Took some big shots yesterday on the trail

Gotta make it brief... and yes pics/vid will be coming soon but:

The trail is not what I remembered it to be. Last time I was on it I was driving a full size Bronco with a 4" suspension lift and 33" tires. No problem.

Also, I think with the record snow and run-off this year, a lot has changed. That and 15 years later I didn't remember it being so gnarly in spots. That said I took some big shots from rocks under Ol' Red yesterday....

1. I feel as though a lot of them were on that flimsy skid plate, but I also feel as though my front diff caught a couple, as well as my frame. I checked for any kind of obvious damage but laying on the trail I didn't see much. I'm going to get it on my friend's lift to further examine things. He can help, but it there anything in particular I should look for? More so than just the diffs... any other common areas that get hit I should look out for?

2. My passenger side rocker panel got abused... kinda like me if I ever landed in a federal penitentiary.... it has about a softball sized dent/crunch from a big hit after trying to slowly creep off a 3-foot (approx) rock - it was the only way to get past this spot. Fixing it is way down the line, if ever at all, so is there any kind of "magic potion" I can spray on it to prevent rust or further damaging of the body/paint?

3. See #2. Let's talk sliders I am looking for that perfect intersection of cost effectiveness, durability and performance. From an aesthetics point of view, I really dig the square tubing(?) look. And I'm pretty sure I want these puppies welded onto my frame, right? I live in Colorado's front range, so if there's anything local anyone recommends, I'm all ears.


Thanks.

MM

 

Gotta make it brief... and yes pics/vid will be coming soon but:

The trail is not what I remembered it to be. Last time I was on it I was driving a full size Bronco with a 4" suspension lift and 33" tires. No problem.

Also, I think with the record snow and run-off this year, a lot has changed. That and 15 years later I didn't remember it being so gnarly in spots. That said I took some big shots from rocks under Ol' Red yesterday....

Same thing with all the trail here

1. I feel as though a lot of them were on that flimsy skid plate, but I also feel as though my front diff caught a couple, as well as my frame. I checked for any kind of obvious damage but laying on the trail I didn't see much. I'm going to get it on my friend's lift to further examine things. He can help, but it there anything in particular I should look for? More so than just the diffs... any other common areas that get hit I should look out for?

well once its on a lift, you'll be able to see plenty and just look around

2. My passenger side rocker panel got abused... kinda like me if I ever landed in a federal penitentiary.... it has about a softball sized dent/crunch from a big hit after trying to slowly creep off a 3-foot (approx) rock - it was the only way to get past this spot. Fixing it is way down the line, if ever at all, so is there any kind of "magic potion" I can spray on it to prevent rust or further damaging of the body/paint?

not really..paint over it i guess.

3. See #2. Let's talk sliders I am looking for that perfect intersection of cost effectiveness, durability and performance. From an aesthetics point of view, I really dig the square tubing(?) look. And I'm pretty sure I want these puppies welded onto my frame, right? I live in Colorado's front range, so if there's anything local anyone recommends, I'm all ears.

check out 4xinovations vendor page. They sell pretty cheap sliders. Also Elite offroad, Relentless offroad...there are tons of vendors. Not many make all square tubbing tho. I have heard they aren't hard to make if you can weld yourself. And yes, weld them to the frame.

 

If the paint isn't chipped off in huge chunks and is just little specks (like rock chip size) I usually steal my sister's clear nail polish (I think it might be called top coat? we need one of our wonderful female members to confirm) and paint over the spot. It doesn't look as bad as if you try to use touch up paint IMO and it is much easier than trying to color match a spot if you're gonna go back and fix it later

 

man you shouldnt be playing on that trail without sliders. It sounds difficult. That damage will be very expensive if you decide to get it fixed and could have been easily prevented with sliders

 

About 30 minutes before sustaining the rocker panel damage I was telling my wife about the wonderful functionality of sliders.

And I've had Ol' Red for 12 years. About time he started showing his age.

 

The paint is chipped, ripped, scratched and any other adjective you can think of

Maybe... and this is a doubtful maybe... I get Ol' Red fixed up (body wise) and give him a new paint job. But that is so far down the road.

Eh... I think I just have to train myself to "get over it"

 

Sorry to hear about the trail damage Buddy! I've been in that situation, it's tough no matter the outcome.

Sliders will prevent further damage and to an extent will cover up what happened to the rocker panel this weekend. Definitely go with weld on, both for cost and for strength.

On inspection, look closely on the bottom of both lower control arms and also around the alignment cams. Another area to inspect is the transfer case. The stock skids on our trucks will absorb some rock impacts but not a whole lot of big hits.

 

4xinnovations sliders! They are the best sliders you can get for the price imo.

 

So the hit on the rocker panel is definitely messing with the door opening and closing. Not that big of a deal but surely noticeable.

I think the rocker panel being pushed up is causing the door (which did not incur damage) to angle ever so slightly upwards. I believe this is causing a bit of unwanted pressure on the latch and the bar it latches to. Now, you have to give the door a little extra "oomph" or else it won't fully close. And when fully closed, the door doesn't line up (again ever so slightly) with the body of the truck to the rear of that seam.

I wonder if I bang on the rocker panel dent... bang it downwards to alleviate that pressure if things will be better.

Please... for the love of God... if this is a bad idea, chime in now

 

Im considering sliders as well.

I have a stock skidplate that covers the front diff. The front diff seems pretty recessed from the skid so id be surprised if I could damage it. If u have the same plate Idk if id worry about that.

However. I always worry about my t-case cuz that thing looks pointy and exposed. Looks like it would take a bike, expensive skid to protect that.

 

Sucks to hear about the damage..Lets see the video

 

Do you have a pic that shows the impact area on the rocker panel? Or maybe one that shows the line along the full length of the bottom of the door?

 

I mean.... a door isn't that complex. Eye it up and if it passes most common sense tests give it a shot. Gotta do wat u gotta do.

 

I've been told... I have big thumbs

 

ouch! looks your in line for some sliders.

i did that same thing pretty much, but i couldnt open my door, i had to kick it open then beat it back down with a hammer.

 

Yeah, just to take pressure of the door to allow it to close, might try pounding down that "high" point. I wouldn't hit the metal directly though. Might try a placing a small 2x4 over it and pounding on that. Based on what I see in the pic, it doesn't look like it would take much.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks

 

The one nice thing is my wife pretty much just said, "buy whatever the f**k you need"