[Volcanocruiser]

Hi everyone,

Looking to get some input from folks on rocker panel protection preferences. I pulled off the chrome trim from my 62 to mitigate rust potential....... now I have those nice plastic gromets to contend with

At any rate what I am looking for is some recommendations from the resident gurus as to guidance on the following:

-Rocker guards/Sliders - What works for you? What did not?.
-What folks have used to plug the holes from the old chrome? Rubber plugs, filler, nothing?

All comments welcome

Aloha!

[Weaver]

black plastic plugs from ace and some silicone did me well for plugs.

[87CRUSR]

Sliders: Cutom Beedon Sliders (Jim)

Holes: I will do what is recommended here as I still have mine.

[brownbear]

I sanded mine down, repaired any rust with welded in spots. painted with POR-15, used the por 15 fiberglass type filler and covered all the holes. Then painted with Tie coat primer and now I am going to rhino line them.

[Dave-T]

Sliders: Cutom Beedon Sliders (Jim) [/quote]

87CRUSR, Could you post a picture?

Brownbear, would the rhino liner offer any protection against denting the rockers? I can see how it would protect against abrasion but not do as well as metal guards to provide a solid barrier against rocks/stumps or hard snow.

[SLOwag]

Could you post a picture?

Start here.....

http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/125430-fj-62-sliders.html

http://www.solidrockoff-road.com/index.php

[Mark W]

Cut them off and replace with frame mounbted slider/nerf bars.


mark...

[cruiserland]

like mark said
I cut mine, welded on 2X4 box tube, and built some frame mounted protection

[lunyou]

i think i have have read of people using aluminum tape and then rhino lining over it since the rhino lining is thick it will do away with the thickness of the tape.

lunyou

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by Dave-T

Sliders: Cutom Beedon Sliders (Jim)

87CRUSR, Could you post a picture?

Brownbear, would the rhino liner offer any protection against denting the rockers? I can see how it would protect against abrasion but not do as well as metal guards to provide a solid barrier against rocks/stumps or hard snow.[/quote]

ah no, It would protect from scraps, but would dent if hit hard.

I like a slider mounted to the frame for that.

My idea I was going to do was tube mounted as high as possible to also work as a step in.

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by lunyou

i think i have have read of people using aluminum tape and then rhino lining over it since the rhino lining is thick it will do away with the thickness of the tape.

lunyou

that would work, but I have heard you need to roughen up the surface to get rhino to stick. SO depends if you can do that with the tape.

If I was going to spray(which I will) I would rather fiberglass filler over the holes. Then spray...... not sure if its better or not though..

the resto grip filler from POR-15 is tough stuff. and it sticks to POR really well. I painted my rockers inside and out with por.

But I had to cut under the sill covers for access. Because I welded new metal in, I like to sand blast the backside of the welds to prevent inside out rust. then paint the inside with POR.

[Front Range 4x4]

solidrockoff-road sliders

More at http://www.solidrockoff-road.com/sliders.php

[Mark W]

Too much clearance loss with those for me to use them.

As far as I am concerned rocker panels are nothing but place holders for the guys that have not gotten around to cutting and instaling nerf bars.


Mark...

[agent orange]

Originally Posted by Mark W

Too much clearance loss with those for me to use them.

As far as I am concerned rocker panels are nothing but place holders for the guys that have not gotten around to cutting and instaling nerf bars.


Mark...

x2, my truck drags on enough crap without losing 3-4 inches of clearance. OF course now its a moot point because after a day at Crozet VA both rockers, both quarters, and a fender are bashed in. And i already have an inch of body lift.

Mark, when you cut the rockers out for sliders, do you cut along the bottom of the front fender to match? One of mine took a lick there so i need to get rid of it. If you do cut that what do you do to seal the area up? Im just wondering because i dont know if i want to weld the inner fender to the outer fender to seal the hole.

-Matt

[Front Range 4x4]

Originally Posted by Mark W

Too much clearance loss with those for me to use them.

As far as I am concerned rocker panels are nothing but place holders for the guys that have not gotten around to cutting and instaling nerf bars.


Mark...

Guess it all depends on what kind of wheeling you do. I have a set of SROR/2badfj's sliders fit nice and close to my rockers. They've been banged about plenty and I still have undamaged rockers

[PAFJ]

This is what I did to cover up the holes left from the snake blinders:


http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/98178-stone-chip-guard.html

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by agent orange

x2, my truck drags on enough crap without losing 3-4 inches of clearance. OF course now its a moot point because after a day at Crozet VA both rockers, both quarters, and a fender are bashed in. And i already have an inch of body lift.

Mark, when you cut the rockers out for sliders, do you cut along the bottom of the front fender to match? One of mine took a lick there so i need to get rid of it. If you do cut that what do you do to seal the area up? Im just wondering because i dont know if i want to weld the inner fender to the outer fender to seal the hole.

-Matt

I've done it both way. A rig I builkt and then sold has returned to the fold and I will be changing the sliders from units that end at the frnt of the dor, to ones that extend under the frnt fender.

I usually put a couple opf tack welds on something like the inner/outer fender and then use auto body seal sealer. It is simple enough to crack/cut a couple of spot welds if the need ever arises.

When we bob the rear quarters, I weld a patch panel in underneath to seal everything off. Fully welded or a series of closely spaced spot welds followed by seam sealer.


Mark...

[brownbear]

I was considering welding in box tube into the rocker area... but I just installed two new fenders and was shy of cutting into them.

I'll see if I bend them though. Or my rust repairs fail on the rocker, then I'll cut em out.

[phoenixrider]

I know this is an older thread, but, are there any pics of cutting the rocker panels out, then sealing up the undersides? Some articals I've seen people weld a 2x4 right in place, but I'd rather have the sliders attach to the frame, and keep the body 'floating'

Also, there are some serious body mount tabs on the backside of the rocker panels - do these get cut as well?

I ask because I did a rocker panel cutout on a newer (2005) SUV, and there was like 2 or 3 different layers of sheet metal inside and it was a total pain re-welding something in place! Now, I'm a bit nervous about repeating that process, but at the same time, I need my ground clearance!

[RredFJ40]

You would weld the 2x4 to the body not the frame, so the body stays floating. There are only two pieces of sheet metal, what you see is what you get. Cutting the mounts back a little won't hurt anything.

[phoenixrider]

Yeah, that's a possiblity, but, I am really rough on my vehicles. I think for me, at least, I need to sliders tied into the frame to asorb the blows, not the body. I just know the type of wheelin I tend to do

[RredFJ40]

Then If I were you, I'd cut it up to just below the door and just put a plate in. That'll save you another 2 inches over a 2x4. Then either make your own or have someone like 2badfjs (Jim Beedon of Solid Rock Off Road) make some for your custom height.