Custom Sliders - Square or Round tubing

[LUV24BY]

I would like to work on putting a set of sliders together for my rig in the near future. However, I am wondering what would be the best material to use. I was thinking of square tubing, at an angle so there's a 'slidable' edge - but I am not sure if this would be a weak point or round is the only way. I don't have a tube bender at this time, so perhaps any bending will have to be done at a piece work price through a local fab shop.

What kind of sliders would be best? Your input, first hand experiences and trail stories would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Romer]

you want to use your sliders to do just that, slide around a rock, from the way I have seen this work on my Slee sliders, square would potentially catch and not slide as easily as a round surface causing damage.

Just my thought

 

[Ebag333]

Square tubing shouldn't really make a difference for the main portion (length) of the slider. You don't drive sideways much.

Now for the support/crossmembers....I could see Romer's point about catching there.

Personally when I build mine it'll be all out of square, for simplicity.

 

[LUV24BY]

That is why I was thinking of setting up square tubing at an angle, so it uses the outside edge to 'slide' along said rocks.

John

 

[slow95z]

i have square ones on my taco i wheel and i have never once had trouble with getting it stuck on stuff.

 

[IBCRUSN]

I have a square tubed set modeled after Roger Brown's (4Crawler) basic design. I've never had any issues because of the square tube regardless of main tube, outboard tube or support tubes.

Use whatever is easier for you to work with given the shop tools to have on hand. If square is it go for it. If you can convince the wife you need a bender and notcher go round.

 

[LUV24BY]

Thanks for the real world input, I am was just unsure and wanted to know the best way to go. I would say that 2/3 of the sliders I see are round tube versions, and the other 1/3 is square. Is it just that round stock is cheaper or ?? That is why I posed this question.....

John

 

[Vistataco]

I would like to work on putting a set of sliders together for my rig in the near future. However, I am wondering what would be the best material to use. I was thinking of square tubing, at an angle so there's a 'slidable' edge - but I am not sure if this would be a weak point or round is the only way. I don't have a tube bender at this time, so perhaps any bending will have to be done at a piece work price through a local fab shop.

What kind of sliders would be best? Your input, first hand experiences and trail stories would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I went with the square (2"x3") / round (2") hybrid setup. Used DOM .25 wall stock...yeah, they are heavy but they work well.

 

[LUV24BY]

Hmmmm - very nice Vista! Did you buy and fab, or buy pre cut and weld them?

John

 

[Vistataco]

Hmmmm - very nice Vista! Did you buy and fab, or buy pre cut and weld them?

John

Bought the stock and used Jason Demello's shop to fab them. I tacked everything together and he welded and installed them.

Garry

 

[bhmmapping]

I prefer the look of square + round outer bars, but ran our of time before GSMTR and made an all square version. I have not had any problem with them hanging up on anything, but still prefer the look of the round.

 

[LUV24BY]

So, the bottom line is basically ~ Sliders rock (no pun intended) and no matter if they are made from square or round tubing - you MUST have them if you wheel, right?

John

 

[Vistataco]

So, the bottom line is basically ~ Sliders rock (no pun intended) and no matter if they are made from square or round tubing - you MUST have them if you wheel, right?

John

Ding, ding ding.......winner, winner!

 

[Cj80cruiser]

I prefer the look of square + round outer bars, but ran our of time before GSMTR and made an all square version. I have not had any problem with them hanging up on anything, but still prefer the look of the round.

View attachment 266843
View attachment 266844

Starting to rethink my position on the round square style sliders. I may just go this route and make it like a real step. It was a no brainer til I saw yours

 

[71cruiser71]

i like that square on the bottom with the round on the side... i think the round looks better, flows alittle better i think

 

[Tools R Us]

... Sliders rock ... - you MUST have them if you wheel, right?

John

It depends, define wheeling, you can carefully do moderate trails like this without them, but for hardcore stuff need them.

 

[Tools R Us]

It depends on lots of things, amount of lift, tire size, trails, terrain, spotter/driver quality, etc. I will say that wheeling without them makes you think about lines more. There is always more risk of damage, if your not careful it could start looking like Spikes!

If you want to see some sliders for ideas, cruise to the meet in Tempe on Friday.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-...cruiser-cruise-thread-check-here-details.html

 

[-Spike-]

Sliders. Meh.

-Spike

 

[Tools R Us]

Sliders. Meh.

-Spike

They hang down too far, so one less thing to get hung up on?

 

[-Spike-]

Eggzactally.

I can add 300 pounds of steel to my truck and subtract 6 inches of clearance at the rockers, plus a bunch of nice places to grab rocks with, or I can leave it alone and get a few dents. Once in a while I pound the rockers down so the doors will open.

I don't remember any awards handed out at the end of a trail for beauty.

-Spike