rock slider, frame stiffiners

Hey all quick question, my rig is a 1998 xj w/ clayton 8" long arm kit and 33x12.50r15 bfg mt's, its a trail rig and i dont plan on doing much rocks with it (building an s10 truggie for that) my rockers are rusty so i was planning on making some rock sliders to take the place of them anyhow, should i plate the frame? I found a kit for $119 but it covers the bottom of the frame where my clayton arm/trans mount bolts on and i dont want to mofify a boughten kit to fit around it and or weld to it, is there a kit that does just the side of the rame? Also i was considering using 2x2 1/4 wall square tube for thebl sliders, is that the rite way to go? Thanks

i went with (and suggest) 2x6 1/4"


i did not brace it to the frame, as i want to add stiffeners. i would suggest plating the frame, and at least adding 3 or 4 "legs" that attach to your rocker replacement.

Find 3/16, not 1/4. 1/4" is stupid heavy. The place where you get the steel will be able to tell you the weight difference. I ended up using 2x4x3/16 because they wouldn't sell me less than 20' of 2x6x3/16. Since you wouldn't be bashing rocks with the rockers, you could think about 1/8" stock.

2x2 is probably possible, but 2x4 or 2x6 is more common. 2x4 looks almost stock but 2x6 lets you pivot around trees and rocks if you're into that.

1/4 is like 12 more pounds a side than 3/16.

If you NEVER plan on rocks then 1/8" would be more than fine.

If you plan on rocks, I would go straight for 1/4". The weight difference is not worth the strength difference.

jeepingben said:

Find 3/16, not 1/4. 1/4" is stupid heavy. The place where you get the steel will be able to tell you the weight difference. I ended up using 2x4x3/16 because they wouldn't sell me less than 20' of 2x6x3/16. Since you wouldn't be bashing rocks with the rockers, you could think about 1/8" stock.

2x2 is probably possible, but 2x4 or 2x6 is more common. 2x4 looks almost stock but 2x6 lets you pivot around trees and rocks if you're into that.

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the weight difference between 12 feet of 2x6 3/16 vs 1/4 is something like 35lbs... weight is a none issue.

so, of the gouges in my rockers are easy 1/8"... and i honestly dont wheel very hard.

i'm building a similar setup(XJ) and I'm going to use 4x2 3/16 wall with 1/8 wall tubbing and 1/8 wall tubbing standoffs welded to fram stiffeners, but my XJ wont see any real hard use as it's a multipurpose vehicle.

And if your truggy doesn't work out, or you decide you like the XJ better you would be stuck with thin rockers. Do the 1/4" and be done with it.

VAhasnoWAVES said:

the weight difference between 12" of 2x6 3/16 vs 1/4 is something like 35lbs... weight is a none issue.

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12' (FEET)... not 12" (inches)...



can a mod please edit as to not spread bad info? thats a HUGE weight difference. lol.

You will use around 5 1/2 feet on each side. Do the math accordingly.