Rockers or Rock Sliders

[One_Big_Midgett]

I have seen rocker panels replaced with square stock (pic 1). I have also seen rock sliders (pic 2). I am not sure about which would be better? Your thoughts on either, both, pros and cons.
Pic 1
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g344/bicentennial_midgett/18450_506849714214_226300669_166897_6765746_n.jpg
Pic 2
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g344/bicentennial_midgett/standard.jpg

[bluedragon436]

Are you planning on completing this mod yourself or having a shop do it?? Guess it all depends on that, and also what the purpose/use you plan on using your XJ for as to which would be the best option..

[One_Big_Midgett]

Either way, a shop would do it. I have 0 welding skills. Weekend wheelin, is my plan for the xj.

[cantab27]

me i'm gonna go with the sliders..... bolt on... how are the others fixed...welded???

[bluedragon436]

The others have you cut your factory rockers out, and weld in square/rectangular steel tubing and then boxing in the ends.. It is cool don't get me wrong.. And will serve the same task as sliders.. But way more work, and a bit overkill on a DD weekend wheeler like mine will be.. Maybe one day once i learn to weld, Ill hook that up..

[One_Big_Midgett]

The rocker panels are cut out and the square stock is welded in their place. I would have the sliders welded as well.

[bluedragon436]

Honestly, unless your factory rockers are rusted or rotten.. I would just go with the sliders.. But that is just me.. Then again where you are, you can probably find a shop to do the rockers for a decent price...

[cantab27]

tonys just got some of detours ,,,have you read that thread....they are some sweet looking sliders......

[bluedragon436]

Yeah' they are def some awesome losers.. And frame stiffeners together.. And they weld onto the "frame"

[XJ Wheeler]

Mine are rusted out badly, so my plan is to cut out and weld in some rectangular tubing. Just not sure if my welding is good enough yet, but can't wait to have it done. A little ways off though.

[cantab27]

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8080&highlight=sliders

[XJ Wheeler]

My opinion is i love the tubing rockers, not losing clearance for a slide and strengthening the chassis. But if your rockers are fine i would just go with sliders.

[Mudderoy]

I think replacing the rockers is probably more practical. You know it give you lower body protection and it is tight against your rig.

I like the idea of sliders because they give me DOOR protection from the asses that like to slam their door on your vehicle.

Slam your door on my sliders, and it's going to get ugly, namely your door. :D

[cantab27]

if i go welding shit to my jeep down here, it would have to go through for a cert again.....

[One_Big_Midgett]

Maybe I should have included a pic of the finished rockers...
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g344/bicentennial_midgett/Sliders003.jpg

[XJ4IV]

keep this in mind... rockers protect the underside and low lying objects ... SLIDERS do the same however they also offer protection against taller items like trees and larger rocks... they also offer use as a step to enter and exit the jeep.
make sure you reinforce the slider beam really good... if not this could happen like mine
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m590/XJ4IV/IMG_1051.jpg

[XJ4IV]

final product
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m590/XJ4IV/IMG268.jpg

[bluedragon436]

I'll take em Scott!! Lol...

[bigjim350]

To me the choice depends on what your starting with. If you have a nice pretty jeep with good rockers already then I'd go with sliders. Now if you have beat up or rusted out rockers then I'd go with replacing the rockers with tubing. My rockers are beat to shit so I plan to go with tubing to replace the rockers.

[DETOURS]

Since mine are abit crusty, I'll be tubing them. (2x6" tube)

[Carves]

I'd reckon ....

Sliders if you just want a simple fix for a bit of weekend protection ...

Rockers if your getting serious and banging the floorpans on stuff ... as there is less bracketry whatever, to get hooked up on anything.

[zr2toxj]

Maybe I should have included a pic of the finished rockers...
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g344/bicentennial_midgett/Sliders003.jpg

That looks familiar. :D

My rockers weren't in bad shape, not rusted or anything, couple of dents from wheeling, but I decided to cut them out. They are rock solid and higher clearance than the sliders. Best mod I've done.

[XJ4IV]

IF you decide to build your own make sure you get adequate spacing to ensure protection for the door handles as well... to attain this simply put a thread with a nut tied at one end and the other end tied to the door handle and then measure how far the string is away from the rocker and add 1/4 inch for added insurance and this should protect you from most things that you will slide across including most trees
Ive see lots of folks just to the rockers which like this pic offer no more aid to the doors
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-wQ8m5JILGddUhVY3StYPkX32YbZjcu2V4KDP8TfePfOpw0OUuA

[LizardRunner]

I'll throw my thoughts in on this discussion of rocker replacement vrs slider installation.

The main reason to replace the rocker panel instead of using sliders would be the extra clearance. If you aren't Hard core Wheeling/Racing over tons and tons of rocks, you probably don't really need that extra clearance. If you are going this route, you have to be sure you can weld thinner metal to thicker metal well. If not, your'e just creating a bigger problem because you are actually weakening a vital part of the vehicle super structure.

Sliders are a great way to go for more people than the rocker replacement method simply because you aren't having to worry about welding thin body metal to the thicker (3/16- 5/16) rocker replacement rectangular tubing. I like both methods but would only go with the rocker replacement method if I needed to replace the rocker panels anyway. Sliders actually make more sense for all but the Racer IMO.

The racer will want the whole vehicle as lean and strong as possible so not only are they going to think clearance, they are going to fully reinforce the frame, stiffen the whole body with a full cage, and tie both together every where they can. Most likely
that gas tank will go away and a fuel cell put in as well.

By the way, zr2toxj, That's a dang nice job you did there. I also like the pivot tube addition, sweet!

[zr2toxj]

By the way, zr2toxj, That's a dang nice job you did there. I also like the pivot tube addition, sweet!

Thanks, I can't take the credit. I had a good friend do them. We traded skills. He is a top notch fabricator who was building a new shop and wanted power run to it, so I did that; lights, receptacles, etc. in exchange for the sliders.

Monkey does great work.

You're right, don't attempt it unless you have the skills.


Here's some other pics I posted awhile ago.

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4736

[dagr8tim]

I've got a set of AJ's rails, and if I had to do it over again. I'd have 2x3 thick wall welded in where the rockers are.

Rock rails can still flex upwards and crinkle the body.

[jeepxj95]

im starting to thing about doing the frame stiffiners and then tube the rockers with reinforcement to help keep them in place. that and i would love to see someones face when the smach there nice bmw door or somthing nice like that when they hit the rectangle tube rocker on my muddey loud heep. oh just to see there faces def. if it was there kid... lol :D :rotfl2:

[bigjim350]

I love body damage. It shows that my jeep has been used in the correct way :)

[dagr8tim]

im starting to thing about doing the frame stiffiners and then tube the rockers with reinforcement to help keep them in place. that and i would love to see someones face when the smach there nice bmw door or somthing nice like that when they hit the rectangle tube rocker on my muddey loud heep. oh just to see there faces def. if it was there kid... lol :D :rotfl2:

My AJ's stick out further than the curve of the door. Every so often, I have to go touch up the vertical nicks in the paint. I always smile to myself alittle.