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Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame

Brokennose

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I'm assuming this has been proven as viable. It just seems like trouble to me.

Am I wrong on this? Has this been done else where with no Ill effect?
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ekim

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I'm assuming this has been proven as viable. It just seems like trouble to me.

Am I wrong on this? Has this been done else where with no Ill effect?
Body is good as long as the rails are substantial and well mounted. Ideally offset some too, so if you hit a rock from the side you have some protection.
 

Lab00Rat

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Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame Jeep underbody.JPG


Jeeps been doing it for years.
Aftermarket does it better.
 

BroncoBoy22

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Body is good as long as the rails are substantial and well mounted. Ideally offset some too, so if you hit a rock from the side you have some protection.
One Of the engineers described it as being advantageous this way
 
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Philly

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A lot of the Jeep guys with the factory rock rails supplement them with frame mounted rock rails from ACE. It makes them much more robust and compliments the Jeeps quite well.

For mild off roading, the factory rails mounted to the body will be just fine. At some point someone will come out with something like what ACE offers or better, or you can do a full swap and sell the factory rails to help fund other upgrades. Lots of guys will want to buy those used.

Here are some pics of the ACE rails:

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134687480

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134736810

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134762539
 

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Bison

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One of the guys I watch on you tube bashed them up real good. Changed out to LOD sliders and when he took them off they had hit into the the body and left creases. Good yes but not the best if you plan on bashing them hard. I’ll get after market and mount it to the frame. Hopefully ford already has holes ready like the Fj did so it took about an hour to do but I doubt it.
 

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My Jeep has the Rugged Ridge boat sliders.
They bolt to the body pinch seam, like the factory rock rails, and to the frame side of the body mounts.

Solid as hell and easy to put on.
But they weigh far more than weld-on frame mounted sliders.
 

dnvrBronco

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I’d prefer if they stuck out more for lateral protection. I’d prefer there was more gap between the rail and the body, for a number of reasons. And I’d prefer they were bolted, not welded, to the frame. The last point is that I will eventually need to replace them.
 

BroncBro

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I'm assuming this has been proven as viable. It just seems like trouble to me.

Am I wrong on this? Has this been done else where with no Ill effect?
Frame mounted is best. No argument to be had there.
But, unless you’re doing extreme rock crawling where the weight of the vehicle will be on the rails it’s mostly not necessary.
Just my opinion and experience though. ?
 

Philly

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One of the guys I watch on you tube bashed them up real good. Changed out to LOD sliders and when he took them off they had hit into the the body and left creases. Good yes but not the best if you plan on bashing them hard. I’ll get after market and mount it to the frame. Hopefully ford already has holes ready like the Fj did so it took about an hour to do but I doubt it.
LOD are definitely one of the best from what I have read. I was just saying that ACE is pretty popular because they work in conjunction with factory sliders and they are super easy to install. I went a different route because I didn't have the factory sliders to begin with and they looked goofy without them filling the gap.
 

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kodiakisland

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Frame mounted is best and they should be as wide as the tires. Sliders do more than just protect sheet metal, if you use them.
 

Gamecock

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A lot of the Jeep guys with the factory rock rails supplement them with frame mounted rock rails from ACE. It makes them much more robust and compliments the Jeeps quite well.

For mild off roading, the factory rails mounted to the body will be just fine. At some point someone will come out with something like what ACE offers or better, or you can do a full swap and sell the factory rails to help fund other upgrades. Lots of guys will want to buy those used.

Here are some pics of the ACE rails:

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134762539

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134762539

Ford Bronco Rock rails mounted to the body vs frame 1600134762539
That’s what I would want...something I can easily bolt on to the frame and leave the factory rails in place. Something that sticks out helps a lot in preventing body damage...on the trail and in the parking lot.
 

Philly

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That’s what I would want...something I can easily bolt on to the frame and leave the factory rails in place. Something that sticks out helps a lot in preventing body damage...on the trail and in the parking lot.
I have seen some people add grip tape to them too so they make better steps.
 

Bison

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LOD are definitely one of the best from what I have read. I was just saying that ACE is pretty popular because they work in conjunction with factory sliders and they are super easy to install. I went a different route because I didn't have the factory sliders to begin with and they looked goofy without them filling the gap.
I believe when I was searching bumpers ace had some pretty good ones. It’s been a while since I had the jeep. Fj had heavy steal factory frame mounted Ones that were nice but still bumped the body. I got some bud built ones with the kick out and haven’t had a problem. When they stick out a ways it makes a great pivot point.
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