Truely A Rock Slide...With Pic!

[irbob]

Well I'm slacking on the front bumper. As some of you know I said that project was going to start last Thursday. I discovered that it would be better to build and install my slides b4 installing the gas tank so I have been working on them instead. I'm on my second design. The first one involved to many angles. I have all the pieces cut and ready to weld except for the tabs that will screw to the body.

A little discription:
* 1.5x1.5x3/16 tube
* It rests up against the rocker pannel 1.5 inches from each wheel well. Total 68" long for my rig.
* The two braces go strait to the frame 17.5 inches in from each wheel well.
* A 1/4 inch plate is bolted to the frame with two 3/8" bolts in each plate.
* A foot step for each door made out of the "U" bolts I just removed to install Rusty's 6" lift.

I looked at the frame and see that it is made of only 1/8" steel and say to myself, "self, that is plenty strong enough for teatering of the edge of a cliff.

One thing I didn't want to loose was ground clearence so that's why it's tight to the body and only 1.5 inches. I think being tight to the body adds a bunch of strength to it also.

What do you all think? Here is a pic.
http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/rockslides/rockslides.jpg

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: irbob ]</p>

[Stuka]

When ya gona post a pict of your truckk witht he 6" lift on it?

[irbob]

Just posted a pic in the Gen-Discusion section just for you Stuka. smile.gif

[Stuka]

THANKS! :D :D

[irbob]

I added the pic above. It's only tacked together. Mig welders with gas don't do well in the wind and it's been blowing all day. My car port is like a whirlwind. Hopefully it will be calm tomorrow long enough for me to weld'm up hard. We shall see.

[porkchop]

I want some! They look good. So when you going to make me a set? I will come and pick them up :D .

Why don't you use flux core? I am no welding expert so go easy on me :D .

[irbob]

porkchop...If your serious I'll make you a set. They are a tight/custom fit so I would need four measurements from you to make it happen. Shoot I don't even know how much they are worth. I feel like this first set is a $1000.00 set though with all the trials and errors...LOL. :eek: :D

My welder is set up for gas right now and I don't think I have a roll of flux core. It would work better in the wind but wouldn't give me the clean welds I'm looking for. Six of one half dozen of the other I guess.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: irbob ]</p>

[porkchop]

I am very serious! Let me know what measurements you need and how much it will be. Email me!

[nightflyers]

They are sweet looking! I would not mind having a set for myself if you are interested in making them.

[Tad]

Looking good Bob & I think the 3/16" is more than strong enough. If it's not then you probably shouldn't be sliding off the ledge anyway. Not to be contrary but let me toss this out.
You said you're going to add tabs that screw to the body, I get that, there might be some vibration from the sliders (simply from their width) that you dont want banging on the rocker panel. If you hard mount both the slider to the frame (don't see any choice there) and the slider to the body, won't the independent flex of both areas be fighting each other? I'm thinking some type of flex strap that would keep it from banging the rocker, yet still let the body flex independently of the frame.

[irbob]

Good point tadsal...my intent is to have it strong enough to stand on the step to hop inside. Sooo maybe a "C" chanel welded to the back ot the slide that hooks over the lip in like four places instead of screw tabs. Any more ideas.

Do you think that a "U" bolt sticking out about 4" is strong enough for a step?

[Tad]

Ok, the ants almost ate me alive looking under there but try to picture this. Instead of channel, 2 pieces of angle iron with a small (say 1") rubber bushing bolted between them connecting the back of the rocker panel to the slider. I think this would 1) take care of any downward pressure from stepping up on the slider, 2) prevent vibration betwen the rocker and the slider, and 3) allow them both to move slightly independently of eachother. Something Like this.
http://members.cox.net/tadsal/irbob.JPG

[irbob]

Here is what I was thinking about.

http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/rockslides/sliderbumpers.jpg

[Michael]

Hmmm those are great ideas.....and very great detailed pictures....

Bchesley made some just like you Irbob.... they work great.

[FrankenJeep]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by irbob:
Mig welders with gas don't do well in the wind and it's been blowing all day. My car port is like a whirlwind. Hopefully it will be calm tomorrow long enough for me to weld'm up hard. We shall see.<hr></blockquote>

LMAO

IRBOB, Didja read the Trail Head column in this month's JP Magazine (pg. 6)? Sounds like ya might qualify as a Hillrod. tongue.gif The big questions is: Is your welding visible from the street? :D :D

My wife is always giving me crap about being too noisy for the neighbors ... ;)

Frank

[irbob]

Jeep_SJ...funny you should say that. Do you live near me or something, LOL. I found out the hard way that the folks around me don't like the sound of a angle grinder or chop saw at 2 a.m. :eek: I didn't catch the JP Magazine article.

Michael...I think his are 2"x1/4" tubes and mount lower than these do. May be someone else though, can't recall.

I did have calm winds this morning b4 leaving for Church and welded them up hard. Now to decide on the lip mounting method to use.

[Michael]

Irbob...It must be someone else. His are right under the rocker panels...and they are square tubing not round. They look exactly like yours but the did an angle cut at the ends to match the wheel wells angle...does that make sense. I was toying with making some myself .. His work great....seen him slide right over a pile of rock with the entire right side off the ground :eek: Hopefully he will pop on and comment... They look great...it gives me inspiration for ouray....off to the steel yard I go this week....maybe.... ;) :D

[Michael]

BTW....what kind of welder did you use??

[Tad]

Just do it, I like your idea better.

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: tadsal ]</p>

[FrankenJeep]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by irbob:
I did have calm winds this morning b4 leaving for Church and welded them up hard.<hr></blockquote>

:D :D You are the wind beneath my wings! :D :D

I cleaned the engine last week with a qt. of tranny fluid down the intake. I didn't realize how much smoke it was going to make. I thought I was going to jail. redface.gif

Frank

[MuddyWag]

Has anybody built slides AFTER the rear wheels? That's where I took the hits a couple of weeks ago at john bull trail, a 4.9 rock crawl. I need more height and more experience before hitting trails like these, but it seems that some protection back there would be in order as well.
here's the damage:
http://home.attbi.com/~muddywag/MVC-005F.JPG
THIS ONE'S A LITTLE TOO BIG TO POST, JUST CLICK. (http://home.attbi.com/~muddywag/neednerfs.JPG)

[irbob]

MuddyWag...Ouch...I actually was thinking about bolting a 1/4"x2" plate to that area. Wonder if that would have helped out. It's going to have to wait until my front bumper is finished.

Michael...I have a Millermatic 172, 220v. If you look a little closer you can see the angle in mine on the ends.

tadsal...Got that big yellow bird in you head after seeing "Woooooof" ha? LOL smile.gif

[Tad]

No Bob, I was just really hapy to get rid of the company that had been here for the weekend.
I don't no what to do about the rear yet either, I dont think just a plate bolted to it would help a whole lot. MuddyWag, you got more metal there than I do, Iwas thinking of chopping some of that out of harms way.

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

SAY....IR HOW ABOUT SOME GUSSETS MADE FOR THE "T"s....MAYBE SOME SMALL ONES???...JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE....I DON'T TRUST BUTT WELDS!...NOW!! THAT'S JUST ME!!!! ....IT COMES FROM MY STOCK CAR ...WELD THEM UP,DAYS!!!!! I LIKE YOUR DETAILED PICS... :cool: :cool: I WISH I COULD DO THAT WITH WEB TV!!!BUT SOMETIMES IF I HIT TWO KEYS,JUST RIGHT....I CAN GET RERUNS OF....GUNSMOKE!!!..... BET YA CAN'T DO THAT!! :D :D :confused:

[scotty]

after i shorten my frame and make ew bedsides,ill prolly run a tube around the wheelwell from the nerf bar to the rear bumper to prevent the sort of damage that muddywag pictured.

1 comment is on frame thickness: while welding on new upper shock mounts i was suprised at how easily i could bend the rear section of frame rails with a pair of vice grips :eek: it made me really want to box in the whole thing. not sure if i actually will or not,but at any rate your sliders look like theyd be plenty stront,since theyre completely boxed.

they look real good :cool: only comment on them is just make sure that they stick out far enuff past the widest part of the body to protect it. youll be able to slide against a tree,cut the wheel,give it gas and pivot right around the tree on the bar. i do it all the time,and if id had mine installed 2 years ago,my body wuldnt look like it does,cause i used to judt pivot on the side of the jeep :D

once i remake it over winter,it will prolly stay alot nicer. i may even get a hair up my Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley and put a new doghouse on it as well,add some m715ish flares... hmmmm...

same for a roof rack if you plan on one of those. if you make it stick out the wide enuff it could mean the difference in breaking out your side windows or not.my xj friend has his this way,and we slid off camberinto a tree,and the roof rack and nerf bars kept his side window from shattering. he was very happy it worked out that way.

[irbob]

Just a couple welding pix. Notice the dirt that was blown in on my car port. Another windy day of non-welding.

http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/rockslides/rockslides2.jpg

http://fsjeep.homestead.com/files/rockslides/rockslides3.jpg

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: irbob ]</p>