Welded on rock sliders for my 4 door

[BradtheWelder]

They're not welded on quite yet but I am getting close. Made out of HREW 1.75" x .120 wall and 1" x .120 wall smaller tubes. Should be plenty strong for light bumps against the rocks.

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[PleaseDontRoll]

Looking great! Not bad looking welds either! Powder coating?

 

[BradtheWelder]

Looking great! Not bad looking welds either! Powder coating?

Thought about it but where they get welded on would have to be painted anyway I am just using some brushed on paint.

 

[Werkedperformance]

Steel It Coating?

 

[BradtheWelder]

Steel It Coating?

I have never tried steel-it but I know prerunner guys love that stuff. I'm too late to try it for this project but I may make skid plates sometime this year and I think I will give steel-it a try.

 

[1970AMCAMX]

Steel-it is expensive (~$30 per can) but worth every penny, with good prep (sand with 36 grit or sandblast) it works great and is very tough, easy to touch up, and the finish levels out real nice after applying. Used it for the frame and suspension of my DF Goblin kit car.

 

[BradtheWelder]

Getting closer, probably welding them on this weekend. I painted them off the vehicle to make sure I don't get any paint on the Bronco. The slider you will notice doesn't have the gussets welded on yet. I decided to add those to get more surface area to spread the load out when they get hit.

 

[BradtheWelder]

Got the sliders welded on and primed and painted. This was very awkward to weld because of how close I tucked up everything. The tubes that go up to the top of the frame were the hardest. The sliders stick out just past the door handles. Should help keep the rocks of the paint for at least the sides of the Bronco. Overall pretty happy with my outcome.

 

[BradtheWelder]

Couple more pics lifting the Bronco up from the sliders

 

[LockedBronco]

Could you get pic of frame?

 

[BradtheWelder]

Could you get pic of frame?

Yeah I'm not home now but tomorrow I am going to start a rear bumper so I will get a pic then

 

[BradtheWelder]

@LockedBronco here is some more pics. The 1”OD tubes go to the bottom and the top of the frame rails where I could. The very front tie in points are not super strong because of how the front frame body mounts that come off don’t give you a place to weld tubes to without blocking the bolts that hold the body on. They have 1/8” plate. I’m not totally happy with this and may add triangular support going to weld to the top of the frame body mount to make it stronger. The rear is more stout and I am happy with that because it didn’t flex at all when I hoisted it up on the sliders. Hopefully my description will make sense with the pictures.

 

[LockedBronco]

Looks good
No flex really nice, did you try lifting on one side?
With all the holes in the frame any reason not bolt on?

 

[BradtheWelder]

Looks good
No flex really nice, did you try lifting on one side?
With all the holes in the frame any reason not bolt on?

I don't want to lift just one side with the lift because I think that is a no-no. I started out wanting to bolt them on but after looking at it when up on the hoist I came to the conclusion that there is nothing that would ever need them to be removed. Frame is not quite thick enough to tap it for threads in my opinion but what do I know, I'm just a welder. Also the passenger side would require removing the gas tank to get the sliders to bolt through the frame, nah, no thanks. I think the welds to the frame are good enough.

 

[LockedBronco]

I don't want to lift just one side with the lift because I think that is a no-no. I started out wanting to bolt them on but after looking at it when up on the hoist I came to the conclusion that there is nothing that would ever need them to be removed. Frame is not quite thick enough to tap it for threads in my opinion but what do I know, I'm just a welder. Also the passenger side would require removing the gas tank to get the sliders to bolt through the frame, nah, no thanks. I think the welds to the frame are good enough.

Oh just curious welding works.
Lifting one side just to test in shop before a rock on a trail does.
What about a support/bracket to the rocker?

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