Rock sliders

Thank you, for your help

 

I was going to, but I decided to have them do it. It was cheap from the guys that built them. I live close enough to drive there. Mine are hybrids, weld to the frame with bolt flanges. Stronger than no flanges. But you either bolt on or weld on, depends on the maker. Remember, mine is an 05, but the concepts are the same.

 

I know someone that could weld sliders in for me if I asked

 

Make them or install them?

 

He probably could make them, but he’s so busy I might sell the truck before he ever had them done, but I think if I got a bolt on one he could add some welds for more strength

 

Don't weld to your frame if you don't have to.

 

Warpage?

 

I would be hesitant to weld to the frame with a late gen as well. But when you have a 2005, you do whatever you want, lol.

 

No, you won't warp. But, you want a skilled welder and not a 110v flux core hobby guy. And someone who knows enough to move your wiring out of the way. And DC the battery.

 

Heating metal changes the way it behaves. Look at knives and heat treating, quenching, etc. I don't want to change the properties of my frame.

 

Right, but OP has a newer truck.

 

Agreed, I make knives as well, I have a little knowledge in metallurgy. I don't pretend to know what late gen rules are, frames, etc. But, I'm very confident in my sliders, bumpers, shock tower gussets, spindle gussets - all welded.

 

That's what I said. We are on the same page.

 

The welder would be my brother in law, he has his own shop, we aren’t close but he has helped my out with issues in the past with other vehicles, he’s also a farmer so between those two things he’s really busy which is why I wouldn’t bother him to make me some sliders

 

Making sliders is a whole other deal. Tube benders are not pipe benders. And the time and materials - go with a maker that does it every day.

 

I guess I’ll go with something around a grand, Victory 4x4 makes a nice slider for that price, and get it bare metal like Godzilla suggested so I can paint it up myself, thank you everyone who posted!!

 

Ok, as for those, I would not use them as a true slider. The brackets get mounted to the frame, then the sliders get mounted to the brackets. That's two separate bolts in single shear situations trying to hold a big fat truck.

Compare that two part design to stuff like Cali Raised, RCI, WKOR, etc. They are a plate that runs all along the frame that the bolts go through.

 

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VTU23SL-ST.html I’m thinking these

 

I was gonna go this route. But after pricing materials, it wasn't worth my time to do it. After building my cat plate/skid plate, I have zero desire to to crawl under my truck to try and measure everything out, then fitting and tacking, etc etc just to get a set of sliders. If I had a lift I would have definitely given it a shot.

 

I don't hear a ton of love for Victory, but those do have the square main tubes you want. Check out @GODZILLA recommendations. That's what I would do based on his experience and your truck.

 

I personally won't buy Victory stuff, but there are lots of people that have their stuff and like it.

Setting aside my personal feelings toward them, I would say look at other sliders in the same price range to see if you feel they would be better. I didn't go Victory initially because I preferred the one solid plate design vs the three smaller ones they use.

I wound up buying RCI, and if it helps, they usually do a Labor Day sale.

 

Ok I’ll keep shopping

 

Don't let me sway you. I just want you to make an informed decision. If you like the Victory ones, watch to see if they put them on sale at some point. They just lost face here on the forums after the way they handled (failed to handle) an issue with their roof rack install procedures puncturing side curtain airbags, and I know of at least one customer that got a bumper that couldn't take the parking sensors properly that they didn't handle well.

 

https://www.jegs.com/i/Trail-Gear/542/2007-APEX/10002/-1

Plus they have a promo on the top of their page. $50 off $500+ purchase.

 

Those look like weld ons, but can't tell. They even say right on the web page that the pictures are not the item. Too sketchy IMO.

 

Ahh I see it now. Thats a bummer.

 

Jegs is good for some stuff, not for armor. It's funny that sliders seem so expensive, and they are, but for what we spend on our truck - straight bargain for the good ones. Best 1200-2000 you will spend if you leave the mall. Even if you don't - great door protectors in parking lots as well.

 

Yup. Mine paid for themselves when I made one mistake on Imogene. Thing is, most of us have no problem spending on them, but some have to answer to their financial advisors. OP has to get his financial advisor on board, for example. I mean, you could always go wheeling, scrape up the bottom a little, show the $1000+ repair bill and loss of value on the truck due to damage, and then see if the financial advisor sees the wisdom in protection.

 

None of you are swaying me, i got on this forum and started this thread to be educated and informed so I don’t spend my hard earned cash on garbage or be tricked into buying something that isn’t truly a slider, I’m seeing now that a good slider is gonna be a higher price point item

 

Not sure if these have been mentioned here yet

https://www.tundras.com/threads/demello-hybrid-slider-review.111143/