Should I remove before going offroad?

My truck came stock with these ridiculous things... should I remove them before going offroad? They're clearly a disaster for clearance, but are they safer than not having any sliders (yet)? Going to the Mojave, and worried about how unprepared I am. If I should, how hard are they to remove?

 

Yes

 

It depends how hard the trails will be but generally in the Mojave there's an easy way around obstacles.

 

You can remove them in about 5 minutes. Theres just 6 bolts on each side securing them to the bottom of the cab.

 

I’d say remove as well, I’ve seen them ripped at the step part where it comes down off the bar closest to the truck, imagine that gets caught on a rock the truck is clearing, then it gets peeled back and pushed up into your door?! It should be 3 sets of 2 bolts along the bottom of the truck if I remember correctly

 

Yep watching an install video right now. Pretty easy to predict the reverse. Screaming to him "DON'T DO IT!" as I watch.

 

The Mojave probably won't touch those, but yes, remove them. If you were to hit them they could bend up and damage your door, pinch weld, etc. And you can probably get some cash for them to put towards sliders!

 

Where in “the Mojave” are you going? There are trails like the Mojave Trail that have long miles of gravel and sand only, no prob for your steps, then there are trails that can rip out your differentials and oil pan. It’s a very big place. I would say you are better off without, just don’t follow any jeeps going boulder crawling, but you can do a lot out there without extra armor or sliders underneath.

 

I took mine off one at a time at Hidden Falls in Marble Falls, TX. When I got home, I took a sawzall to what was left of the mounts and then a flapper wheel to the welds, creating what I like to think of as sacrificial sliders.

 

This is a "Christmas Adventure"... first serious test of my virtually stock (got new wheels and tires) Limited (I know I know I should've gotten the OffRoad or Pro). I'm basically a complete beginner and don't plan on getting into too dangerous of a situation. I don't know MUCH about the Mojave, but I've been reading, watching videos, and examining maps (even got the Mojave Road Guide). My initial plans are the basic dirt/gravel trails, but I do have some plans to test how far I can get to Clark Mountain, for instance, or the lava tubes.

For now, what I have done is 16" wheels with Kbro2s 265/75R16. MaxTrax. Hi-lift jack with offroad kit (not so sure about that offroad kit... seems absurd ... 5000 lbs???). Deflators. Compressor using battery terminals and about 20 minute runtime (ehhhh). Bunch of D shackles. Trying to rapidly progress, but sliders, skids, and lifts are going to have to come later. In my defense, everyone here recommended testing stock first.

 

Clark Mtn, Cima Dome and Caruthers Cyn are some of my favorite places out there. You will do fine, even stock. Watch the weather in December, people have gotten snowed in there over Christmas!

 

How are you going to use the hi-lift?

 

just don't do this

 

Again, keep in mind I'm completely new, but honestly my initial plans are to take it out to my driveway and figure out how to use it safely. After that, if s*** somehow really hits the fan, I'll hope to know enough on this first excursion to know how to use it. However, this is not intended to be the trip I use it on. Really the most important purchase for this trip (in my mind) was the tires. Everything else is just the slow climb.

 

I'll keep that in mind, but I'm not promising anything! I'm hungry to progress!

 

you can use it on the trailer hitch in the back but without sliders or a bumper there is no way to get the front tires off the ground

 

Ehhh this is not quite the video I watched, but it's the basic idea. This won't work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDRKKX3nx6s

 

You are in for some great times, post back about it with pics! Check out this website before you go, too. Have fun!

https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

 

https://youtu.be/ivcOgc5jqYA

This stuff too @boogie3478

 

yeah that would work but you have to have that hi-lift adapter and a jack stand to take the wheel off