slider designs

does anyone who has had custom sliders made up have any drawings, dimensions or specs that they had them designed to? i got a welder buddy next door to where i work that i'm going to get him to make some up.

 

also.. wondering advantages and disadvantages of steel vs aluminum?

 

You going to use them for looks or off-roading? I could be wrong but I would think that aluminum might not stand up to the beating steel can take.

 

Your correct, If you plan to use them for wheeling you will need them to be steel, more than likely you will want to use at least .120" DOM steel tubing.

 

i want something that wont rust in one eastern winter

 

I am getting some and I get the same crap you do in the winter. I think keeping them painted properly will keep the rust away.

 

well a local welder can make them out of hard alumunim..for about 550. i think its worth it.. i wonlt be off roading much.. most used as a step for gf and stop car door from hitting me.

also wondering.. if bolting to chasis in 3 places is enough?

 

I've toyed with the idea of making Aluminium sliders. Aluminum has a higher strength to weight ration than steel. Though you'll need more aluminum to make them strong enough. The only problem I see is the actual "sliding part". The aluminum would get gouged pretty easily if the entire weight of the truck were scraped across it. The only remedy I can think of is to attach some steel angle iron on the outside edge of the slider so it will "slide" better. If you're just wanting something that won't rust and weight isn't a primary concern, just spray some steel sliders with bed liner. It will be significantly cheeper.

 

You might be able to get steel ones shipped for cheaper. But if not off roading much I am sure the aluminium will be fine. Got a dent in my door and that is one of the reasons for getting them. I am sure 3 places will be good, they wont weigh too much and doesnt sound like you will be putting alot of weight on them.

 

ok sweet..i like that bed lienr idea though... but form the welder the aluminum isn't much more then steel..

 

Give it a shot then post some pics. Just an fyi there are def. a couple of people on here who have fabbed up their own sliders so just keep looking. I am sure someone has some specs of some sort.

 

Here one I found for ya.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/builds/18130-custom-built-me-rock-sliders.html

 

And another http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/builds/22625-ghost96romeos-build.html