Rock Slider installation??

Picked up "Trail Gear" rock sliders and require welding for installation. Any reason why I should NOT drill holes in frame and bolt with grade 8 bolts?? Help me out.

 

why would you want to drill holes in your frame? that could possibly weaken the frame.

 

That's my thought too about drilling holes in frame. Doesn't seem like the best idea but figured I'll ask the experts.

 

I disagree, the frame already has a ton of holds in it. IMO you would be fine as long as you don't go over the top and turn your frame into Swiss cheese.

I'm going to be drilling holes to install some bolt on sliders. I'm not sure if anyone else does this but I'm going to go the extra step and bed line the holes to cover any exposed steel the best I can to avoid rust.

 

I prefer to bolt them on.
If you have room in the flange to drill holes I would.
I had a set made and bolted on my 09 then bought a 4X4 10 and swapped them on to it.

Had a couple places where I could use existing holes so not too many new ones.
There is a lot of unused holes in the frame or ones you could just use a longer bolt, and use with what ever it is bolted to now.

Welding is a forever choice and if the welder is good they will be fine.
If the welder is not so good I can think the frame could be weakened way more than a few holes.

Adding the sliders will also stiffen up the frame as well so it should be better than before.

I like the idea of being able to remove them when I sell it or if I want to do something different.

 

I like the flexability of bolting. Check out the Trail Gear website and you can see where each weld plate has holes on all 4 corners to help with welding; could use those for bolt pattern. I'll need 16 holes per frame side.

 

just weld them much stronger/ safer
unless all you want is looks for a mall crawler
i welded mine and i have used them and they dont budge

 

Drilling holes & welding can weaken a frame. It all depends on how its done.

The frame is very thin. Trying to put threads through it and expecting it to support the weight & abuse, is only asking for them to strip out and/or break.

However - if this is a 2nd gen and the C-channel frame, drilling a straight hole and having a good sized washer (or plate) and a locking nut on the opposite side is a hell of a lot better than trying to put threads in the frame.

Looks like Trail Gear has gussets - that's a good thing.

You want something really strong? Have those sliders welded to some angle iron. Have the angle iron stitch welded to the frame.

 

my bars are from 4xinovations and i have tested them time and time again...they have not moved at all no flex......
i just dagged my ass over a jetty the other day and bent the rear bumper and dented the fender but the bars held strong...
and a few times i have not seen the drop off and have dropped right on them and nothing
i love them

 

no i should have..i got the hrew but i gotta say i have beat them and jacked them and i love them

 

hey did i mention it was a lease...so there is always hind site for the next one......

 

All for quaility but couldn't pass up a deal on never-installed used Trail Gears rock sliders; plus I'm on a budget.

 

yea mee too on the budget....they look good man go get them welded like $75 at a muffler shop and ur done

 

Our rock guards now have added gussets to help with flex, but I've run our rock guards for over 5 years on some of the hardest trails around (without the added gussets) and have never bent them!

We are soon going to offer a DOM option similar to those we currently offer for the FJ Cruisers that will have a Lifetime Warranty against bent tubes!

But back to the OP - the frame has holes and welds on it from the factory, so as long as the work is done right, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

Going to check if frame is C type tonight. That will sum it real quick. Not about to drill through a closed frame to add a 3 or 4 inch bolts to reach the other side. That would be ass backwards.

 

Got bolts and welds! Sucka

 

Kevin was nice enough to weld them after I burnt through 2 regular bits and my cheep drill.

 

Here is my bolt on install.

The second pic is when they were on the 09 prerunner.