When I bought the LX a couple years ago, the intentions were to make a set of sliders as one of the first modifications to protect the rocker panels. I was coming from a Jeep WJ where the rocker panels will collapse if you look at them wrong, it is w weak point of these Jeeps due to the low ground clearance. I quickly learned the LX had a lot more ground clearance and somehow it kept getting put on the backburner as other upgrades or modifications were made. At this point I have a fairly good idea of the type of roads this thing will see and the ground clearance and capabilities it has without the rock sliders. I began to think, maybe I can get due without them. Well, I plan to keep the LX for a long time so this added protection will eventually be needed. I don't ever want to be in a situation where I am forced to turn back while others in a group I am traveling with continue on due to not having the sliders to slide over a rock or log etc.
I finally decided I was going to just buy some. I priced them out and looked at all options and didn't find any that I am happy with already being made. They all seem to lack coverage right behind the front tires and in front of the door and do not seem quite as sturdy in the versions that are made to install with AHC. This is especially bad on the Lexus 100 series due to the cladding sticking out so far at this point.
I will trade form over function. I also want to make sure that these provide a bit of a step for my daughter to use when getting into the back seat but do not want this extra width at the front door. I have read about a lot of people complaining that they chafe their calves or are constantly getting the back of their pantlegs dirty when stepping out and dragging across them because they stick out too far at this point. I know some will say that this is more function but, I will not be using these to wedge between anything or to kick off the side of a tree or rock. When it gets that hairy I will turn around. I would love to rock crawl but I am going to have a much cheaper vehicle to do that in if I am ever to do it. I just need the protection under the rockers and something I can use a highlift on if ever needed.
So I started pricing steel and looking at every slider build I could find on the internet to come up with a good mounting solution and materials to use. At this point I am thinking I will use 2x4 rectangular tube and 2x2 square tube for the main body and 2x2 for the legs to the frame. I still haven't decided how I will mount them. I would like to be able to remove them with bolts and was going to have plates made with bolt sticking out of them so I could weld these to the frame and still remove the sliders by removing a few nuts. I've had the idea for a while after seeing it on Stom_M3's Sequoia
Well after doing more reading and talking to some engineers at work, I have found that there is a chance that the frame is heat treated and welding to it could weaken the frame more than actually drilling holes through it would. I am now leaning towards drilling through the frame to mount with through bolts and also have a backing plate on the inside of the frame. I still have a few other ideas in my head and will eventually work something out.
I made some quick mock ups out of wood tonight to see how it would look. The steel will actually be 2x4 and 2x2. The wood mock up is not true 2x2 and 2x4 so steel will be a bit wider but I will bring them inboard a bit and this design still isn't set in stone. I still think the front kickout can look better and be more functional. Ideally I could go with the angles/contours of the cladding on the rocker panel but I want to keep my cuts all at 90 and 45 degree angles and keep it simple.
This first picture makes them look a little wider than they actually are.
As I am typing this and looking at the pictures I am adding I think I will actually make the front kickout about half the length it is now and see how that looks. You can see the contour I am trying to follow at the back of the front fender in this picture.
This is looking straight down from the front door. Still sticks out past the rocker but I don't think I will drag my legs on them when I step out.
This is the rear kickout/step for my daughter. I think it is just the right amount.
A couple more angles.
Overall I like the design and will do some tweaking on the front kickout tomorrow. I may even spray paint them black to get a better idea of how they will look. I am considering color matching them to the body in pearl white so they blend in. If you have read much of what I have already done to the LX you already know I like the look of the subtle things or things that many people wont even spot as a modification.
In other good new, I did receive my 180 amp high output alternator from DC Power yesterday. That is on the list as well but I have a lot of wiring to do when that goes in. I have already rerouted some wiring and my secondary battery is now my starter battery and the large group 31 in the stock battery location is dedicated as the house battery for extra circuits.
