"welding is welding"

That said I just had snouts welded into a axle housing by a guy who had structural experience - welds can look pretty but a guy that needs to have every weld count is someone I want when it comes to do or die stuff (getting it right or dealing with a PITA repair / re-working what was done - not necessarily actually dying). Pretty looking dime stacking welds don't mean everything and can be cold and I've seen them pop right off parent material from lack of penetration, but it's mainly what is going to make sales in off-road stuff. Someone that knows what they're doing is what you're looking for - good fitup, good penetration, good price, that's it.

That also said I stick to dime stacking welds lol.

 

Seems like your mind is made up, but Ill throw my $0.02 out there. No ones cares about your truck as much as you do. If stuff has to be moved & prep'd to get the sliders on there, do that work yourself. Then let someone weld them on there and call it a day. No ones life is going to be riding on these welds...

 

Depends on how the wife feels if the cab doesn't look pretty anymore

 

I mean I would choose my auto body buddy that welds body panels and frame rails on all day over my buddy that's a pipeline welder to weld stuff on my truck. The welds might not look as "pretty" but I know its going to be done right.

 

I hate welding on Toyota's. The undercoating stuff we use around here burns very easy. I won't do it unless another person is present and ready with a hose. The paint burns good, too.

If, he has never welded on a vehicle, you are better off skipping him. Look for the guys that do their own vehicle mods (bumpers, swingouts, that sort of thing). They have an idea what can take and can't take the heat.

You should be able to find a local 'Wheeler (brand does not matter) that could do this job for you.

 

JB

 

The irony is that it won't impede rust

 

I can melt metal. But with my HF flux core welder, it doesnt always look purdy and takes a while to get splatter cleaned up. Did improve once I got rid of HF wire and went with Lincoln wire.

 

I have to laugh my ass off reading some of your responses. They are fucking sliders man. Worst load they can have is 5K static, maybe 7.5K dynamic. Hell, you can bubble gum it on and they will hold. Case in point: A friend of mine is a world class welder. Every weld he does has to be certified and inspected. He also welds underwater, in addition to nuclear plant pipe. He has an agent for Christ sakes. He could beat my welding 100X even while he is drunk. However, compare my shitty looking stitch welds to his roll of dimes and then factor in the itty bitty loads that a slider will see and mine will hold just as good as his. Throw some black paint on there and call it done.

 

ya HF is meh, you get what you pay for, the ESAB flux cores weld really nice.

 

Just to throw a bucket of water on this topic, I built my sliders for my old 2nd gen and abused them for 12 years. Never an issue. They were bolt ons. I would do bolt ons before I'd weld to this frame. Not knocking anyone who has welded theirs on, I just wouldn't do it.

 

I second this if you think you would want to remove them - I cut some pre-me owning the truck sliders off of my frame complete with the scab plates with a friend. Dirty f'ing work without a plasma and probably even if you do - just less time.

 

Agreed. I bought bolt ons, but I wouldn't have any issues burning them on myself.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdQPhzA44ms

 

Incidentally, them's the ones I got.

 

I'm not laughing at your post. I actually feel kind of sorry for you.

Why the fuck would anyone that wants to take care of their $45k truck want to "bubble gum" some shitty welds on it then toss on some black shoe polish?

Sorry. I'm tired and I should not hit send. Fuck it.

 

While I agree that pretty much anyone can weld on sliders, that doesn't mean there isn't a level of quality you should aim for. Welding almost everything on my truck these days I always question myself about how it would be trying to sell my truck with each weld I do. If someone has boogery ass welds on their sliders or diy stuff and trying to sell their truck for $30k I would think twice about buying that one since a certain level of pride of ownership typically runs throughout all the stuff you have done on your truck. Just my 2 cents on comments about how quality of the welds don't necessarily matter for function. Form also makes a difference if you sell your truck - and I know everyone here's 'taking their truck to their grave,' but the numbers are against you lol.

 

They are sliders, just pay the dude to stick them on there. If you are worried about resale then dont mod your truck in anyway.

 

It comes down to location location location.

I know Iron Workers that do column splices everyday but rainy and snowy days.

Yet have them crawl under a vehicle all bets are off to the point they beg me to do there vehicle welding.

Big difference to welding nice shiny new fitted jobs

One never knows

I most likely would go to a hobby welder who has done his own truck welding

 

Isn't everyone trying to do both? I mean if all people want to out of this site is how to maintain their vehicle I'd say invest in FSM guides and run away lol You have a good point. Still buying a nicely modded truck that looks like the price they're asking isn't unreasonable is easier than selling a truck that has low quality welded sliders imo. I wonder if this guy has learned how to weld and done it himself at this point lol. Probably has less of an idea of what to do than before haha