Do I need rock sliders

Hey everyone, I'm planning to do a trip to Moab, Utah this summer. I only plan on offroading the "green" trails (which I believe are rated 3 and under - on a scale of 10)

I rarely drive on offroad trails as 99% of miles are on pavement (this will be my first real experience)

My question is, do I need rock sliders? I know Avid and Nfab make tubular faux rock sliders that don't mount to the frame but offer some dent protection.

I'm not sure if investing in sliders that cost $800-$1200cdn is worth it for the light offroading I plan to do.

 

My 2c? If you have to ask then you don't.

Also wouldn't pop my off-road cherry in Moab. Try some local trails out first. Moab is fun as hell but can get very technical very fast.

 

I don't think you are allowed inside the town limits without sliders.

 

Pinch weld damage is WAY more than 1000$, plus sliders are bad ass.

I havent been to Moab but I know that there's bypasses to most challenges that are too much. I doubt there's any real risk on those lower level trails.

Take pictures!

Also if you ever want to do green trails near Calgary hit me up. I have a stock rig right now but I'll happily get it dirty.

 

Grab sliders. They are worth the additional $ just in looks... lol

 

Prior to owning my Tacoma, I did two green trails in Moab in my 2015 Subaru Outback.

 

DCLB. I'd be very careful with that stretched limo. I'd stay away from the body mounted option too. I know a guy that got more damage from banging those on the rocks than if just went without.

 

Cali raised sliders are around 5-600. About the same as most faux step "sliders".

 

Untill March 15th SOS CONCEPTS has a 20% off sale. I got bolt on sliders for $460. That is a steal.

 

FIFY. Yuk yuk

 

Haha true! They do look great! It's just after this trip, I won't need them again

 

Definitely a steal! Unfortunately they don't ship to Canada and adding LB option bumps the price substantially

 

If this is the case, you'll be able to rent a fully equipped Jeep for less than the price of a set of rock sliders...

 

Side steps, faux bars etc offer the potential for more damage, not less. Think in terms of reduced ground clearance and the chance of pushing weak tubes of metal into body parts.
There are plenty of spectacular trails around Moab that offer great views and will challenge your abilities and driving skills. White Rim, Schaefer switchbacks, others in Canyonlands (take the Potash entryway to White rim) are all spectacular. Lots of great opportunities to explore. Don’t forget the forest roads in the La Sal mountain and the La Sal mountain loop road. The Needles District of Canyonlands down by Monticello has a ton of neat stuff. Plenty to see and do without going extreme and you will improve your driving skills (and photography skills, and anthropology skills and outdoor skills...and you get to be in Moab!)

so, I say skip the bars if you are not able to pay for sliders. But don’t skip Moab, you’ll love it and go back again and again. Ask me how I know.

 

You could always sell them locally and get 80-90% of your money back

 

Who’s to say you won’t want to go back to Moab again after this? I went last year for the first time and even before we left I was making plans to return.

 

I’ve never been on a green trail in Moab, everything I run is typically rated 7-8. But the few green trails I’ve been on in other places is basically a dirt road with some ruts.

I don’t think sliders would be needed. You typically need to consider armor at trails rated 5+.

I recommend trying to find some YouTube videos of the trails you want to run which should give you a good indication of what to expect.

 

Yep. Right there at the edge of town. It says No Sliderless Taco's Allowed!

 

This makes sense! The trails you mentioned are exactly what I was looking into doing - more so dirt roads and no rock climbing or anything a stock vehicle can't do.

I got a TRD skidplate, and planning to get a hitch skid and Falken Wild Peak tires.

 

I've seen subarus drive out there on those types of trails. I've drive much harder trails and not hit anything sliders would protect.

No. Period.

Yeah, no they don't. Really, a glancing blow is the only thing those steps would "protect" against, and if you didn't have anything there, you probably wouldn't have touched anything. If you hit something hard enough that you would have hit the body panels without them, they would crumple.

Just for some perspective, I spent $250 (us) on my sliders. Even if you count the cost of my welder, that's still less than the cost of some of those sliders you see out there.