George's Sliders

[snowcruiser]

Well I have taken the plunge and am finally in the process of building sliders a la George. I have gone through the archives and searched past threads for more details pertaining to the sliders. I have made the decision based on the fact that I have some time to work with, the necessary tools, metal at reasonable costs, no money for Slee's beautiful design and a big f-ing heavy bag in the shop to take out the f-ups on. I cut out the plates yesterday and some of the outriggers...thanks PowerMax 900. I am waiting for the other outriggers which I brought to a machine shop to have the compound angles cut. In the archives I came across a post or two mentioning slight problems with the fitment or design and that one of the PDF images was reversed. Can anyone elaborate on this? I would like to hear the advice of others who have built these sliders. I am planning to use 3/16 inch plate and tubing all around with 2x3 inch outriggers and 2x4 inch main sliders. I will then add a round tube for door protection a la Slee and Hanna...if my hands are still able to weld after punching that heavy bag. Oh and what about the U-bolts...anyone use straight grade 8 bolts with backing plates, how about a source for the u-bolts. Advice ? ? ?

 

[Gumby]

I used grade 8 bolts and backing plates. Works great. I like to be able to slide the plates under the lines so as not to pinch them.

I think i would have probably waited for the prices of steel to come back down though. It's pretty ridiculously and artificially inflated right now.

 

[Rookie2]

Yeah.., steel is high right now, but seems like most of the money is in the fabrication and then cost of doing business. I guess you're talking about a couple hundred pounds of steel to do both sliders, so maybe an extra 40 bucks from a year ago prices. No indications there will be any relief in the near future.


Rookie2

 

[Beowulf]

>> ... that one of the PDF images was reversed. Can anyone elaborate on this? <<

Snow,

That was me. If you've read the archives then you know I had a guy build my custom sliders from George's plans. One of the outriggers came out backward and the guy told me the PDF image was reversed and he didn't catch it until he started putting everything together. He was able to salvage some of the outrigger but he wasn't happy about it. I cannot remember which it was but I believe my fabricator contacted George and it may have been corrected. George posted the drawings at my request and I'm pretty sure that I was the first to use them.

Here are some pics and links to more.

http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/Slider_3.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/Slider_5.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/Slider_4.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/Sliders-PS.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_1.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_3.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_4.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_5.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_6.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_7.jpeg
http://wind.prohosting.com/beowu1f/IOR_Sliders_10.jpeg

-B-

 

[Junk]

I think i would have probably waited for the prices of steel to come back down though. It's pretty ridiculously and artificially inflated right now.

Not sure it's ever coming down Gumby unless G.W. decides it's ok for US steel workers to lose their jobs to oversee production like every other job faces.

 

[snowcruiser]

Beo

Thanks for the update. I didn't pick up on any reversal so I assume the pdfs have been corrected. Did you use 2x3 inch tubing for the main sliders and then another 2x3 inch tube as an extension for a step? Finally, if you have a chance the measurements between the points where each outrigger makes contacts with the main slider would also be helpful. I do not think this was included in George's plans and could be helpful.

Thanks
Snow

 

[landtank]

B, what the hell are those wings near the cats for?

 

[Rookie2]

Not sure it's ever coming down Gumby unless G.W. decides it's ok for US steel workers to lose their jobs to oversee production like every other job faces.

It all comes down to supply and demand. As long as the Chinese are willing to pay top dollar and continue to suck up all the raw materials, old round eye has to pay more to get their piece of it. That combined with economic growth and energy costs in the US, only makes it worse. The only thing G.W. can do to help bring cost down is stop the growth.


Rookie2

 

[Beowulf]

>> B, what the hell are those wings near the cats for? <<

I guess you're asking about the cat shield. Man, was that ever a poor design and I have to take 100% credit for that one. I wanted a skid under the cats and the guy built it just like I requested but it doesn't have any support and the thing bends easily. Once a year or so, I get under it with the floor jack and chain and straighten the thing out. Next trip out it gets bent again.

-B-

 

[Beowulf]

Snow,

>> Did you use 2x3 inch tubing ... <<

Yes, both rails are 2x3 tubing. The step rail is designed to come off easily. It should have 3 or 4 mounting points per side but I only requested 2 per side thinking I would *always* remove the step before taking it in the rocks. The other thing I would change about the rail is to have it flush with the slider rail or, at least some type of spacer that fill the gap between the step and the slider rail. The reason for the flush outer rail (assuming you're going to build one...) is that the step will bend up if you leave the step on and take it in the rocks.

My plan has always been to remove the step some day and weld a tube like the Hanna or the Slee. That will have to wait until the truck's role is more off-road than on-road since the step is very popular with the wife and kids.

>> ... measurements [...] would also be helpful. <<

I strongly suggest you trial fit and don't worry about my measurements. For one, I'm not 100% happy with them because one side is about 1" forward compared to the other side. You'll want to get the outriggers built and bolted to the frame, then position the rail where you want it and tack the rail.

-B-