Hi Folks,
For those wondering if spending the money on @sleeoffroad products is worth it, Here is a quick write up on how things stand after 12 years of abuse.
Quick history: Slee skid, step sliders and ARB installed in 2004 by @BROKEROB1 --Cruiser had ~100k on it and lived in York, PA. Rob used it as a family Wheeler with no lift and went to Paragon and Rausch Creek A LOT. I bought the 80 in 2009 with 165k on it and used it a half dozen times at Rausch Creek, a few times with the capital land cruiser club in the George washington National forest, and a couple times wheeling in the Fredericksburg area with @Skrewball and the guys from IPOR. In 2011 or so, I put on a set of medium TJM springs (also from slee) as I was tired of scraping over EVERYTHING at RC. Moved to California for 3 years and bashed in on the rocks out there a handful of times, but not a whole lot of use. Moved to Virginia beach in 2015 and have made the last two Logan's runs with ONSC, as well as a handful of back country, light wheeling trips. So, all that to say, the armor has seen plenty of use as I am not shy about using it as intended.
This is the passenger front corner--note the gouges and the silver dollar sized depression--that was courtesy of me misjudging a rock and turning into it too quickly while going faster than I should have been--I was amazed at how little it damaged the slider after the impact that I had felt.
This is the support arm protecting the Cats--If I had one thing to change, I'd say that a plate here might be useful, but it would also keep the heat in and make the floor hotter so I have plans to add one. As you can see, I have done a bit of a number on those welds as I hit this spot pretty often. 30 mins with a wire brush and a welder will make this as good as new--there is plenty of metal left and it is still plenty strong. You can also see the old style slee transfer case skid in these photos--still as strong as ever and I have yet to be able to even bend it. I know the new design is different and better by all accounts. Also, take note of the front control arm mounts and the bent rear control arms--I tend to hit things on rocks sometimes
Passenger rear corner, nothing but a few gouges.
Driver side rear. Note the deeper gouges here as I am a bit more aggressive when I can see the rocks I am running into. Also note the missing mounting u-bolt--This mount is one of three on the driver side. It has been broken since 2010 or so after a just perfect hit up at RC. I jacked up the 80 via the rear part of that slider and it didn't deform, so I haven't bothered getting a replacement--I keep meaning to contact slee for a new one, but it just hasn't been a priority. i have taken 18-24 inch drops onto rocks on that side and the slider has never pushed up into the body.
More to follow...
For those wondering if spending the money on @sleeoffroad products is worth it, Here is a quick write up on how things stand after 12 years of abuse.
Quick history: Slee skid, step sliders and ARB installed in 2004 by @BROKEROB1 --Cruiser had ~100k on it and lived in York, PA. Rob used it as a family Wheeler with no lift and went to Paragon and Rausch Creek A LOT. I bought the 80 in 2009 with 165k on it and used it a half dozen times at Rausch Creek, a few times with the capital land cruiser club in the George washington National forest, and a couple times wheeling in the Fredericksburg area with @Skrewball and the guys from IPOR. In 2011 or so, I put on a set of medium TJM springs (also from slee) as I was tired of scraping over EVERYTHING at RC. Moved to California for 3 years and bashed in on the rocks out there a handful of times, but not a whole lot of use. Moved to Virginia beach in 2015 and have made the last two Logan's runs with ONSC, as well as a handful of back country, light wheeling trips. So, all that to say, the armor has seen plenty of use as I am not shy about using it as intended.
This is the passenger front corner--note the gouges and the silver dollar sized depression--that was courtesy of me misjudging a rock and turning into it too quickly while going faster than I should have been--I was amazed at how little it damaged the slider after the impact that I had felt.
This is the support arm protecting the Cats--If I had one thing to change, I'd say that a plate here might be useful, but it would also keep the heat in and make the floor hotter so I have plans to add one. As you can see, I have done a bit of a number on those welds as I hit this spot pretty often. 30 mins with a wire brush and a welder will make this as good as new--there is plenty of metal left and it is still plenty strong. You can also see the old style slee transfer case skid in these photos--still as strong as ever and I have yet to be able to even bend it. I know the new design is different and better by all accounts. Also, take note of the front control arm mounts and the bent rear control arms--I tend to hit things on rocks sometimes
Passenger rear corner, nothing but a few gouges.
Driver side rear. Note the deeper gouges here as I am a bit more aggressive when I can see the rocks I am running into. Also note the missing mounting u-bolt--This mount is one of three on the driver side. It has been broken since 2010 or so after a just perfect hit up at RC. I jacked up the 80 via the rear part of that slider and it didn't deform, so I haven't bothered getting a replacement--I keep meaning to contact slee for a new one, but it just hasn't been a priority. i have taken 18-24 inch drops onto rocks on that side and the slider has never pushed up into the body.
More to follow...