CBI Bolt-on Rock-Sliders

Finally installed my new bolt-on Rock sliders from CBI. Got the passenger side installed without much problem, but the driver's side was another story! I sincerely think that the problem is with my new frame (bad/fat welds), and not the sliders themselves, although the clearance could have been a wee bit more facilitating.

There are four separate mounting plates on these sliders, and was able to get the bolts in on the passenger side with only a little "prodding" with my hydraulic jack on a couple of the brackets to convince them into place. The "U" shaped brackets had to be deformed slightly (by jacking the entire weight of the truck on one side of the bracket only) to get them to completely surround the frame rail enough to get the bolts through at the top.

On the driver's side, no matter WHAT I tried, I was only able to get bolts through on the middle 2 brackets. Look at the pictures below and you will see what I mean. The weld at the top of the frame rail is SO sloppy it forms a ridge that extends the height of the frame by nearly 1/4"; too much to get the bolt through to the other side. Short of removing the cab and bed, I can't get a grinder or any kind of tool up there to clean up the weld enough to give me clearance.

So, I will have to do with just the 2 center plates holding the slider secure on the driver's side. Even without bolts through them, both the front and back brackets fit the frame tightly from top to bottom. So tight in fact, I had to use the entire weight of the truck to get the brackets to slide up around the frame.

All in all, I wish that CBI would have addressed this by possibly altering the front and back mounting brackets, but it probably fit fine on their test vehicle, but there is just NO room at all for this type of need for adjustment. You also have -0- clearance for the bolts so you have to be really careful not to damage anything on the center 2 brackets.

 

did you contact CBI about the fitment issues?

 

To what end? If anything, I'd have to pack them back up, and ship them back. I am planning on giving them a call however, because although ultimately out of their control, the shipment took over 3 weeks to get to me after confirmation of their shipment. I will also bring up the fitment at that time.

 

maybe they would have helped troubleshoot or sent you another set ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

never know until you try, if they determined the product was defective they may not even want it back.

 

True, and thanks for the insight, but it’s just not what one is thinking about when yer under your truck wrestling those big-ass things into position; they just “should” fit, right??

 

the new frame shouldn't be that much different from the original (minus the rust, lol). But if those minor changes are enough to make it extremely difficult to fit, CBI I would think want to know about it so they could engineer it with different tolerances since new frames are fairly popular things in some regions.

This also might be a known issue where they have different brackets they could have sent.

 

haha I have definitely been there

 

I have some as well. I'm glad I didn't have that issue. I did however notice that there are some longer bolts required for a couple of locations requiring me to unbolt and redo a few of them. I also unknowingly pinched a harness i didn't see above the frame rail. No damage though.

It would be nice to have some sort of indexing reference as well. I had to measure several times as I was putting them on to be sure they were "even" front to back on both sides. I had to put the jack under them and "press" them in place as well. I was off an inch the first time and had to get a pry bar and try to remove them. It worked but oh my god what a pain in the ass. I did the side that didn't have much adjustability first, then tried to match the other side to it.

I moved them the inch and slowly pressed them up at each bracket, checking alignment the whole way up. I used a dead blow to move them ever so slightly at the beginning because once they were on so far you can't move them.

All things considered they are amazing. Saved my ass at Moab way more than I thought they would.

 

I agree, they are amazing! Whoever invented them in the first place did an amazing job. I guess that's why I'm not "too" bummed about the fit. Even without bolts on the front or back brackets, they "ain't going anywhere!"

 

Yes I agree, give them a call. I know how you feel about being under the truck and wrestling with stuff under there. Just got out from under there.

 

I have an elementary school buddy who was a partner? (I forget) at CBI in the beginning. If I remember correctly he helped with these. Don't know if it was design or fabrication or both. He was with me in Moab last year, and I got them because of his recommendation. They make good stuff. I would give them a call and see what they say. I agree shipping them back would be a bitch...