So I was all set to purchase a set of Rugged Ridge RRC Side Armor Guards for $299.99 (2 door) when I noticed on the same website:
1. PUREJEEP Rocker Guards are $549.99
2. WARN Rock Sliders are $513.99
3. Olympic 4X4 Products A/T Rock Rail Guards are $409.99
4. AtoZ Fabrication KAJE Rocker Guards are $409.99

Why are they so much cheaper? Are they inferior in quality? I just about have myself convinced to NOT purchase them just because of the cost. You know the old saying “Ya get what ya pay for” and “If it sounds too good, it probably is.”

I’m still a rookie in the off-road world and need some advice from you “old pros”.
I like that the Rugged Ridge tube will also, kind of, be like a step for my wife. Is there anything else out there that looks the same that I should be looking at?
Are these Rugged Ridge guards actually ok?
Am I paranoid?

 

In some cases, you will pay more for one brand over another just because of the brand name. In short, they are not better, just more expensive. But that begs the question you should be concentrating on, what do rock rails, boulder bars, side armor, etc, really do? Well, they protect the rocker panel. That being said, how do they do that? There are several methods, the most popular of which is the use of angle iron, actually steel, that extends under the rocker panel an inch or two and up the outside of the rocker panel about two to three inches. The protection it is intended to provide is to stop damage if/when your JK slips off one rock and then drops down on another rock and directly on the rocker panel. This will cause big time damage and can radiate out to other sheet metal parts, like door frames and doors themselves. This happens more frequently than you might think if you go off road with some regularity. The better models will also have a secondary piece of metal, usually a pipe, welded about one inch outboard of the vertical angle to provide protection from rubbing against rocks and trees in very tight quarters like a "squeeze." What that translates into, is a spot in a trail that is less than six feet wide. Enough background. What should you look for in rocker panel armor?
- A piece of heavy duty angle iron, steel, that extends the entire length of the rocker panel, from wheel well to wheel well.
- It should extend at least one inch under the rocker panel and about two to three inches vertically up the side of the rocker panel.
- It should be bolted to the frame with grade 8 bolts that should be provided with the kit. There should be a minimum of four connection points to the frame.
More is better.
- The better models will also have the rub bar or rail welded about an inch or so outside of the vertical angle iron/steel.
- Most of these kits are "bolt on" and require no drilling.
- That's the basics.
- I don't recommend models that are screwed into the body itself.
You should now have enough data to make your selection. The most expensive may not be the best bargain. Just the most expensive.

 

Not just function but looks pay a big part in your mods. I am biased but to me the PJ Rockers cant be beat in funtion and looks.

They are strong and offer ultimate protection!

There are no rockers that offer more clearance!

And they look awesome!



Oh, and they go nice with my Tube Doors!

 

in this particular case, you really do get what you pay for. i have seen all of these guards up close and in person and most of them on the trail can tell you that the ones you were thinking about buying didn't impress me at all. construction and finish looked substandard and from what i have seen, they tend to rust very quickly. of the others you have listed, the PUREJEEP, WARN and A to Z perform very well and if i could throw one more into the hat, the factory rubicon rails are surprisingly tough and if the came available with the tube step when i bought my JK, i would still have them on my jeep today.

 

exactly!! the JK is not a TJ, YJ or CJ before it in anyway shape or form and you're kidding yourself if you think that you can apply the same standards or solutions to it.

 

I just bought some stock Rubicon rock rails from a forum member, and I am very happy with them. They're strong enough for anything "I" will ever throw at them. It all depends on what yer gonna be doin. All those others are real nice, though. You need to ask yourself if you really need um. If not, you can spend somewhere else. But if so, go for it!

 

It's true, if modey is an issue, pick up a set of used factory Rubicon rails for now, and after you do your other mods, pass them onto someone else and get the set you really want. The factory ones dont look strong but they have held up nicely according to many guys running them.

Here they are. You could probably pick up a set for $100-$150.

 

Agree with all of the above points.. however..

Rusting??? C'mon now, if your using them then your going to get scratches and then its going to rust.... Just use some spray paint and call it good.. anything made out of steel WILL rust......

 

I got a set of the stock rubicon rails for a steal of a deal from a local forum member and can say that they will work great for most folks. My first trip wheeling I dropped on them a few times and they saved me from damage that my other steps would not have handled.

My only complaint on them is that they don't have a bar for additional protection and to allow my wife/kid to step up. However, Woods is talking about offering a weld-on kit and I'd consider it as a nice upgrade. Now I just need to butter up my brother-in-law to use his welder.

Of course, I really like the look of the pure jeep setup... I wonder if I could convince my wife that it improves the safety of the jeep after it got poor side-impact ratings.

 

I think they are referring to rusting from the inside out, at the welds, etc. Things that are handled by a better quality finish in the first place.

Everybody knows that scratched steel will rust!