DIY Slider Concerns

imahnu

imahnu

Unorthodox
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Houston, TX
Hello all,

I've decided I'm going to build myself some sliders. My basic idea is to use a 90 degree 3/16" piece of mild steel that stretches from wheel well to wheel well with a 3/16th mild steel backer plate on the inside of the tub. For mounting hardware I was planning on using allen button head bolts as I figured that would get hung up less and look better. I don't really have a way to flush mount them without buying a new tool and wasn't sure if it'd be worth the extra cost. Thoughts on that?

I am planning on incorporating a DOM steel step tube (as of now thinking about either 1.5" x .120 wall or 1.75" x .120 wall) and top plate to assist my dad in getting in the Jeep. Since his surgery, he's had a hard time being mobile and he'd definitely appreciate it.

A question I have is; what is the relation between the bottom of the slider and the tub? Does it hang down slightly or does it fit flush along the bottom?

Thank you for your time.
 
If you don't have a complex bend at the bottom edge it'll hang down a bit, maybe 1/2". If you look at the bottom seam on the tub you'll see where the flat mounting surface is below the tub seam. Instead of steel backing plates you might consider 1/4" 6061 aluminum. You can get a very similar size plate one of the popular sliders people around here use from Grainger. I think 4x36x1/4" is around $20 for a ballpark estimate.
 
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imahnu17 said:
Hello all,

I've decided I'm going to build myself some sliders. My basic idea is to use a 90 degree 3/16" piece of mild steel that stretches from wheel well to wheel well with a 3/16th mild steel backer plate on the inside of the tub. For mounting hardware I was planning on using allen button head bolts as I figured that would get hung up less and look better. I don't really have a way to flush mount them without buying a new tool and wasn't sure if it'd be worth the extra cost. Thoughts on that?

I am planning on incorporating a DOM steel step tube (as of now thinking about either 1.5" x .120 wall or 1.75" x .120 wall) and top plate to assist my dad in getting in the Jeep. Since his surgery, he's had a hard time being mobile and he'd definitely appreciate it.

A question I have is; what is the relation between the bottom of the slider and the tub? Does it hang down slightly or does it fit flush along the bottom?

Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

There are many ways to mount a slider - see below image (courtesty @smithcaz) for the method that gives the best protection. For those seeking even more clearance, "boatsides" take this further but bending in that outside lip.

0A78C4DC-AD97-44D5-957C-B648F1A12CEE.jpeg


You might want to read these two threads, specifically try and fully understand @mrblaine's comments. Also look at how Savvy's sliders are designed - information is contained in these threads.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/rock-sliders-rocker-guards-guide.8704/

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/frame-mounted-vs-body-mounted-sliders.19520/

Tube step doesn't really make entry/exit into the tub any easier although they give the appearance of doing so. Best thing to do is to get a grabbar (mounted to the A-pillar) and pull yourself into the Jeep with it. Understand mobility issues after surgery .. if you want a step, get a step attached in whatever way, but note that it may not be the best slider in terms of design/functionality/protection.
 
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psrivats said:
There are many ways to mount a slider - see below image (courtesty @smithcaz) for the method that gives the best protection.

View attachment 303784

You might want to read these two threads, specifically try and fully understand @mrblaine's comments. Also look at how Savvy's sliders are designed - information is contained in these threads.

[URL ]https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/rock-sliders-rocker-guards-guide.8704/[/URL]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/frame-mounted-vs-body-mounted-sliders.19520/

Tube step doesn't really make entry/exit into the tub any easier although they give the appearance of doing so. Best thing to do is to get a grabbar (mounted to the A-pillar) and pull yourself into the Jeep with it. Understand mobility issues after surgery .. if you want a step, get a step attached in whatever way, but note that it may not be the best slider in terms of design/functionality/protection.
Click to expand...
Go nuts and fold over that pinch seam. 😉
 
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Thanks for the quick responses.

@pagrey What is the thought for using the aluminum backer plate vs steel? If people have been suing that without issues then that seems like the way to go. I'll check that piece out form Grainger.

@psrivats I read through I good portion of that first link to help me with the design, ill definitely look at the Savvy sliders for that as well. I'll check out the second link as well.

As far as the tube step and getting in the Jeep goes, I have the Grabars handle and love it. My dad on the other hand lost most of his strength and really struggles to get in the Jeep even with the stock steps that are mounted equal to the frame. I figured if he didn't have to lift his leg a few more inches to clear the door lip it might help him a little.

If he didn't enjoy the Jeep as much, I likely wouldn't include the steps on them at all.

I am worried about the step being an issue for sure but figured it'd still be a big upgrade over nothing.

@jjvw can't tell if you're messing with me or not lol but my initial thought was to bend that pinch seam over but seems like i'll be changing that design anyway.
 
imahnu17 said:
As far as the tube step and getting in the Jeep goes, I have the Grabars handle and love it. My dad on the other hand lost most of his strength and really struggles to get in the Jeep even with the stock steps that are mounted equal to the frame. I figured if he didn't have to lift his leg a few more inches to clear the door lip it might help him a little.
Click to expand...

The thing is .. any step you will add to the slider will be higher than the floor of the tub. Just take a minute to think about it. If your had has difficulty lifting his leg to reach the the stock frame mounted steps that are lower, adding a tube step to a slider will not help that problem at all unless you mount them so low that you take away the point of having a slider at all.

Best solution may be to carry a small step stool or something and then pick it up after entering the jeep. It's not a pretty solution but it will work better a step attached to the sliders.
 
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imahnu17 said:
@pagrey What is the thought for using the aluminum backer plate vs steel? If people have been suing that without issues then that seems like the way to go.
Click to expand...
I've never heard of a problem with it. It's light, strong enough to do the job and doesn't rust. I just measured my plates and they are 18x3" so that's a cheaper chunk, one 3x36" will do the job. I don't know if the other ones use a 3" or 4" piece but you really only have 20" of clean area so it probably is about that length.
 
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psrivats said:
The thing is .. any step you will add to the slider will be higher than the floor of the tub. Just take a minute to think about it. If your had has difficulty lifting his leg to reach the the stock frame mounted steps that are lower, adding a tube step to a slider will not help that problem at all unless you mount them so low that you take away the point of having a slider at all.

Best solution may be to carry a small step stool or something and then pick it up after entering the jeep. It's not a pretty solution but it will work better a step attached to the sliders.
Click to expand...
That might just be best as you said, as far as looks go idk if the step really makes a difference to me at all. And the step stool would be much much easier for him.

jjvw said:
Look up the Genright mini boat side sliders.
Click to expand...
I had seen those on their website and was kinda confused about the design of them but now that I see them mounted its making much more sense to me. I'll go through their install process.

Do y'all think if I bought 3 different plates and welded them together front and back at the angles needed, that would be sufficient strength? The place I get my metal from has a bender/brake but I'm not sure it'll be strong enough to bend 3/16" and they've gotten angles wrong in the past.
pagrey said:
I've never heard of a problem with it. It's light, strong enough to do the job and doesn't rust. I just measured my plates and they are 18x3" so that's a cheaper chunk, one 3x36" will do the job. I don't know if the other ones use a 3" or 4" piece but you really only have 20" of clean area so it probably is about that length.
Click to expand...
Then i'll switch that out in my plans for sure. Especially at that price it makes complete sense.
pagrey said:
I didn't mention it but the fact that you are considering the backing plate is great, seems like you've taken the time to research it or thought it out.
Click to expand...
To me it just seems like such cheap insurance and would make it quite a bit stronger. My Or-Fab tire carrier has some pretty big backing plates that I can definitely see the use of.
 
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Also is there any thought on how much you should space hardware? I was planning on doing 6 bolts along the top edge of the slider and 5 in the gaps between them along the lower edge of the slider.
 
imahnu17 said:
That might just be best as you said, as far as looks go idk if the step really makes a difference to me at all. And the step stool would be much much easier for him.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about looks. One thing about good design - and I mean from a functional viewpoint - is that if you really think through all the options to solve a problem, and don't take shortcuts (for time/money/whatever), and you solve it correctly after taking away all the unnecessary fluff, what you end up with is something that usually is a good merger of form and function. Blaine's designs usually fall in this category .. aptly summarized as "what you need, and nothing more". Sounds easy, but it is not. Pay attention to details and learn the tradeoffs, it will help you very much in the long run.
 
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That’s a good philosophy and something to think about.

As far as looks go I more meant that I prefer sliders without the steps from an appearance aspect.
 
imahnu17 said:
That’s a good philosophy and something to think about.

As far as looks go I more meant that I prefer sliders without the steps from an appearance aspect.
Click to expand...
As do I. But a lot of that comes from me not knowing the purpose of these so called steps on sliders. They shouldn't be there, so I don't really care for the look of them.
 
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They're not really steps, but the ledges on my savvy sliders make a nice place to stand when I crawl out of my hammock in the middle of the night to take a leak and don't want to put my boots on.
 
jjvw said:
As do I. But a lot of that comes from me not knowing the purpose of these so called steps on sliders. They shouldn't be there, so I don't really care for the look of them.
Click to expand...

In Utah, I've seen people use the "steps" to pivot around a rock without it getting close to the side of the Jeep.
 
Old_Crow said:
In Utah, I've seen people use the "steps" to pivot around a rock without it getting close to the side of the Jeep.
Click to expand...
I know that's what ends up happening. And it happens more often than it should because the "step" gets in the way more often than a lower profile rub rail would that accomplishes the same job of protecting the body without getting in the way as often.
 
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jjvw said:
I know that's what ends up happening. And it happens more often than it should because the "step" gets in the way more often than a lower profile rub rail would that accomplishes the same job of protecting the body without getting in the way as often.
Click to expand...

It's just like the big bumper crowd in that sense.
 
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