[Zane]

I am starting this thread to document my slider build for my 2000 UZJ100. I have picked up all of the steel needed to build the slider brackets plates, bracket supports and the main slider rail. This is what I went with:

Bracket Plates (what the u-bolts attach to): 3" x 1/4" bar
Bracket supports (what supports the main slider rail to the Bracket Plates): 1" x 2" x 3/16"
Main Slider Rail: 2" x 3" x 3/16"



I am still needing to pick up the DOM tubing for the out riggers, but I have yet to decide if I want to go with 1.75" or 2" DOM. That will be the last thing I do anyway so it can wait for now.

I will be mirroring the support brackets I built for my sliders on the FZJ80 that I recently sold. I beat the living snott out of them in MOAB last year and dropped the entire weight of the truck on the sliders several times and they never moved and protected the rig like intended. See pic of the bracket design (note this picture was taken when building my 80 sliders and main slider rail was tack welded in place):

[1loudLX]

sweet! looks like lots of welding is in your future!

[FATrabbit]

You got an update on this build? I am interested in undertaking a project like this, and would love to follow your build.

In have questions like:
How many support brackets per slider?
Total length of material used?

[Zane]

Ok, sorry for the delay I've been busy with life and have been putting this project off a bit, but have started back up over the weekend. Some answeres to your questions:

How many support brackets per slider? I will have 3 support brackets per side.

Total length of material used? I will have to pull that together once I am done, but I will let you know. [/quote]



[quote=FATrabbit;3075319]You got an update on this build? I am interested in undertaking a project like this, and would love to follow your build.

In have questions like:

[Zane]

I wanted to share some updates with you guys. Almost have all of the brackets completed for the sliders. As you will see in the pictures I have two brackets to complete, they are the drivers and passengers very front brackets. I am needing to purchase a new cutting wheel for my chop saw or I would have had them done as well. Once these are done, I will place them on the truck frame in my pre-set locations and then mark the needed cuts so that the main slider bar can be welded to the brackets. I will take pictures of how I do this so that it is clear. As you can see I am a strong believer is BIG gussets. I know that its over kill, but I have no concerns with the integrity of the slider strength. Its the last thing I want to worry about when on the rocks with my rig. Enjoy the pics.

[Zane]

I have also cut the main slider rail to the desired length with a 45 degree cut at both ends. I am still playing with the exact distance out from the pinch weld of the truck that I want the main slider bar, but I think this is the general placement. I know that there will be some body flex when twisting the truck up on the trails so I dont want them too close to the truck but I also want them as close as possible.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Zane

I have also cut the main slider rail to the desired length with a 45 degree cut at both ends. I am still playing with the exact distance out from the pinch weld of the truck that I want the main slider bar, but I think this is the general placement. I know that there will be some body flex when twisting the truck up on the trails so I dont want them too close to the truck but I also want them as close as possible.

FWIW I put my slider on the frame side of the body seam...tucked up there nicely (be sure to leave about 3/16" gap between the top side of the body panel and the slider). That allowed me a little more ground clearance while still being on the same horizontal plane as the frame rail...

IH8MUD.com Forum - View Single Post - Slider Build First Try

[MoJ]

That whole process looks all too familiar!

[FATrabbit]

It looks like you are using channel iron for the support brackets, correct? Good idea to reduce overall weight.

[Zane]

Originally Posted by FATrabbit

It looks like you are using channel iron for the support brackets, correct? Good idea to reduce overall weight.

Yes, I am using 1" x 2" x 3/16" channel iron for the support brackets. You will see that Slee's sliders use channel as well. I believe his is formed steel, but normal channel iron works great, like you said reduces the weight compared to going with square tube.

[pint]

Looks great so far. Man, all you guys that can weld just piss me off! I'm just jealous.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by pint

Looks great so far. Man, all you guys that can weld just piss me off! I'm just jealous.

pint...it isn't that hard. Not to say that what professional welders do is easy to learn...but within a week of reading and laying beads on scrap you can lay down reliable beads for non-life threatening work . You can get a nice MIG with gas, helmet, gloves, leather jacket for less than a grand. It took me 20-damn years to finally pull trigger on my MIG...I just kept thinking it would be another one of those seldom used tools in my garage. But not only has it allowed me to make all kinds of projects large and small for the LC but has allowed me to fab/fix a number of household items...can't live without it now.

Ok...thread hyjack over

[morrissey]

I don;t supose that you have taken measuements of any of this? i would love to just rip off your work and build myself a set.. i have all the gear, i am just lacking i the design capabilities!

They look great!

[Zane]

Originally Posted by morrissey

I don;t supose that you have taken measuements of any of this? i would love to just rip off your work and build myself a set.. i have all the gear, i am just lacking i the design capabilities!

They look great!

I could pull together the measurements of the raw cuts for you, but not for all of the angle cuts, that would be very difficult to do. For the angle cuts on the gussets, I just laid the channel along side the "L" part of the bracket in the spot I wanted each support and marked with a paint pin then cut. I made sure that I didn't extent the gusset past the pinch weld on the truck. To do this I placed each bracket on the truck and marked the general location of the pinch weld, that way I would know how far out to I could go with my gusset when marking.

Zane

[Zane]

Alright, I spent some time last night welding the main 2x3 slider rail onto the individual brackets. I first placed the brackets into place with the u-bolts onto the frame rail. Then I made sure that the when I placed my 2x3 slider rail next to the brackets that they were touching the slider rail evenly across all three brackets. I did a little bit of griding on the bracket ends as needed then shimmed the 2x3 slider rail on jack stands to the desired height and centered under the rocker panel. Then all that was left to do was tack weld the brackets to the slider rail from under the truck.

Now that they are off the truck I can burn some really good strong welds on the brackets. It is much easier to weld when you are NOT under the truck.. Attached are some pictures of the sliders with the brackets attached!

Next step will be the outriggers. I have decided to go with 2" DOM tubing for those.

Zane

[Zane]

I finished up the bracket welds onto the main slider bar, as well as welded in the end caps. I will be grinding off the excess weld to make them smooth on the ends. Once its all smoothed out on the ends it should look like one solid piece of steel. I have a attached some pictures.

Zane

[1loudLX]

I hope your not planning on putting these on that H3 i think i see

[Zane]

Originally Posted by 1loudLX

I hope your not planning on putting these on that H3 i think i see

I figured you would be the one to call that out! Hell no! Thats my wifes car. She said I could do what ever I wanted to my 100 if I purchased her an H3. So I did what any smart man would do... purchased my wife an H3.. Hate the truck, love my wife!

[rockclmbr]

Those look like beefy sliders, very nice work!

[Zane]

UPDATE: With an upcoming wheeling trip this week, I needed to get my sliders on. I'm not done with the build, but the main slider rail is completed. When I get back, I plan on bending my 2" tube for the out riggers and welding them on. Primed & painted them so I could install them. They have turned out really nice and but i'm excited to get my outriggers done. They will look and function much better. I will post up more pics once I start working the next phase.

Pictures of the sliders installed without the outriggers done.

[Zane]

One More...

[pint]

Looks really good. Great job!

[macneill]

That looks awesome!

[1loudLX]

truck is coming together very well, great job Zane.

[calamaridog]

Those supports look beefy.

[Zane]

Time for a little update on this project. I finally got around to bending up my out riggers for my sliders over the weekend. A special thanks goes out to Rob Ridgway from Tornado Alley Cruisers for letting me use his bender!

I'm using 2" tubing for the out riggers. I prefer the look of the 2" over the 1.75" due to the mass size of our rigs. After bending the tubes at each end I then cut them at the correct angle. No scientific method in doing so, just cut and grind, cut and grind until I got it just how I wanted it.

I will be adding two 2" tube gussets to each side once I get the main out rigger welded on. The I will re-primer the whole slider again and paint!

Added some pictures for you guys!

Zane

[Zane]

One more pic!

[LSUfj]

Skilz! Looks great Zane. Feel free to build an extra set.

[spressomon]

Looks great Zane!

[1loudLX]

nice work