DIY Bolt-On Frame Plates for Sliders

Sweet!
I want to POR15 with maybe a bedline topcoat when I get some sliders. I am thinking about using this plate with the sliders below.
https://trail-gear.ca/trail-gear-rock-slider-kit-78

 

I just had to download these files to build my second set of sliders! Didn't want to fire up the other computer...downloading from TW was just way easier. Files have been submitted for quote. Since there are always questions about cost on these things, I'll let you all know what my quote is. Bear in mind, costs have gone up during the pandemic so I expect a higher price now.

And, I will be selling my current sliders. The ORIGINALS! If anyone is interested, please let me know. This is a pickup only item as they are much too big and heavy (overbuilt a bit with a lot of .188 wall material) to ship. I'll put up an ad in "for sale" as soon as I have them removed from the truck and my new frame plates are in my possession.

And, of course, I'll post up my build as it progresses!

 

This is a understatement, prices have doubled since 2019

 

I just got my quote back: $195 for both, including 3/16" steel, laser cut and bend. Honestly, I'm not mad at that. Considering where the world is at, seems fine. I'm lucky to live in a place where there is still a lot of industry which seems to keep prices reasonable for this stuff.

 

I got my quote for 2x2x.125 wall tubing to build the sliders and the rear shelves behind my rear wheels. $602. I sat on that decision over the weekend. Pulled the trigger today. I just want to wrap up these projects before winter. That steel is kind of critical. I'm not happy about it but it's a hit I need to take to set the rest of this year and the start of next year up for success.

Also, I pick up my new 1BC frame plates tomorrow!

 

What are these rear shelves?

 

Oh, sorry, that's probably useless to the vast majority of you. I'm making some shelves that go from my rear bumper to the frame behind my rear wheels under my camper. Just some extra space to store "stuff". If you have an actual truck bed, they are of no use to you.

 

Pulled the old sliders off today. Looking to start the build on the new sliders tomorrow.

 

awesome,
excited to see what you have in mind.

 

Made some good progress today. This is way easier when you have a pair of sliders to measure!


Cut the main rails that will be under the pinch weld as well as the 4 (per side) standoffs that will connect the main rails to the frame plates.


I got a porta-band and a swag off-road mount that turns it into a makeshift vertical bandsaw. I love this! Works well enough and speeds up my workflow immensely.


Clean up the welding areas with a stripping disc. Super critical to clean off mill scale, rust and anything else before you weld. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Your welds will be terrible if you can get one started. Once clean, I mocked it all up and used magnets to hold it all in place.



Tack weld the standoffs to the frame plate then mock up on the truck. Then you can set your main rails in place to check for fit and trim for length and any other details. I clamped some angle aluminum to two of the standoffs so I could just set the main rails in place. Easy. Be sure to take measurements for final placement of the main rail!


Clean up the weld area on the main rail, set it in place, hold it with magnets then tack weld it.


I didn't bother mocking up the other side to the truck. Based on my experience with this truck and building sliders, the body is usually fairly flat on the frame but it will be off side to side by a decent amount. My cab is .25" to the passenger side but don't bother changing your sliders to accommodate. You'll never notice it. Anyway, I just took the measurements from the one I already mocked up and built the mirror image. And just like that, the basic slider for both sides is tacked together!

Next time I'll work on the outermost rail.

 

Looking good!
that work bench is waaaaaay to clean!

I don't mean to be a debbie downer, but you might want to double check your clearance between your pinch weld and what I lovingly call "the stand off's". your square tube from the frame plate. IMO it looks to high. IE. you'll hit the pinch weld with any deflection.

I did mine 2x. First time I had the square tube "just" above the 90 degree bend. it was maybe 1cm up ( I was thinking I'd give myself enough flat plate to do a nice bead between the square and the plate ). After running it a bit and seeing how much if flexed when I put my hi-lift on it I took them off and moved the square tube down flush with the edge. imagine you could put the plate on a bench where they would sit flat on the 90 degree bend, like standing up. Then I put the square tube flush with the table. Yes this made a bit of a gap on the bottom but I was easily able to weld up that gap ( really wasn't huge ). doing this gave me a comfortable amount of room between the pinch weld and my square tubes.

YMMV, but that was my experience.

if you need more clarity, I have a set of sliders in the garage I'm making for a friend I could easily snap some pics of.

 

I ran 3/4" of clearance on my last sliders and never had any issues and that's what I'm running here.

 

right on!
I suspect some of my issues are from worn out body mounts and quality in manufacturing.............. , lol.

I can't wait for updates

 

Worn body mounts would definitely make a difference. Thinking about it, I had used 3/16" wall turning on my standoffs on my first sliders. I went with 1/8" this time. That may make enough difference to require more spacing. My last sliders didn't budge when I jacked the truck up with them. We'll see. I'll do the good ol jack test before I send them off for powdercoat. Though the impact of a truck slamming down on them is much higher than the gentle lifting from a jack. I added braces to the top of my standoffs to help minimize deflection and I'll do the same here. Also, I don't wheel near as hard with this truck as some of you.

 

Just a little update for today.



Started figuring out and mocking up the outer rail and its leading angle. This looks about right to me.

More to come, obviously. I'm always a little slow Monday nights. Recovering from the shock of retuning to work I suppose.

 

Did a bit more work last night. Welded the outside rail where I cut it to bend. I also cut the four spacers that will support the outer arm. Then tack welded it in place for mockup.



I only tack welded the two supports on either end as this is just for mockup to verify overall fit and look. I'll also mock up my propane tank.

Should be dry-ish this evening so I'll get this bolted to the truck to check it all out. After that, full speed ahead. I'll need to order some bent steel parts so my build will be delayed for those parts to show up but I have a few other things to do in the meantime.

 

looking good!

 

Thanks. I like my other sliders WAY better but these will be much more functional for what I need them to do: hold stuff and be a good step

 

Been chugging along working on these sliders.



Test fit the slider on the truck to verify how far they stick out and whether or not I like the particular angle I chose for the leading edge. Yep, I dig it all. It'll be a little different getting in and out of the truck with the wider sliders but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I plan to add grip tape to the top so they are all season usable for reaching the roof rack.



I also test fit the propane bottle. Plenty of room! Not enough room for a larger bottle but this 11lb'er is probably fine. I don't know how much the heater is going to use in my camper but we'll find out! I'll have the same tray on the driver's side. Not sure what I'm going to put there yet. Maybe an ammo can if a reasonable size fits. Fat 50 cal maybe? The fuel filler takes up a decent amount of room higher up.



Once I verified that everything should look and work the way I wanted, I made a mirror image for the driver's side. I have a connector piece to cut and fit to the leading edge as well as some detail work there. Then it's down to finish welding everything. I'll need to order up the trays that will hold the propane and filler plates. I can fab that stuff at home but the time and effort it will take is not worth it to me. Waiting a week and a half for them to be cut and bent for me is worth it.

The plan is to get the drawings and files done for the filler plates, trays and a few other parts today/tomorrow and get them out for fab by Tuesday.

 

that's looking really good!