there is one hole in the frame you need to drill out if you want maximum support. I didn’t drill it out as it was really close to the gas tank. Mine have been fine as bolt on without the last hole drilled but I do not jack from the sliders

 

Not yet. Most shops I've asked want to hold my truck for a week, which I can't do. Maybe I do need to learn how to weld.

 

I love mine. The square tube is definitely easier to stand on. A lot of the times I'll be standing on top of the bed rack or on the bed side and just jump down onto the sliders, without worrying if I'm going to slip off. Having a 1" strip of griptape helps out too.

**EDIT** As for the install, at the time, I didn't have the patience or correct set of drill bits so I just had them welded on by a shop.

 

Have you tried calling them? I have called a few times and they're extremely responsive and helpful.

 

Yes, talked to them yesterday...been on chat with the same dude for a couple of days now.

 

UPDATE

Passenger side installed less than 45 minutes (no gas tank). Everything fit, no struggle.
Driver side going to be a bitch. Struggle imminent.

The hardware pack is jacked up...missing one large backing plate and the spacer sizing is wonky. They are not right-sized as someone mentioned above. Will throw some zinc nuts on to make it work right.

Dreading going back to the driver's side...I guess I could leave it off or put the RB10 back on...wouldn't that be some funny shit.

 

I had similar issues installing my wife’s Cali raised sliders on a 4runner

 

Okay, finally got the @Caliraisedled sliders on today and all effing bolts are in. Here are my takeaways:

1. Cali Raised products are great.
2. Cali Raised videos are crap - I watched Victory 4x4's video to get a good understanding of the challenges of the driver's side install.
3. Cali Raised customer service isn't as good as it should be - an example, I had to debate with the phone rep on how many large backing plates should be in the parts kit. The video has a parts list shown and the guy demoing the install has a different number of parts on the table than the parts list. Also, the spacers are different heights and there is no direction on which ones go where...it doesn't matter because I had to supplement them anyway with larger nuts and lock washers to keep the clamps level when wrenching them down (if you do not, the clamp is at an angle and screws up the bolt threads. I asked them to air the extra parts to get them for this weekend...UPS Next Day Air Saver doesn't have a Saturday delivery option, so they'll be here Monday. [smh] I'll install the longer bolt Monday evening.
   
4. If you get the step style plates with filler plate, put the filler plate on before bolting it up to the truck. Trust me, you'll thank me.
5. The handles...so much a shit show...(1) the S-curve handles work great when you know the secret and (2) the 90 degree handle (my second rant of profanity coming from the garage). The secret is to drop the gas tank shield (6-12mm nuts and remove it) - the extra room allows the handles to be used in the install...well almost. The 90 degree handle - I was having a bitch of a time getting the bolt to screw into the snap nut. After about an hour, I pulled the handle back out and tried the bolt while sitting on the garage floor and guess what - the square punched out opening, once snapping the nut onto the handle, is too small for the bolt threads. So, running to Harbor Freight, I purchased a square file and took a hair off one of the lateral sides, snapped the nut back on the handle, and wa-la, the bolt screwed into the handle as it should. I also purchased a small inspection mirror and magnetic grabber because it really helps to see the bolt and handle on the driver's last one. And, the magnetic grabber...you will drop shit on the frame rail that is hard to grab with your fingers.
6. The clamps I mentioned earlier - I did not want to destroy the threads on the bolts, so I supplemented the spacers with a larger galv nut (slipped over the medium bolt) and lock washers to keep the plate level when cranking down on it. The passenger's side is easy - less than 45 minutes to install - the driver's side clamps are challenging getting all of the fastener system on the bolt before cranking down. I purchased a 3/4 crowfoot and added it to my 12" extension and was able to hold the nut and tighten the bolt with another ratchet from below. Make easy work of the clamp system.
7. The gas tank shield - besides dropping it for best access, before putting it back in place, you'll need to install the middle two nuts to hold it up there and use a silver sharpie marker and mark the shield around 2-3 of the clamps which need to be notched out. I used a multimaster and dremel to clean them up...once that's done, the shield fits right back in place.
8. I do have one challenge that I have not figured out yet - the 3 brake line clamps removed from the frame, I haven't been able to reinstall them because the slider hole is a bit off from the frame hole. I may try to loosen the side bolts and put a bottle jack under it to ensure it is high enough.
9. I'll try to snap some pictures tomorrow so you can see what I did.

 

Great tips! My CaliRaised sliders just arrived Thursday and I have checked all the hardware. I have only 6 large backing plates but the install instructions list 7, video shows 6.

Do I need to have CaliRaised send me another backing plate?

 

I had to go back through my notes...I almost 100% sure you'll need to cross your hardware to the written list (3:53 of their install video), not the show-n-tell on the video. It's mind numbing their hardware bags are still jacked up.