Northern Virginia Roll Call

I ain't no engineer either lmao. I do know with this type of stuff is it's a shell game of moving the weakest point; we strengthen something, another thing becomes the next thing to possibly fail. So that's what I'm looking for.

I kind of have a clear set of goals in mind with the truck and armor is absolutely paramount for that, so I'm trying to get the most protection possible while limiting failure points.

 

Can you take a look at the last page or so and render an opinion?! Would greatly appreciate it lmao

 

When I get a break from work I will lol. I'm a fresh out of school engineer though so we'll see how much you want my opinion

 

Thank you!

Speaking of sliders, how effective are normal angled sliders at being "steps"--I need to sell this up food chain lol

 

It’s really not difficult. If you can lay a half decent bead, you can weld on sliders. Our frames are only like 1/8” thick anyways.

 

I'm still pleading my case to better and shorter half, as well as other family members!! They've been on for nearly 2 years!

 

At first glance I dont think it would hurt anything. Worst case scenario it bends the mounting face a little, but theres already a bend there so it wouldnt hurt anything. I would think it still mates up flush and wouldnt change clearance at all. The frame plate for the sliders isnt super thick, so It wouldnt change the angle on the mating faces of the two skids much. If anything (if the steel doesnt bend) the top part of the mating face would have a small gap, but the seam on the bottom (facing the ground) shouldnt see a gap. This is all assuming they mate up the way I think they do and the two skids just butt together and are bolted together

 

RCI's skids are "stacked" as they go back. I cant see them, so it doesnt bother me.

As for angled sliders, they can work as a step.. they will just be higher than the flat ones. I use some grip tape on the top so theyre not as slick in winter and rain.

 

I’m not blessed with height but my gf decidedly less so, so that’s my dilemma lmao

 

Now after seeing someone carelessly open their door into my sliders, it definitely brought about some actual appreciation by my wife.

She won't step on it so there's no grip tape on her side!

 

I did the rokblokz because of mud on our dirt and gravel road and driveway...she'd slide down them and get dirt and mud on her leg attire (be it dress, pants, etc.).

I use it especially without a grab handle on the driver side.

 

Ill probably be in Leesburg this afternoon if you wanted to check out my truck/sliders/skids.. If youre not available, ill just take my daily driver. @LocoLocal lives across the street from my parents. So maybe Ill see him too haha

 

I’m definitely available, let me know when and where.

 

I may just give it a shot when the time comes. I need welding practice anyway.

 

I care way more about door dings than she does, but that's definitely an added bonus for me psychologically. My plan was to go grip tape where one typically steps and that's it--not a fan of those dimpled fill ins/whatever they're called.

I need a set of flaps that aren't the inflexible OEM stuff. How are those going? Worried about tearing them out at all?

I also told a nearby Toyota dealer (AutoNation lol) about the scratching the OEM flaps caused on the flares. Trying to get myself a backup set of flares on Toyota's dime.

 

Tell him I said, "SUCK IT".

 

The rokblokz work, I got the regular size and they are in with/come out via #2 philips screws...so I haven't been offroad since coming into them, but I'd pull them off as a preemptive saver...they're better for offset tires, and are definitely pliable but not like the 2nd gen flopping around pliable.

 

The only thing to watch out for is what's inside the frame rail where you're welding. On the drivers side there are brake lines, so I unclip them and use a piece of 2x4 to hold it away from the frame. You may have wiring in there too. Other than that, really no different than welding anything else, aside from being in an uncomfortable position the whole time.

 

These were taken before putting in the Dobinsons leaf springs which gave me 2.75" of lift

rear flap perspective with 285/70r17 setup

here's the driver's side front and rear at an angle

 

And they flex decently? I don't really have a point of reference re: the second gen.