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Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:36 am
by ScubaSteve
Has anyone seen these sliders in action or have any idea what level of protection they actually provide?
https://www.randyellisdesign.com/store/ ... K3405.html
My brother and I were talking about rock sliders on our Wagons the other day and he had mentioned these rocker mounted sliders that didn't hang below the cab like the White Knuckle or any other traditional slider would. I know that Jeeps (as mentioned in the store page) have had these types of sliders for a very long time, but they are such light vehicles compared to a full size like our Power Wagons. I like the lines and prefer the clearance they provide, but don't know whether they would hold up if and when I truly need them. The only other consideration would be the way they hug the rocker and the possibility of promoting rust.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:41 am
by Bill2014
ScubaSteve wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:36 am
Has anyone seen these sliders in action or have any idea what level of protection they actually provide?
https://www.randyellisdesign.com/store/ ... K3405.html
My brother and I were talking about rock sliders on our Wagons the other day and he had mentioned these rocker mounted sliders that didn't hang below the cab like the White Knuckle or any other traditional slider would. I know that Jeeps (as mentioned in the store page) have had these types of sliders for a very long time, but they are such light vehicles compared to a full size like our Power Wagons. I like the lines and prefer the clearance they provide, but don't know whether they would hold up if and when I truly need them. The only other consideration would be the way they hug the rocker and the possibility of promoting rust.
Body Mounted not frame mounted
rivoted on
they don't double as a step
no kickout on the rear
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:16 am
by ScubaSteve
That was my first thought, Bill. But, the whole purpose of my question was to see if anyone knew how they actually performed being body mounted rather than frame mounted (a la Jeep), as I have my doubts as well.
Synergy Manufacturing had their Cummins out at PWIM 2019, and it looked like they had a similar design (if my memory serves). Being as tall as the truck was on 40's, I don't know if they ever actually landed a rocker on anything.
As far as doubling as step, you can get a rub rail added on, dunno if that includes a kickout or not. Being riveted on doesn't really concern me from a strength standpoint any more than a clamp on rock slider from White Knuckle does. It cradles the bottom of the rocker, so the rivets really only hold it up and don't necessarily bear the weight of truck. I am pretty impressed with how stout the rockers and lower cab structure on these trucks
appear to be, so I'm not totally ruling out the abilities of a rocker mounted slider.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:18 am
by OffroadTreks
ScubaSteve wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:36 am
Has anyone seen these sliders in action or have any idea what level of protection they actually provide?
https://www.randyellisdesign.com/store/ ... K3405.html
My brother and I were talking about rock sliders on our Wagons the other day and he had mentioned these rocker mounted sliders that didn't hang below the cab like the White Knuckle or any other traditional slider would. I know that Jeeps (as mentioned in the store page) have had these types of sliders for a very long time, but they are such light vehicles compared to a full size like our Power Wagons. I like the lines and prefer the clearance they provide, but don't know whether they would hold up if and when I truly need them. The only other consideration would be the way they hug the rocker and the possibility of promoting rust.
As an owner of a Jeep, with mounted sliders, I can tell you they are misleading people with that statement. And I'm calling them on it.
The Jeep sliders are double mounted. Almost all of them are, I looked at a bunch. All are two-piece. They're not solely on the body as claimed. The upper section is attached to the body. The lower section mounts to the BODY TO FRAME MOUNTS. So they are technically attached to the frame and the body. The thing is, the Jeep's body doesn't move around like the truck does on the frame.
The cab on these trucks move. Go flex out on a rock with your sway bars locked.
Now I know a few guys running them, and they say they're fine and work. And maybe that is true.
But do you want sliders mounted to the body so the impact can be transferred there? If they do get damaged where is that damage going? And you can forget about removing them. They look fine. But the only reason I ever hear people give for these is LOOKS and "I'm getting more clearance"
No, you're not. You're going to bottom out on all the same things. Look at the skid plates under your truck. Smacking the slider doesn't matter. And it's not hindering you offroad. This is a made-up concern people who don't wheel come up with.
Final point, there are 18 holes on each side of the Jeep now. Can't take those off if I want to sell the Jeep. They're going with the Jeep. So if you install those, they're on there for good unless you intend on doing body work.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:19 pm
by KevinABQ
You could go full crazy jeepster with a plasma cutter and cut out your rocker panels and replace it with DOM tubing. Probably will have a minor impact on resale value...
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:09 pm
by ScubaSteve
Not interested in cutting rockers. If I were doing that I would just boat side the truck with a full cage and be done with it. But that's not the purpose of rock sliders (to protect the rockers and surrounding sheet metal), nor my intent to turn my Wagon into a full blown trail rig. There is something to be said about clearance above the bottom of the frame rail for things extending out from the center line of the vehicle, otherwise people wouldn't boat side anything. Also having nerf bars on a trail quad has been a hindrance on many occasions for the same reason, so much so I've stopped running them. They don't hang below the bottom of the chassis, but the width ends up hanging them up on objects that come in from an angle.
The difference in this aspect between the White Knuckles and these Randy Ellis sliders may very well be negligible.
So far we have plenty of valid concerns and reservations regarding their implementation, but I work in a body shop and have seen these cabs get hit low in the rockers, and how they hold up in a collision. The sheet metal and reinforcements are pretty solid compared to some of the competition. With that in mind, to me, the idea of a rock slider mounting directly to the rocker and holding up under moderate use is not wholly unreasonable in theory. I'm just curious if anyone here has experience or witnessed this in practice. I have my own reservations about the idea of a rock slider clamping to the frame rather than the frame being plated, slider welded in, and gusseted, but in practice, it works well.
Mind you, my only interest in this proposed solution over the tried and true White Knuckle sliders is purely cosmetic. If I know they aren't going to hold up to anything, then that checks them off the list.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:25 pm
by meathead177
I'm interested in them since it looks like you can use them with the amp fold out steps. The amps are a necessity with a 5 foot tall wife and 37's!
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Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:38 pm
by OffroadTreks
ScubaSteve wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:09 pm
Not interested in cutting rockers. If I were doing that I would just boat side the truck with a full cage and be done with it. But that's not the purpose of rock sliders (to protect the rockers and surrounding sheet metal), nor my intent to turn my Wagon into a full blown trail rig. There is something to be said about clearance above the bottom of the frame rail for things extending out from the center line of the vehicle, otherwise people wouldn't boat side anything. Also having nerf bars on a trail quad has been a hindrance on many occasions for the same reason, so much so I've stopped running them. They don't hang below the bottom of the chassis, but the width ends up hanging them up on objects that come in from an angle.
The difference in this aspect between the White Knuckles and these Randy Ellis sliders may very well be negligible.
So far we have plenty of valid concerns and reservations regarding their implementation, but I work in a body shop and have seen these cabs get hit low in the rockers, and how they hold up in a collision. The sheet metal and reinforcements are pretty solid compared to some of the competition. With that in mind, to me, the idea of a rock slider mounting directly to the rocker and holding up under moderate use is not wholly unreasonable in theory. I'm just curious if anyone here has experience or witnessed this in practice. I have my own reservations about the idea of a rock slider clamping to the frame rather than the frame being plated, slider welded in, and gusseted, but in practice, it works well.
Mind you, my only interest in this proposed solution over the tried and true White Knuckle sliders is purely cosmetic. If I know they aren't going to hold up to anything, then that checks them off the list.
Buy bigger tires and pick better lines.
I'm serious about this though. I smacked my sliders all the time on 35's. WAAAAAAY less on the 37's. Probably even less on 39's now.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:44 pm
by OffroadTreks
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Shawn is the only one I know using them. He says they hold up. I've just never seen anyone drop their truck on them. I've seen our trucks take serious hits, including dropping the whole truck on White Knuckle sliders, many, many times.
Theories and opinions are nice. Real-world demonstrations matter more. If someone has these and comes to PWIM we could find some ways to test them.
You want to see White Knuckle Sliders take a hit, watch this starting at the 0:55 min mark
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Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:45 pm
by OffroadTreks
meathead177 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:25 pm
I'm interested in them since it looks like you can use them with the amp fold out steps. The amps are a necessity with a 5 foot tall wife and 37's!
You can. There are some guys who use them. I have 3 kids under 6. My white knuckles work fine as steps. Just saying.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:37 pm
by ScubaSteve
OffroadTreks wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:44 pm
Shawn is the only one I know using them. He says they hold up. I've just never seen anyone drop their truck on them. I've seen our trucks take serious hits, including dropping the whole truck on White Knuckle sliders, many, many times.
Theories and opinions are nice. Real-world demonstrations matter more. If someone has these and comes to PWIM we could find some ways to test them.
You want to see White Knuckle Sliders take a hit, watch this starting at the 0:55 min mark
And this is what I'm requesting. Real world demonstrations and experience from those who have used them, refer to the original post.
That said, I am at work and cannot watch the videos you posted currently, but I
assume that it is your PWIM 19 video (which I have watched numerous times, great stuff), and I know exactly the moment you are talking about. A real credit to those WK sliders. I am under no delusion that the RED sliders would even hope to stand up to a hit that hard and come away unscathed, but I am still curious as to the feedback. As mentioned before, my interest is purely cosmetic on this subject. I just would like cleaner lines than the WK's.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 7:16 pm
by KevinABQ
I had to get winched off an obstacle in 2018, and my sliders dragged a bunch of the rocks, as did several other people. Unlike me with stock 33s, the guy in front of me had 37s and no sliders and got through it without a huge amount of issues and with no damage. He was also vastly more experienced.
So basically, be really good at picking your approaches, manuvering through the obstacle and using the right amount of power and you don’t need sliders. But I’m not that guy.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:35 pm
by RustyPW
I've hit hard enough to break 4 welds on a set of rock rails.
If I had something the Randy Ellis sliders. I would have been screwed.
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:30 pm
by OffroadTreks
RustyPW wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:35 pm
I've hit hard enough to break 4 welds on a set of rock rails.
If I had something the Randy Ellis sliders. I would have been screwed.
Exactly. They probably work for basic mild use. But I'd rather have more protection than less just to gain some "ground clearance"
Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:09 pm
by TankerZak
OffroadTreks wrote:RustyPW wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:35 pm
I've hit hard enough to break 4 welds on a set of rock rails.
If I had something the Randy Ellis sliders. I would have been screwed.
Exactly. They probably work for basic mild use. But I'd rather have more protection than less just to gain some "ground clearance"
I've hit a rock so hard with my White Knuckle rock slider kick out that it A) broke the rock and B) nearly threw me off one hell of a ledge. Attachment method aside... without that kickout I woulda had major body damage at least twice I can think of.
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Re: Randy Ellis Design Sleekster "Rock Sliders"?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:22 pm
by Mule007
OP as you well know, rock rail sLiders are designed for specific function, if cosmeTics are your major concern that is fine but just realize you will sacrifice much of that function, it is really your call.
