Request: Failed Rock Sliders

[Bowhunter]

Hey All,

Want to see if anyone with failed rock sliders and/or body damage due to the rock slider failing, could post pictures and a little about how/why they failed?

Trying to see if there are common design flaws that I need be aware of when picking/modifying a rock slider for my TJ

There are examples in the rock slider thread that JMT started and various other threads but wanted to see if we could get them all in one spot to compare/contrast

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The only bent rocker problem I had was with my previous TJ's 4XDoctor rocker guards. They were made with 3/16" steel with a tube welded to the side without any interior reinforcement backing plate. The passenger side bent/buckled inwards at its bottom corner and dented the rocker panel after I slid down one rock and onto another in Johnson Valley. I doubt they would have bent inward had there been an interior backing plate like the Savvy has that I now have.

 

[Bowhunter]

The only bent rocker problem I had was with my previous TJ's 4XDoctor rocker guards. They were made with 3/16" steel with a tube welded to the side without any interior reinforcement backing plate. The passenger side bent/buckled inwards at its bottom corner and dented the rocker panel after I slid down one rock and onto another in Johnson Valley. I doubt they would have bent inward had there been an interior backing plate like the Savvy has that I now have.

Do you recall how many bolts the slider used to bolt into the underside (torque boxes) of the tub?

 

[HornedToad]

There is a video I saw somewhere of a rubicon lj dropping off a rock that the rear tire was on and hitting the rocker hard against another rock. The whole rocker and factory slider instantly crumpled. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Do you recall how many bolts the slider used to bolt into the underside (torque boxes) of the tub?

I sure don't but there weren't many as I recall. Here's the instructions I used... http://www.fourxdoctor.com/catalog/rockerguards/NewSliders/Instructions/SliderInstructions.html

And the previous page that talks about them more... http://www.fourxdoctor.com/catalog/rockerguards/rockerguards.html

 

[Bowhunter]

I sure don't but there weren't many as I recall. Here's the instructions I used... http://www.fourxdoctor.com/catalog/rockerguards/NewSliders/Instructions/SliderInstructions.html

Do you think the structural steps that a lot of sliders have act as a lever arm against a slider and the tub to increase the chance of damage? Or is it not much of a concern?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Do you think the structural steps that a lot of sliders have act as a lever arm against a slider and the tub to increase the chance of damage? Or is it not much of a concern?

To me they're not a concern as they are tubular steel and not all that strong. And they don't give much arm/leverage since they don't protrude out all that far. They played no part in the damage mine experienced.