Allpro APEX slider install issues/questions

X-post from Armor since it doesn't seem like that section gets much attention.

Hello TW fam. I just test fitted a set of Allpro apex sliders I picked up and I ran into a few fitment issues/concerns. It might not be an issue at all, but I would like to see what you guys think of it.

1. Bottom bracket/frame distance. I'm supposed to install a counter sunk bolt here, but the frame seems pretty far apart from the bracket. Is this normal?

At the time of the photo, I had the front cross-member bolt semi-snug, the 2nd rear most bolt semi snug and the two bolts on the passenger side electrical connector bracket bolted in.





2. Bolt holes not lining up. Again, normal/common occurrence?



3. Where the hell do all these nuts/bolts go. The directions Allpro provides on their website isn't very specific on where specific bolts/nuts go. I can only see myself using the 16 main bolts, the 8 plates, 8 nuts and the 8 counter sunk bolts

 

@allpro

 

I actually thought about that. Was going to call around on Monday to see how much shops charge around here to weld these on.

 

It took some finagling to install mine by myself. What I found was lining up the frame bolts first then do the crossmember bolt last. And I used all the bolts they provided.

 

Don't know if this is helpful, but the shop that did mine, who had done multiple previous AllPro Tacoma installs, found that the fitment and ease of installation was not up to the quality of their previous experiences. Sounds like finding work-arounds is common. That being said, now that mine are (bolted) on I have slid the weight of the truck on them and they've held up.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Let's see if @allpro has any input before I make a decision to either bolt or weld. I just primed and painted the set, waiting for the paint to cure now

 

Something doesn't look right, but hard to tell what's going on in the photo. The mounting bracket should sit flush with the side and bottom of the frame. The existing bolt holes should line up.

You have to drill 4 holes on the bottom and one hole on the side (last hole in the rear).
If I remember correctly there's 7 bolts on the side with 3 of those locations using the nut plates; 1 bolt with nut plate for the cross member location; and the 4 counter sink bolts on the bottom.......this is per side.

3 of the holes you'll be using will be the break line attachment points so you'll need to relocate the break lines a bit. I carefully bent them down a little and created some brackets out of flat aluminum bar to secure the break lines. There's couple different methods you'll find in this forum to secure the break lines. I'd post a link, but can't remember which thread it was.

 

Thanks for the clarification! I just painted the set yesterday. I'll fit them again this coming weekend. Maybe I didn't have them angled correctly.

 

@SK808 , I took a photo of my sliders and labeled the holes you mentioned. I know this is the driver side one, but the layout is the same as the passenger side.





What I'm getting for the passenger side is:

The two in green are for the electrical connector bracket.
#1 is the cross-member needing a nut plate
#7 is the rear one that needs to be drilled out.
#4,#5 & #6 just need washers, nuts, bolts
#2 & #3 needs nut plates

I took a brief look at my truck and the location for #2 is covered by a piece of adhesive pad. The location for #3 has a solid plastic cover. I can see taking these both off and using a nut plate for mounting. The problem is both #2 & #3 are part of the fully boxed frame. #3 seems reasonably accessible, but #2 seems pretty far into the frame. Did you have this issue? @allpro ?

 

I slowly jacked the slider up and lined the holes until pressed tightly unto the frame. It does not look like the holes lined up but when pressed tightly against the frame from the bottom, lined up perfectly. I marked the holes and drilled. There's a thread somewhere of an Apex install. Step drill bit and jack method made the drilling holes easy. This was on a 2nd Gen though. For my 3rd Gen, it will be welded to save a little on weight.

 

Like others have said already, you need to jack the slider plate all the way up to the bottom of the frame and align the holes.

 

yep yep. I'll try again this weekend. Already got myself some cobalt bits for the drilling part.

 

The two circled in green: Only 1 is for the wire harness bracket. The hole closest to the square tubing is a mounting hole....use bolt, nut and washers.
#1: Yes. Don't forget to put the nut plate in the cross member before you start mounting the slider.
#7: Yes. There's a slight curve to the back of the frame, so that back location doesn't sit flush until you bolt it down. The bolts provided wasn't long enough to get it started because of the gap, so I had to pick up a slightly longer bolt. I think I needed a 1/2" longer bolt. Just make sure it's Grade 8. Grade 5 would probably be fine as well, but I figured stronger the better.
#4 & 5: Yes. Just needs bolts, nuts and washers
#6: No, you will need a nut plate. If I remember correctly I think there's a plastic cover on that hole as well. The hole is a bit large to only use a washer.
#2 & 3: Yes. Nut plates on both. Yes #2 has an adhesive pad. I didn't bother trying to peel it off. I just put a hole through it with a screw driver. Yes, #3 has a plastic cover, just pull it off. #2 and 3 is in the boxed frame area. It sucked trying to get #2 bolted. I loosened the brake line brackets to move them out of the way and I just stuffed my arm in there. Ended up with quite a bit of scratches on my forearm, but I got it done. If you have large forearms you may want to find someone with skinny arms to help you out. Not to state the obvious, but remember to bolt on #2 before #3. By the way, there's another wire harness bracket hole in this area that you won't be able to use (hole gets blocked). I just secured the wire harness with a tie strap.

Last note: Before you bolt everything up check the clearance between the 2" box tubing and your pinch weld. I forgot to check this when I first installed it and 2 of the locations on the drivers side was hitting when I had passengers in the truck. The noise is loud and annoying as hell. I had to take the slider off and trim the pinch weld a bit.

Good luck!!

 

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!

 

Super helpful, I was wondering what the hell the deal was with the hardware.

 

sub'd

 

Here's another install post that I found helpful and added some info to.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-pro-slider-install.464236/page-5

 

I'm having the most difficult time with #2 right now. I've been driving with the sliders for over 3,000 miles now but still want every single bolt to be on this thing. Also on #7, what tools is everyone using to drill? An angle drill?

 

I was able to get all the side bolts in place and slightly loose except for #7 which I drilled out afterwards.

I’m pretty sure that on the rear most holes, #7 I was able to use my cordless straight in there and I did it after the slider was installed.


Look here too

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-pro-slider-install.464236/page-5



**Cobalt bits are a must unless you want to burn out your drill.

**Start with a smaller pilot hole, like 3/16 or 1/4 then work up to the final size otherwise it’ll take forever and again risk wasting your drill.

**Not sure if titanium bits are as effective.


**** I also had to buy some longer bolts because at a few locations the ones they sent were too short to start. I did this solo in the street so having someone push in wasn’t an option.



**** I made some small aluminum tabs to extend my brake line holder mounts. Pretty sure I posted pix and dimensions.

 

Thank you!