Rock Sliders

I'm in the design-stage of building some rock-sliders for my rig. I have an '07 with the access-cab. Looking to see if any other 2nd-gen owners have tips for how and where to mount them on the frame. Pictures would be great! Thanks

 

There are DIY slider threads with plans on TW.

 

Agree, that is a great initial resource to explore.

Granted Rock sliders can get expensive, but the serious built ones do require not only welding skills but most times the ability to bend some heavy wall larger diameter tubes. That may be a limiting factor for many DIY guys, unless they buy a kit.

 

Square bar would be the easiest. Portaband/grinder cut off wheels, welder, wire wheel, flapper disc.

Equally space out the kickers with mounting plates and encapsulate atleast two points that connect to the frame weld each corner. Since I'll be getting just a harbor freight welder make sure you get penetration. The machines rated for 3/16 but I plan on using atleast 1/4 or 5/16. If you're worried about penetration, make you're first pass, full welds on both sides, than stack two more welds on both sides of the first pass, that should be plenty. Give the mounting plates a quick little tack. Put it on the frame, make sure it's tight then tack again, pull off and weld it out. That way it's the true angle to the frame with no gaps.

I plan on doing a fab of one here in a little bit. I plan on welding individual plates to the frame, than weld the sliders to the plates that way you can cut them off without digging into the frame. I am going to try and have a slight angle upwards just like the Cali raised sliders.. round tube looks better but I'm in it for functionality rather than looks. Wish I had one earlier kuz I already joed up one side of my truck, make sure you test fit then lay atleast 5-6 coats of primer, then 7-8 coats of paint. Then some clear coat. Its going to get fucked up eventually for sure but more coats the better.

 

Tell me about it!
I went the build it yourself route.
I used the 1boredclerk bolt on slider frame plate CAD files to have my frame plates cut / bent - $$
Tried to save $$ by building my own tube bender ( Crash and burn on that one! ) - $$ down the drain
Bought a tube bender + stand + Die - $$$
Bought 2x as much tube as I needed ( because I'm a N00B and screwed up my bends the first few times ) - $$
( not necessary since I had a flux core welder, but.... )
upgraded to a MIG welder - $$$
bought the MIG Bottle - $$$

honestly, just materials and bender alone, I'm no doubt at the cost of just buying some good sliders. Now I know why they are not cheap! But living in I did not have many choices. Suck it up, pay the big $$ for some sliders, get hosed on the exchange rate, get hosed on shipping ( driving cross border is out of the question ATM, its an 8hr drive one way just to get to the USA. ) OR buy all this stuff, make my mistakes, learn from them and make my sliders.

I went this way so that not only can I make my sliders, but I can make some for some friends, and possibly sell some sliders and making some of my $$ back.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Just letting you know this is how my journey has been.


Here's some of the information I've discovered along the way.

The square tube that comes off the frame, and what ties in the round tube is 2" square tube, 1/8" thick

round tube: 1 3/4" O.D. .120 wall
Broken down in to two categories, DOM and EW
DOM is considered "king" or the most durable, strongest, however you want to slice it, but its more expensive
EW ( electronically welded ) is cheaper, not considered to be "as strong" but from what I read and seen on youtube ) unless you are dropping on rocks from really really high up, it good enough! Seriously, check out this video

you'll need approx 10' of round tube and 10' or square tube per side of your truck to make sliders.


**edit**
I almost forgot, most sliders for Taco's are angled up 20 degrees, not from the frame, but from the other end ( if that makes sense... ) Look at some pictures of sliders not installed on the truck, and you'll see what I mean.