ARCHIVE Owl Expedition Step Sliders

[Ramathorn15]

I'm confused a little. What is the purpose of the pinch weld guard? I assume you're talking about the pinch weld on the vehicle.

Also, when climbing out during the rain, are these slick as owl crap like the normal sliders?

I'm seriously considering pulling my Metal Tech sliders and putting these on. I'm sure I'd have no trouble selling the Metal Tech's. What do you think your lead time will be once you have them fully offered?

Yeah, the pinch weld is the most vulnerable part underneath. Since I pulled the slider out to make a better step, I needed something there to keep the pinch weld covered.

The slickness depends on how you finish them. I always use grip tape, bit you could get them bed lined or similar finish with texture. They will be better for grip tape than tubing sliders since there's so much flat area.

Not sure on lead time. I do work a normal job, but part of the goal of these was to make them quickly reproducible. I still need to finish up the jigs then time myself start to finish to ensure its still within my expectations. That and demand will be the influencing factors on the turn around.

 

[neckbone]

I see you only have two legs, are they AHC compatible?

 

[Ramathorn15]

I see you only have two legs, are they AHC compatible?

Yup. My truck has functioning AHC and these clear it well.

 

[ramangain]

I'll repost one of Rami's pics and point out some things as to why I'm so impressed.

Take a good, hard look at the mounting bracketry. I know folks are concerned about slipperiness/size/shape of the step, but in my eyes, all of this pales in comparison to the robustness of the mounting solution to the rig. No need for U-bolts that can bend and are structurally integral to keeping the slider from moving around (especially during hard contact with a ground-based object that won't give, like big parts of The Earth). Those brackets are The Ticket to keeping things snug and stable.

FWIW, we also discussed trade-offs that can affect cost (size, weight, complexity, material) and I'm relatively sure in saying we both agreed that as long as complexity and material don't get too jacked up, weight is not an issue as long as robustness increases accordingly. On a 5500-6000 lb. rig, adding 10-15 lbs. per side of weight to improve robustness of the slider itself is pretty much a non-issue. For instance, look at those pimpy fresh mounting bracket solutions!

I am curious if the community feels the same way?

 

[neckbone]

I'll repost one of Rami's pics and point out some things as to why I'm so impressed.

Take a good, hard look at the mounting bracketry. I know folks are concerned about slipperiness/size/shape of the step, but in my eyes, all of this pales in comparison to the robustness of the mounting solution to the rig. No need for U-bolts that can bend and are structurally integral to keeping the slider from moving around (especially during hard contact with a ground-based object that won't give, like big parts of The Earth). Those brackets are The Ticket to keeping things snug and stable.

FWIW, we also discussed trade-offs that can affect cost (size, weight, complexity, material) and I'm relatively sure in saying we both agreed that as long as complexity and material don't get too jacked up, weight is not an issue as long as robustness increases accordingly. On a 5500-6000 lb. rig, adding 10-15 lbs. per side of weight to improve robustness of the slider itself is pretty much a non-issue. For instance, look at those pimpy fresh mounting bracket solutions!

I am curious if the community feels the same way?

I love the design and the mounting brackets. They will have to be pretty precise when welded. There's no getting it close then using the ubolts to tighten it up into place. I'm pretty sure I'll be swapping mine out with these.

 

[pili]

Im a fan too. I have lots of other local options, but now I'm trying to figure out how to get work to pay for my miles down there so I can pickup a set

 

[stonemountain]

I love the design and the mounting brackets. They will have to be pretty precise when welded. There's no getting it close then using the ubolts to tighten it up into place. I'm pretty sure I'll be swapping mine out with these.

Agree on the precision needed. Since they do not allow the slider to move at all, I would be in favor of getting them as close to the body as possible.

 

[Ramathorn15]

I love the design and the mounting brackets. They will have to be pretty precise when welded. There's no getting it close then using the ubolts to tighten it up into place. I'm pretty sure I'll be swapping mine out with these.

Definitely. That was my hesitation to do this design initially. Because of the precision needed, my plan is to fit a handful of local trucks to ensure consistency before shipping out. Hopefully it works out.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

That looks really well-built. I’m curious if there are drain holes at the bottom where water can escape? You know just in case you go cross rivers or wade flood water deep enough to fully submerge the slider under water.

 

[Ramathorn15]

That looks really well-built. I’m curious if there are drain holes at the bottom where water can escape? You know just in case you go cross rivers or wade flood water deep enough to fully submerge the slider under water.

Thanks! The slider tubing is totally welded up. There shouldn't be any water getting inside the tubing itself.

 

[heckler]

These look great, awesome job. As far as the pinch weld guard, is it really needed? I have a hard time seeing something getting in between the slider and frame.

 

[Ramathorn15]

These look great, awesome job. As far as the pinch weld guard, is it really needed? I have a hard time seeing something getting in between the slider and frame.

That's a great question. I agree that it's extremely unlikely that something would get between the frame and the slider and hit the pinch weld. It would have to be a very sharp obstacle. I mostly added it because I felt that the community would want it. I'm open to hearing opinions though.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

That's a great question. I agree that it's extremely unlikely that something would get between the frame and the slider and hit the pinch weld. It would have to be a very sharp obstacle. I mostly added it because I felt that the community would want it. I'm open to hearing opinions though.

I want it, so +1

 

[gasolinesunsets]

Heres are some better pics of the sliders and mounting. This is one of the prototypes, so it's just tacked together at the moment and doesn't have the gussets on it.

Here is what I'm playing with now. This is probably the better mounting solution, but is more difficult and takes longer to build. Not so much that I think it would increase the price. Nice thing about this is it will never let the slider shift upwards as many do. It is also removes the overhand on the lower frame which I know some like. Downside is that there will be no adjustability as far as body/slider gap goes. I think that's pretty minor though.

They look great. Any chance you'd do a variation with more rounded off edges? Digging the price

 

[Ramathorn15]

They look great. Any chance you'd do a variation with more rounded off edges? Digging the price

Thanks! I probably won't change that dimension. In order to keep these as cheap as possible, there needs to be no variations. Just making that corner requires a special jig for cutting and cnc cut end plate to seal it up.

 

[rally roo]

Definitely interested in a set, as long as you go with the offset pinch weld guard; living in a muddy and heavily salted area, any little spot like that will become an avenue for rust and rot.

 

[heckler]

I agree, if you are going to go with the pinch weld guard, I would do the offset one.

 

[crolison]

Yeah, the pinch weld is the most vulnerable part underneath. Since I pulled the slider out to make a better step, I needed something there to keep the pinch weld covered.

The slickness depends on how you finish them. I always use grip tape, bit you could get them bed lined or similar finish with texture. They will be better for grip tape than tubing sliders since there's so much flat area.

Not sure on lead time. I do work a normal job, but part of the goal of these was to make them quickly reproducible. I still need to finish up the jigs then time myself start to finish to ensure its still within my expectations. That and demand will be the influencing factors on the turn around.

Another option for less labor for pinch weld protection would be to use a 2x8 piece of tube.

Also any chance your going to expo west this year?

 

[neckbone]

Took me a few days, but I finally figured out what the actual "pinch weld guard" was. If I'm not mistaken, most sliders don't have this. If my opinion means anything, that should be an add on for a few dollars more. I seriously doubt most people will want to pay extra for it. I won't. I'm trying to protect my rockers, if my pinch weld gets creased/flattened, I'm not too worried about it. Most people aren't squatting down beside the truck to see what's between the sliders and body panel.

If you do, I'd vote for the offset. Like I said earlier, most people aren't squatting to see what's between the slider and body.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

These look great Rami! nice job.