Why do people get rock sliders, but not skid plates?

[LCtwohundred]

I've been curious about this for a while. It seems like rock sliders are much more popular than skid plates. If I understand it correctly, this is because of the damage multiplier that happens when you hit a rock on the factory steps: not only do you bend your rocker panels, but also your doors, so things get expensive.

However, what if you hit that same rock a little closer to the middle of your car: wouldn't that also do a lot of damage? It seems like a lot of important parts live down there. Am I missing something that makes people get the rock sliders, but skip getting skid plates? Is there a major downside to skid plates?

 

[grinchy]

The reason for sliders is to protect the rocker and lower door area. It's not uncommon to get in a situation where you slide into something you're not driving over, but beside. Like a rock, tree, stump, etc. The damage is often cosmetic, but very expensive to repair on the rocker and door. That's what sliders protect from. Other benefits will be a stiffer chassis, ability to 'pivot' or bounce off that tree/stump/rock, and a rated surface to slide on or against under the rails.

Skids are already provided by Toyota. They're fine. Limited in coverage but generally ok. The accepted wisdom around here is that they're good for one hit. Often that is a lifetime of ownership . . . I replaced them mainly to increase coverage and to also integrate a skid that protects the transfer case / not weight bearing on transfer case. Went with all aluminum as my use is not super hard core, and I don't like weight. If you shop around you can do full skids for about the same cost as sliders, but I'd say sliders first (after taller tires and an air compressor).

 

[KennyBob]

Not sure about 200s but on the 80s and early pickups and 4Runners I've owned there is some factory protection on the delicate/low hanging stuff, such as the gas tank and transfer case.

Everything else is relatively tough or out of harm's way already. People get rock sliders because the sheet metal in the rockers is relatively thin gauge stuff and not cheap/easy to fix.

Skid plates are nice to have but most people don't require that level of protection unless they are into some hardcore stuff.

 

[Romer]

There is no downside to skid plates. You can damage stuff underneath, but not as frequently. When you are going over a rock with your tires and come down, sometimes the slider saves you. If not, this is what happens

That can be much more expensive to fix.

The other item to consider is if to clear your rear diff, then you should clear anything that would hit your underside, if not then you could get hung up on your diff. Understanding a good line will really help avoid that

Also, with sliders, you could likely hit something and yet avoid the underside due to the sliders protecting and holding the weight

The high level is damage is more likely where the slider is, unless you drive a real bad line in rocky terrain and high center your vehicle

Both are recommended, but sliders should come first

 

[Madtiger]

Easy. Skids are already on from factory. No sliders from factory. So, you upgrade by protecting the weakest part first.

 

[Markuson]

Door and rocker damage is more common/easier to suffer...including rocks, trees and even deep ruts or low stumps. Sliders also make practical steps...so you don’t lose step function by adding them. Meanwhile, stock steps are damage multipliers in many cases so worth removing. Even easy trails can have spots that sliders protect on.

What skids protect are less damage-prone to begin with...and often aren’t appreciated until more serious (especially rocky) trails are regularly run. For lighter wheelers, return on skid investment is often lower or maybe not needed at all. Some of us definitely needs skids, but IMHO, most probably don’t.

I don’t mean to dismiss skids or their utility. I’m on my second set of skids. It’s just that sliders make sense as a general first line of defense for just about any wheeling.

To me, sliders are sorta like what a helmet is to a cyclist or biker. -You can add body armored jackets and more...but helmet is the default starting point for good reason.

PS. Sliders don’t just protect. A good slider can also help you get past catch points without catching, and even help with turns in tight spaces

 

[Madtiger]

Oh...and aftermarket skids are heavy as hell too...you can buy aluminum ones but they are $$$$ and are still heavier than factory skids.

 

[stonepa]

Not sure about 200s but on the 80s and early pickups and 4Runners I've owned there is some factory protection on the delicate/low hanging stuff, such as the gas tank and transfer case.

Everything else is relatively tough or out of harm's way already. People get rock sliders because the sheet metal in the rockers is relatively thin gauge stuff and not cheap/easy to fix.

Skid plates are nice to have but most people don't require that level of protection unless they are into some hardcore stuff.

I’d say the same thing for sliders. Unless you are into tough trails with actual rocks they are a waste of weight. 35 years of off roading (not rock crawling - which I wouldn’t do in a 200 anyways) and I’ve never needed them. But they sure look cool, which is why so many of the people i know buy them. Good enough reason i guess

 

[Madtiger]

I’d say the same thing for sliders. Unless you are into tough trails with actual rocks they are a waste of weight. 35 years of off roading (not rock crawling - which I wouldn’t do in a 200 anyways) and I’ve never needed them. But they sure look cool, which is why so many of the people i know buy them. Good enough reason i guess

OR, if you're like me and love to take the wrong line due to incompetence, then you can damage the running boards over easy trails......

 

[Romer]

I’d say the same thing for sliders. Unless you are into tough trails with actual rocks they are a waste of weight. 35 years of off roading (not rock crawling - which I wouldn’t do in a 200 anyways) and I’ve never needed them. But they sure look cool, which is why so many of the people i know buy them. Good enough reason i guess

I guess it depends on what you call tough trails. It may be different for people and where you live weighs in. I wheel is Colorado and Utah mostly and even the "medium" trails here and there have spots that make it worth while. To me, everyone has a different perspective, Sliders are next to importance after lift and tires

 

[Romer]

BTW, I don'y have sliders on my 40 as the Body is up much higher I bought my first 40 in 1979 so I guess I have been wheeling a while as well

 

[KennyBob]

I’d say the same thing for sliders. Unless you are into tough trails with actual rocks they are a waste of weight. 35 years of off roading (not rock crawling - which I wouldn’t do in a 200 anyways) and I’ve never needed them. But they sure look cool, which is why so many of the people i know buy them. Good enough reason i guess

I used to think the same thing and went 14 years or so without them on any of my rigs (mostly early trucks & 4Runners). It wasn't until I got my first 80 and took it on some relatively mild trails and actually dented the pinch weld on one side unknowingly. For me it's also a peace of mind thing. Not sure if Cruisers are easier to bash than the minis or if there was an actual difference in trail difficulties.

 

[silver02accord]

I thought the factory "skids" were just brush guards to and they wouldn't do much when 6k sits on em.

 

[Markuson]

With as many times as I’ve touched up scrapes on my sliders, they have saved me a ton of money...not to mention allowed me past obstacles I would have hung on.

Never judge slider usefulness by whether they have obvious scrapes. Bc A little rattle can...and they look perty again.

 

[tbisaacs]

OR, if you're like me and love to take the wrong line due to incompetence, then you can damage the running boards over easy trails......

Same here. I destroyed my running board on a tree root by taking a bad line. No rocks where involved.

 

[mcgaskins]

It's a matter of risk and where the truck is likely to hit obstacles. Generally speaking, under the doors is not only one of the most likely places to take an impact, but the damage is extremely expensive and complicated to fix. The 200 already has decent underbody clearance and factory skids, but the rockers are extremely exposed and vulnerable. I wheel decently hard in CO, UT, and AZ, and sliders are critical pieces of equipment. The ones like Slee sells also look great and are unnoticeable to the untrained eye while also allowing a solid step.

As you can see in this video from Poison Spider, the sliders took a small hit that could have cost thousands to fix without them there. Some might say I wouldn't have hit without sliders, but I think it's pretty dangerous to cross your fingers and hope your 6,000+ pound truck doesn't come down hard on a rocker without sliders.

 

[LCtwohundred]

Great responses everyone! This forum is so helpful.

I summarized all the comments in this thread, in no particular order:

• The car already has some (albeit limited) skid plate protection, but no protection where sliders go.
• In addition to damage from the bottom, sliders also protect you “from the sides” e.g., being on a slope, and sliding onto a rock.
• Sliders allow you to “pivot” off a tree or rock.
• Sliders protect things that are very expensive to fix
• The sides are pretty weak: you don’t need rocks to damage the sides, even tree stumps can do that.
• Sliders can be helpful even on easy trails. Skid plates only help on the more difficult trails.
• Sliders and skid plates are both very heavy.
• Sliders look cool.
• (read elsewhere) skid plates can make it harder to access things under the car.

I think what I'll do is get the Slee Slidersteps first (though let me know if other brands are better) and hold off on skid plates for now.

 

[mcgaskins]

Great responses everyone! This forum is so helpful.

I summarized all the comments in this thread, in no particular order:

• The car already has some (albeit limited) skid plate protection, but no protection where sliders go.
• In addition to damage from the bottom, sliders also protect you “from the sides” e.g., being on a slope, and sliding onto a rock.
• Sliders allow you to “pivot” off a tree or rock.
• Sliders protect things that are very expensive to fix
• The sides are pretty weak: you don’t need rocks to damage the sides, even tree stumps can do that.
• Sliders can be helpful even on easy trails. Skid plates only help on the more difficult trails.
• Sliders and skid plates are both very heavy.
• Sliders look cool.
• (read elsewhere) skid plates can make it harder to access things under the car.

I think what I'll do is get the Slee Slidersteps first (though let me know if other brands are better) and hold off on skid plates for now.

Very good list, and something to add is sliders give you a bunch more places to use a hi lift if you're stuck. There are very few if any places where it's truly safe to place a hi lift jack on a stock 200, but the sliders open quite a few possibilities. I don't suggest using one to change a tire, but in a pinch it can even help with that. I've always advised people if there is a single mod you can do it should be tires, and if you can only do one more, it's sliders.

 

[Madtiger]

• Sliders and skid plates are both very heavy.

I think what I'll do is get the Slee Slidersteps first (though let me know if other brands are better) and hold off on skid plates for now.

FYI, ARB sliders are relatively light weight too. Just under 90 lbs total vs others that are around 200 lbs.

 

[Romer]

Which sliders are better is a personal preference thing. Like if you ask which are the best tires, I'll say Toyo, Others will say BFG, Cooper, etc

I have the slee step sliders and am very happy with them. The ARB sliders are lighter, but does that also make them less stout, I don't know anything about them

There are lots of great sliders out there. I have had Slee on my 80, 100 and now 200. My Daughters both have Slee. Slee is local to me so that makes it easier. Plus he does extensive testing on products before he releases them. I know Budbuilt does the same thing and are quality products. Some other vendors don't do a lot of testing, but if they have been field tested over years by users, then they are likely fine.

This really is something where you look at the options and decide which one you prefer. The rest of us all have different opinions