As some of you know, I purchased the Trail Gear rock sliders to mount up on my rig quite some time ago. Finally got around to mounting them this sunday.

I started by first removing the coating of oil/grease that came with them. This grease prevents oxidation. Removal was extremely easy using Lacquer thinner soaked paper towels. To protect my skin, I wore nitrile gloves. I highly recommend the thinner to anyone who needs to remove grease from metal.

Next we positioned the sliders on the rig by simply using standard jack stands & when necessary excess metal stock to fine tune the fit.

Next we cut the legs to the right size. Since the sliders were mounted higher than the frame, we had to cut the legs at an angle using a horizontal pivoting band saw. While I didn't need to adjust the angle if you were a little bit off, you could easily grind it down to fit.

For the 2 rear legs (or four if you're counting both sides), it was a simple angle cut.

For the 2 forward legs, we had to extend the mounting tubes and cut a compound angle (2 angles on 2 axis) which was an interesting process on that saw. In the end we got the angles right by using a grinder to fine tune them.

I have pics and will post them up later this evening once I have time to go through them.

Who has the graphic...???

[i][b][This thread is useless without pics.]

Positioning driver side rock skid using 4 jack stands and misc. spacing materials (see steel rod on rear outer jack stand).


Tacking on the optional backing plates I bought with the rock skids. Notice the cleanly ground frame area just where the welding bead will be.


While John was mounting those plates, I busied myself cutting the mounting bars to fit. The rear bars were a simply angle ~12* IIRC.

The front bar was a compound angle due to the added angle of the frame going inwards. Those were also cut on the saw but held by hand instead of simply being clamped into place.

John tacking the rear bars into place.


Here's the front bar.


In addition to it having a compound angle it also had to be extended because the bars from Trail-Gear were too short.

Here's the middle bar...


Here's the rear bar...


Here's John testing them once they were fully welded in place. After taking this shot, I also climbed on and we both bounced on them to check them. Additionally when I got home I raised the rig using a jack on the rock skid.


At the start of the day John had ~1/2 tank of CO2/Argon gas in his tank. Here's the tank at the end of the day... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

looking good!

I used three legs per side, but I think my '95 also used bars that were a little shorter. I got the little triangles that were welded in between the frame and the slider legs for extra reinforcement, too.

You'll be amazed by the Trail Gear steel. It's just flat-out tough. I've ground mine against some tough rocks and came away with just scratched off paint. The steel doesn't even really scratch or get rough. I just shoot some more paint on them and call it good.

Make sure to get some paint onto the ground off/welded areas as soon as possible.

John B.

Should have had somebody that knows how to weld do that for you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I mean your only welding to the frame....

That may be a bit too harsh. True, the welds aren't the prettiest I've ever seen. I'm a bit spoiled by a welder that's stupid good. But, structurally, they don't look that bad. There's a couple that look like they need to be ground a little to clean up and make sure good penetation was achieved. The real test will be with their use on the rocks. Besides, it's Ray's truck and if he's happy with it, then none us have anything to say...

It's not a poseur rig so it doesn't hAve to be pretty, just functional.

Wow just Wow! What a nice person you are. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Actually none of the welds were cleaned up prior to the shot so what you see is what they looked like right after he got done welding.

John's been welding for years and knows how to weld. He asked me up front if I wanted it pretty and functional (longer time) or just functional. I chose functional.