Stock Rubicon rocker guards

A user on Pirate4x4 welded DOM tubing to it. He seems to like it, userid was kwrangler.

I was told that they were more for decoration than anything else. But I also never tested mine either.

pghsteel said:

I was told that they were more for decoration than anything else. But I also never tested mine either.

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Mine have taken a beating and yet to fall off.

Is the metal thick enough to weld tubes onto it and provide enough strength against an upward hit? The thickness of my Poison Spyder Rockers appears to be at least twice as thick, if not more, as the stock diamond plate. I can't measure it for sure because I sold my stockers.

you can add steel to the stock sliders and they will be better? maybe, but most after market sliders are far superior with no extra work.

I have banged up against my stock sliders and very surprised they held up but they will be replaced on of these days just for piece of mind.

john

The stock ones will hold up fine... but don't weld tubes on them... that will look like ass.

You are better off selling them for $100 and paying $250 for the set you want. My opinion of course.

Mine have scrapes from going over rocks with the weight of the vehicle. I haven't totally slammed on them, but I wouldn't do that anyway. I had to cut mine to fit the highline kit and they were tougher than I expected. What's wrong with your current ones?

Shortly after I joined ROF, I saw a post where someone made a radiator skid out of his. I can't locate it now, though. I traded mine for something that I thought was important to have then but, haven't a clue wtf it was.

http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/p...&t=50489&p=530957&hilit=radiator+skid#p530957

stock slider modified into a radiator skid

The factory rockers are @ 3/16 thick like many aftermarkets rockers...but they are also diamond plate (weaker type of steel) and offer almost zero underside protection, and very little up the body protection under the door. This lack of coverage is why they are not strong enough to prevent twisting and bending except on a very minimal load.

They are good at keeping the tub seam off rocks and stuff and will take a little bumping before they bend...but they are not really worth trying to improve vastly compared to aftermarket options.

They are better than nothing...but unless you plan on using that tube as a step used only by skinny people I would sell them and get aftermarket style. You should get 50 bucks easy for them if not more.

Keep your gasket. The top lip is great. :wink:

jterrell said:

Here are my stock rocker guards with some added tubing. Cost me about $50. Works great for me and I don't think it looks bad.

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I stand corrected they don't look like ass at all Looks pretty good. However, if you hit that on a rock on that little step it is just going to add leverage to cave in the stock guard.

Topless Rubi said:

http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/p...&t=50489&p=530957&hilit=radiator+skid#p530957

stock slider modified into a radiator skid

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And for the record, it's holding up just fine!!!

toolmantim said:

The factory rockers are @ 3/16 thick like many aftermarkets rockers...but they are also diamond plate (weaker type of steel) and offer almost zero underside protection, and very little up the body protection under the door.

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Ran into the guy I sold my rocker guards to yesterday. Don't want to start a pissin' match but the thickness of the stock rocker guards is 1/8" thick. Maybe the first year ('03) they weren't as thick.

BLACK RUBI said:

toolmantim said:

The factory rockers are @ 3/16 thick like many aftermarkets rockers...but they are also diamond plate (weaker type of steel) and offer almost zero underside protection, and very little up the body protection under the door.

Click to expand...

Ran into the guy I sold my rocker guards to yesterday. Don't want to start a pissin' match but the thickness of the stock rocker guards is 1/8" thick. Maybe the first year ('03) they weren't as thick.

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not if ya measure to the thickness of the expanded part... :wink:

but yeah the thinnest part is closer to 1/8 as I recall. I mean .060 isn't much help for them anyway.

Yeah I was just curious as to the strength of them. I plan to get aftermarket ones at some point but for now have the stockers.

I've ran mine over boulders with no damage to the body - but if your doing serious wheelin in rocky terrain I'd go with beefier units

Bottom line is......would you stick a Hi-Lift under them in a "have to" case. I wouldn't and that is why I surplussed mine.

f9k9 said:

Bottom line is......would you stick a Hi-Lift under them in a "have to" case. I wouldn't and that is why I surplussed mine.

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I have done this with no ill effects. I have an unlimited, but I dont know if it makes a difference or not. I agree they are not the strongest out there by far, but its what is there for now. I have some tube sliders I bought for cheap that bolt to the frame (not nerf bars, but actual sliders) that will be going on before I go wheeling again (need to be scuffed and sprayed first but its to cold for that). again probably not the strongest peices out there, but until I have lots of money to spend on better ones, the combination of hese and the factory ones should keep me pretty well protected and other things will be higher on the want list.