Sliders!

[DirtyRice Joe]

My bought me sliders for Christmas & my birthday! I just need to pick them out and order them. I've pretty much narrowed it down to either Hanna or Metal Tech. I did a search on the 80's forum and found some fairly useful information from Pismo Jim. I was leaning toward the MT's. After reading that thread, I guess I'm leaning toward Hanna. Decisions, decisions... I know several of you have the Hanna's. Does anyone have the MT's? Any additional thoughts based on your experience with either the sliders or dealing with the respective companies?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Take care,
JR

 

[redcheetah]

I have had experience installing and wheeling both the MT and the Hanna sliders. I would go with the Hannas. I say this based on trail experience with both, ease of installation and build quality. In other words, practical use.

If you post this question in the main 80 tech section, be prepared to receive answers based on aesthetics and what manufacturer's d**k the forum has decided to jump on this week/month.

I have the Hanna sliders

 

[Dan2722]

I have the Hanna so I am a little biased and have no experience with MT.

The Hanna sliders with the cat protection absolutely saved my cats when i went up Coyote Canyon last month. When I got home and checked there were two big scraps gouges directly over the cats.

 

[e9999]

I have some big scrapes on my cat plates also. Of course, they do hang a bit lower than the cat themselves, but considering I was high centered, that would not have been good for the cats without the slider, methinks... Plus if you ever have to replace the cats, there are some big advantages there too, considering the cost of new OEMs vs aftermarket ...

 

[Boston Mangler]

I have the Hannas and have used them a BUNCH, they work and are badass!

 

[bluto]

Whichever you get - try not to install it by yourself. 80 sliders are freaking heavy.The one I have make pretty good steps. I have the unofficial SoCal 80s sliders btw .

 

[smittycrusher]

I say go with hanna and talk Ken into making me a free rear bumper with tire carrier to go along with your sliders. I have only had the Hannas and will say that the cat plate is VERY nice to have on the trail. I also have some nice gouges on mine at the cats.

Smit

 

[Bluetribal]

Whoever has them in and ready to ship would win in my opinion. You can't go wrong either way. They both have killer CAT protection and MT's have the nice bump out in the rear which I like.
Of course I will try to go the budget cruiser route and get someone to fab up some custom ones for me. Wish I would have gotten sliders for Christmas... Jealous!!!! Very Jealous!!!!!!

BTW how well do these sliders protect the very front of the exhaust? I have a pretty good ding in my down pipe where it first 90's back.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

BTW how well do these sliders protect the very front of the exhaust? I have a pretty good ding in my down pipe where it first 90's back.

No protection at all right there, nor at the spot where the exhaust goes UNDER the frame. I don't think any 'mass produced' slider protects these areas.

BTW: I think I waited a couple of months for my Hannas to be built. Well worth the wait though.

 

[DirtyRice Joe]

I have had experience installing and wheeling both the MT and the Hanna sliders. I would go with the Hannas. I say this based on trail experience with both, ease of installation and build quality. In other words, practical use.

I have the Hanna sliders

Thanks, that's the kind of feedback I was hoping for - personal experience..

I have the Hanna so I am a little biased and have no experience with MT.

The Hanna sliders with the cat protection absolutely saved my cats when i went up Coyote Canyon last month. When I got home and checked there were two big scraps gouges directly over the cats.

The cat protection is a big issue. I actually liked the MT "ski" and openness for heat dissipation.

I say go with hanna and talk Ken into making me a free rear bumper with tire carrier to go along with your sliders. I have only had the Hannas and will say that the cat plate is VERY nice to have on the trail. I also have some nice gouges on mine at the cats.

Smit

Workin' on that bumper for ya' Smitty. Will you be picking it up here in So. Cal., or would you like me to deliver when I visit family in Coolidge? I hope all is well with you and your family!

Thanks to all who've responded here,
JR

 

[Newps]

I have Ken Hanna's sliders, click on the link below for full installation instructions. They have worked exceptional well for me. I have beaten the living snot out of them. Several times I’ve miss judged drop offs and have smashed down on them with the full weight of the vehicle. They have not deformed in anyway and have held up to all the abuse.

I have not tested Mark’s sliders at Metal Tech yet. Everything I have heard from others running them has been positive. Mark took a total different approach when he designed them. His comments to me were, “I didn’t want to bring another slider to the market unless they were total different and had features that others didn’t. I think he definitely accomplished this. His sliders have some very unique design features that none of the others do. Like the battery tray holder, slider kick outs and the open “C” channel structure design.

I would not have someone make you a custom set of sliders for your 80. There are a lot of design features and challenges to building sliders for an 80. Just ask Sam “aka PK80” about having a local fab shop building some. You get what you pay for; do not skimp on your sliders. This will be the most used piece of equipment on your 80 bar none.

 

[Boston Mangler]

This will be the most used piece of equipment on your 80 bar none.

For sure!

 

[Brentbba]

Another satisfied Hanna slider user here!

 

[calstyl2]

Sunday drive on John Bull, before they took out the stump on the East side switchback..........



Have the Metal Techs now, Hanna builds a nice product, the shipping was what made the deal(LT drove them down)

 

[PKP80]

I would not have someone make you a custom set of sliders for your 80. There are a lot of design features and challenges to building sliders for an 80. Just ask Sam “aka PK80” about having a local fab shop building some. You get what you pay for; do not skimp on your sliders. This will be the most used piece of equipment on your 80 bar none.

I'll chime in on this, I had a set of custom sliders made for my 80 and they are great, BUT they needed more gusseting especially around the front PS mount. before the mounts were re-enforced they sliders bent upwards in the front while on the Rubicon. Aside from that they are cool especially after some of the strengthening I added. I might be selling them since I rolled my truck and will be doing a few things differently. Let me know if anyone is interested.

 

[Slomo]

I think if you go with any one of the major players in the slider market for 80's you can't go wrong. The MT's have a great and different design as Tare mentioned and the Hannas are a "traditional" style and very well made. I have the Hannas, love them and have abused them mercillecly with no ill effect except scratches but I would trust that the Slees, Metal Techs, Hannas etc would work very well.

If you want to see some Hannas on JAFW80 I am close by.

 

[latinoguy]

For another lower cost option, try Adam at 4xinnovations.com. I ordered mine custom length 72". they are value priced (in the price range of most other sliders for other vehicles...) $270 shipped to my door. It will take me 2 weeks to get them in from the time I ordered them...) These will have the kick out...

Add a few gussets to the outriggers and you should be good to go..I can't weld, so I am getting a local fabricator to help me with the finish details...

For all is worth, I wish I had the $$ to drop on some Hanna Quality Sliders...or Slee's...but I don't...

You do get what you pay for, to an extent. There is bottled water that goes for $100. People buy it. But is it any better than the $1 dollar variety? Catch my drift?

 

[PabloVTA]

MT's are the shizznet.
nicely powder coated too.

had them on in about an hour.
Chicks dig 'em.

mass protection for your cat$ too.

 

[Newps]

For another lower cost option, try Adam at 4xinnovations.com.
You do get what you pay for, to an extent. There is bottled water that goes for $100. People buy it. But is it any better than the $1 dollar variety? Catch my drift?

I do not know Adam from Eve, , so I can not speak for his work. What I will impart to you is that building a slider for an 80 is not easy. There are many trial and errors that go into designing these sliders. No shop and just one off a set of these. Slap all the gussets you want on the thing, if it’s not made correctly it will fail. The only way you know if it’s made correctly is after YOU and YOUR vehicle do the Bata testing. 80’s are very very heavy and spreading that load out along the frame rail is a trial and error process. The sliders on the market have gone though several versions and have been trail tested by many different users. It’s your rig do want you want but your few dollars saved could quite possibly be going to the bodyshop man when your slider folds up into your rocker panel or to buy a new set of sliders because your cheep one look like a frown, (. Unless your guy is copying someone’s slider part for part you are in uncharted territory. My point here is not to bag on latinoguy or to down play Adam’s at 4xinnovation.com work. I want to make sure that anyone who may come across this tread to know that these sliders can not be made cheaply and as one offs.

PS I drink the cheap water at Costco but would never let them change a tire on my rig.

 

[bluto]

..80’s are very very heavy and spreading that load out along the frame rail is a trial and error process...

Since were on the subject of sliders.
Is there a specific torque to tighten these badass to the frame?