I want to attached the sliders I made to the frame but need suggestions on what thickness of metal to use. The sliders are 3/16 thick and I was thinking to go with box tube of the same thickness but there is 1/8 thickness box tube is layin around at my friends house for cheap. Do I really need 3/16" for the structure tying it to the frame?
Are you bolting or welding to the frame? How many attachment points? You can get away with lighter gage material if you spread the load over more points. You can also add a gusset to the members that attach to the frame, this will increase there strength as well.
I'm not a structural expert or anything... but I don't know if that would be sufficient... but I guess it depends on what you are planning on doing with the sliders... if you just want something to step up into the vehicle these should be fine, however if you want to have actual "SLIDERS" I think you need 3 attachment points, and if you are bolting (why??) you should have the attacment point wrap around the top of the frame in a "U" shape, and run the bolts completely through the frame and through both webs of the U...
this would do a better job of supporting the vehicle weight and be a real slider... my All-Pro sliders on my 85 4Runner are welded to the frame in 3 places...
I always avoid welding to the frame because of the increased risk of failure due to the heat and cooling process. It causes a weak spot or more accurately a brittle spot. a good example is the old fords that used to have frames break because they were too brittle. besides IMOP welding to the frame just looks like someone was just too lazy to do it right... especialy if you get work back from a shop!!
Welding is easier, especially if your talking about trying to drill through the frame 16 times. I bolted the sliders I built for my wife's 80, 3 spots. I didn't go through the frame I went around it. I used 3/8" u-bolts that I had made at a local spring shop. 2 bolts per mount=6 ubolts per slider. This was a bit much. I think I'd do one, heavier gage bolt per mount if I did it again, 7/16" would work. I have hit the driver's side with the full weight of the vehicle and it held up.
There is theory that says you should not weld vertically on a frame, my body/chasis manual for my '63 shows how to fix a cracked frame.
I'd trust a bolt before I'd trust a weld, but I've done both...it just depends on how big a hurry I'm in.
" I think you need 3 attachment points, and if you are bolting (why??) you should have the attacment point wrap around the top of the frame in a "U" shape, and run the bolts completely through the frame and through both webs of the U...
this would do a better job of supporting the vehicle weight and be a real slider... my All-Pro sliders on my 85 4Runner are welded to the frame in 3 places...
Wouldn't it make more sense to run the U below the frame to act as a cradle? Running over the top seem like you will are trusting just the bolt strength. Just curious.
