Truck body was hitting sliders, still very close (edited title)

So I got my @Pelfreybilt bolt on sliders in and mounted them the day before leaving town. I knew they were too close to the body and a solid hit would cause contact. As it turns out, just bouncing down a potholed forest service road makes the frame flex into the sliders...shit.

I'm wondering if the Energy suspension bushing kit should keep this flex to a minimum (and maybe bring the body up a tiny bit), or if I should do a small (1/2") body lift? I was so stoked to get these, now I'm a little bummed. Anyone else experience this?

The bad/ ugly







The good







@Socalduckslayer

 

Can't you just bend/hammer the pinch weld out of the way a little bit?

 

Yeah. That's a good idea. I'll probably have to remove the sliders to do it... not the most fun, but probably the best option.

 

Is it normal to need to do that?

Lot of guys running sliders, can't think of any that had to bend the pinch weld out of the way for them not to contact the body.

 

I was surprised. I've never heard of it before.

 

Just use a pry bar on the pinch and bend it up some

 

Never heard of the need to do this either.

 

With the angle of the sliders, I don't think this will work.

 

@Pelfreybilt

 

Pry from the inside/under the body. I did this on a first gen I had a few years back after i welded then a little too close

 

That sounds like a good idea. Hopefully I didn't wear through the powder coat today. I'll do that in the morning.

 

Did you mention it to Satin? I'm sure she will get you squared away quick.

 

Don't pry until after you've talked to the Pelfrey's, I'm sure if something is out of the ordinary they will make it right.

 

I tagged her and Tyler. I really just figured it out today. Plus, they're going through some difficult times with her Dad's health. I don't expect them to see this until Monday. I thought I'd use you creative bastards to help me find a low cost solution.

I'm going to shoot her an email too.

 

Yeah. I'd just wait. No need to do anything to your rig unless necessary. Maybe they have an idea of how to fix it without bending/hammering at all. If you don't really care, then go right ahead though!

 

So far it's only made contact on the driver side all the way in the back. I might persuade that part out of the way be fore I go wheeling again, probably tomorrow.

 

I notched my pinch weld to prevent any contact

 

What I would worry about if it is contacting with no pressure, is if you actually use it as a pivot point, it might bend all the way up into the body. Sliders flex a bit no matter how great of quality.

 

@Mobtown Offroad , any thoughts (other than to suggest that I should have purchased from you )

 

This is exactly the concern. I don't really plan to hit them hard - it's my DD. The scars on my frame and skids suggest that it's a possibility though. Edit - As does the big dent in my passenger side rocker panel.

My concern with bending/ notching to bend is rust. ugh.