Frame vs body mount slider steps?

[Winds of Change]

I have been shopping around for some slider steps. Ford states the OE rock sliders will support the vehicle. I know frame mounted should be better. Here is the question. Frame mounted has approxamatly 2 feet of unsupported hang at the rocker panel. would'nt the leverage of that cantelever make them more likely to bend into the rocker if you dropped hard onto them?

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[Bird Dog Off Road]

I have been shopping around for some slider steps. Ford states the OE rock sliders will support the vehicle. I know frame mounted should be better. Here is the question. Frame mounted has approximately 2 feet of unsupported hang at the rocker panel. wouldn't the leverage of that cantilever make them more likely to bend into the rocker if you dropped hard onto them?

Frame mounted will always be the stronger option between the two. Don't take my word for it, just ask all the of Toyota and Jeep drivers that use frame mounted sliders.

It basically depends on what kind of off-roading you're going to do. Light or moderate off roading, the Body mounted ones will probably be sufficient. But if you plan on rock crawling in Utah or the Rubicon, the frame mounted might be the best choice. Loren Healy mentioned in the Lite Brite video while on the Rubicon Trail, that he uses frame mounted because he likes to pivot the truck with the slider sitting on a rock with the vehicle's full body weight.

I currently use the RCI frame mounted sliders, but others make them as well (Metal Tech 4X4, Lobo, LOD, etc.).

 

[PWillette]

I have been shopping around for some slider steps. Ford states the OE rock sliders will support the vehicle. I know frame mounted should be better. Here is the question. Frame mounted has approxamatly 2 feet of unsupported hang at the rocker panel. would'nt the leverage of that cantelever make them more likely to bend into the rocker if you dropped hard onto them?

Not sure what brand you are describing but 2' of unsupported hang seems like a lot. How many brackets are there?

I ended up going with Turn Offroad sliders on my 4dr. It's sort-of a hybrid...there's a center bracket that mounts to the frame while both ends connect to the frame body mounts vs. connecting to the OEM pinch weld body connection.

 

[Heckler]

Most of the frame mounted ones I’ve seen mount in both places, at the frame and the rocker.

 

[Frankie945]

If a body mounted slider is designed right it works just as good as a frame mounted plus you get more ground clearance with body mounted.

 

[Winds of Change]

The two feet was just a guess. It measures about 11 inches. As for Moab and rubicon trail probably not. Some Utah stuff maybe in the future. I am looking at forest roads and off road parks smd some of the more mellow trails. For that probably more affordable sliders would probably do me fine. I always seem to look for the worse scenario even though I will never be in that situation. As for mounting in both locations it is hard to tell in the descriptions. I mostly just need that clearance protection for questionable areas not for pivoting. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Winds of Change]

If a body mounted slider is designed right it works just as good as a frame mounted plus you get more ground clearance with body mounted.

I think you have what I probably want. Is there enough for a step with that one?

 

[Silver-Bolt]

It will depend on the design and materials used. Thin wall material will likely flex/bend into the rocker. Properly design and using proper materials they won't flex at all.

 

[Snacktime]

Weekends and Waypoints had some nice body damage from his Metalcloak sliders at Super Cell this weekend.

I need new sliders and at this time I am not sure who to buy either.

Off the list
Metaltech- Bent/Dented outer tube
Metalcloak- body damage from the slider
Next Venture - Naked one deformed- u shape
My modified factory- 2" square tubing is deformed- u shape

 

[35tires]

Here are my RCI frame mount sliders. Show me where I lose more than say 2 inches at MOST outside of the physical body (which would crumple like paper on the right rock) and I’ll buy you a coke.

 

[Mishra42]

I've got LOD Destroyers which are Frame mounted and they were rock solid in Moab. They also function as steps which I really like.

 

[SHANUT]

I have been shopping around for some slider steps. Ford states the OE rock sliders will support the vehicle. I know frame mounted should be better. Here is the question. Frame mounted has approxamatly 2 feet of unsupported hang at the rocker panel. would'nt the leverage of that cantelever make them more likely to bend into the rocker if you dropped hard onto them?

Yes

 

[Aman]

Not sure what brand you are describing but 2' of unsupported hang seems like a lot. How many brackets are there?

I ended up going with Turn Offroad sliders on my 4dr. It's sort-of a hybrid...there's a center bracket that mounts to the frame while both ends connect to the frame body mounts vs. connecting to the OEM pinch weld body connection.

As the body and frame are supposed be able to move independently is there any concern of body damage by using this design?

 

[35tires]

Here is another that is bolted not welded:


Frame mount. I think you're good.



Look at the flex on those body mount sliders at SLOW speeds. Look at the dents in the lower panel. There is NO WAY I'd take body over frame.

 

[Frankie945]

I think you have what I probably want. Is there enough for a step with that one?

I use them as a step but there’s not much to place your foot on.

I’m on the east coast I think I’ll be okay with my Metalcloak sliders. I had lod frame mounted and yea they were stout but I hit them on everything.

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