DIY Bolt-On Frame Plates for Sliders

It's been a little while since I've been able to work on these. I was sick last weekend but I more than made up for it this weekend!

Prepare for crappy cell phone pics galore!


In the dark garage photo. Yep...can't see a thing.


Filthy truck close-up. Sliders are lookin good to my eyes!


Too dark. Sorry...the phone is all I ever have on me. I have a Go-Pro now so maybe I should take pics with that.


From the rear. I REALLY dig the fit on these. The main beam is exactly even with the widest part of the front door and the kickout is 1.75" wider than that. Perfect.


I still can't figure out a nice way to brace the rear most part of the slider so I drilled a hole in the frame plate just in case I decide to drill the frame in the back and put a bolt through there. There just isn't much room because of the gas tank. We'll see...

Side note: I drove the truck to dinner with the sliders bolted into place and my front two skids on (they've been on for a couple of months so I was used to them). I couldn't believe how different the truck was. It seemed stiffer...which, I guess, it should! I could hear and feel different sounds/vibrations. Nothing odd or annoying, it was just different enough to notice immediately.

 

Looks great! One of a kind sliders for sure

 

You get to see some of the skid plate part of this project because they are attached to the sliders. The Relentless Fab transfer case skid has two arms that reach off the back of the skid to the frame. Two L brackets rest against the frame, you drill a couple of holes and you're done. Of course, since I'm trying to avoid drilling my frame, I overcomplicated the whole frickin' deal...just to avoid drilling two dang holes.

Anyway, here's a blurry, vague pictorial of what I did.


Drivers side looking forward


Passengers side looking forward


Side view of the rear skid mount from frame level. Seems tucked up pretty well to me!

Everything bolts up nicely and seems to play well together. I couldn't be happier! Now, if I can just get powdercoat done soon...and touch up my frame paint where it's been rubbed/chipped off from this whole process...then fluid film the whole thing. Geez...I thought I was almost done! Hopefully we get some dry weather for a few days so I can take care of all of the painting/fluid film. Unlikely but I can hope.

 

I did several mods to the transfer case skid that some might find interesting.


Trim a LOT off the side wall to clear the exhaust hanger...drivers and passengers side.



Trim a TON off around the rear exhaust joint. On my truck, the bolts on the exhaust completely prohibited the skid from being pushed fully into place.


This trim (the stepped area) makes mounting this skid almost easy. Part of the crossover exhaust hanger tubing wraps around the front of the crossover pipe on the drivers side right where this cut is. Making this small trim allows the skid to bypass that obstacle much easier. It's a total PITA without this trim.

There you go. Just a few things you may want to consider if you get these skids. These trims should also help reduce/eliminate any rattling you may get from the exhaust. I bolted mine in place and shook the hell out of the exhaust and didn't hear any contact. Before the trims...I had lots of contact. We'll see how it goes when actually driving/flexing

 

Skids and sliders...ready to get some powder love.

 

Where the heck are yours?

 

Pretty badass adjustments!
Last I heard, my frame plates were being sent off to get bent. Still waiting on sliders anyway. Its been "I need just one more week" for months now...

 

Haha...that's how favors go sometimes! The price you pay for 'free'.

 

Got em! Completely free of charge. Didn't even have to pay for the material

Just holding it up to the frame, looks like everything lines up fine. Gotta remove the two bolts and then I can do a full fit up.
But, Still waiting on my beefed sliders...

 

Nice! Free is a very good price. At least now you have time to make all of the backing plates before your sliders arrive. Haha...enjoy!

 

You drooling over the frame plates? Or that badass hi lift jack rolling around in my truck bed

 

Just dropped off the skids and sliders for powdercoat. It'll be a black satin pebble-grain finish...very fine. They had about 6 different finishes in that general description to choose from...very subtle differences. I just didn't want smooth or shiny and they happen to be running this particular black satin-pebble next week so they could run mine at the same time! Should get them back before the weekend!!

Now I just need to clean and touch up the frame and spray some fluid-film or similar on the frame before I bolt up the skids/sliders. Then I'll fluid film most of it again...mostly all the fasteners after the loc-tite has a chance to do it's thing. Don't want no rusty-rust on my truck!

 

File requests have to be around 15 but I don't have a current count.

I've had good luck using loctite in Rust prone areas. I'll reconsider your stance on anti seize though.

 

Yeah, I figured the loc-tite will keep everything together and following up with the fluid-film will keep everything from staying together FOREVER.

 

Well, I got everything mounted up for good this weekend! I'll post pics this evening. They may be crappy pics but, if you follow my threads, you're used to that.

 

I picked up my skids and sliders from powdercoat. First thing I notice when we load up the very first piece...a part of the slider is bent. Total denial that they did it (with a follow-up statement of 'well, they are really heavy) and then they offered to 'hit it with a hammer'. Uh...no. 'Well, how about a rubber mallet?'. On 3/16" steel? Uh...no. Why is it so hard to get something done correctly?


They should both look like the one on the left. Oops.



Take four heavy duty quick grips and a nice piece of hardwood and get to tweaking! Easy bend and it was back in shape in no time.


Here they are in all their glory! The powdercoating is pretty nice but it REALLY shows off my wickedly amateur welding and grinding skills. I guess that's okay since I'm a wicked amateur welder and grinder. They look plenty good to bash on rocks.

After a few hours of fluid filming the frame and fitting the three piece skids and two sliders together, here they are! Really crappy picture alert!!

I swear there are sliders in this picture somewhere. It's a bit like a where's Waldo game, though. I promise I'll get better pics next time it's nice out and I'm somewhere cool.

Thanks to everyone that has followed along and offered insight. I hope those of you out there that got the files post up your projects here (or at least a link) to keep this alive! I'll continue to offer the files as long as I'm around so please keep the requests coming. I'll post up better pics as well as updates on the design and how they hold up as I use them.

 

That came out really nice! Great job.

 

The first hit will be rough. I just hope they don't crumble off the truck at the first sign of use. Haha! I didn't weigh them...no need to abuse myself like that. I'm going to be content with my triumph.

 

Thanks, man!