Just installed a Hi-Lift on my DIY "insta-trunk"...pics to follow on that later.
BUT, why I am beginning this thread is to say that I tested the Hi-Lift out on my factory rock rails thinking "hell if they bend or something I have an excuse to get some new ones...heh". Well, they didn't even get a scuff on 'em....I was VERY surprised!

Anyone else actually used the rock rails for a Hi-Lift or banged them on a rock?

What happened? Did they scratch...scuff....bend?

Trying to figure why everyone is dumping them after my recent, limited light duty test....

 

I've put my factory rock rails to the test, and while they did work just fine they aren't great. They definitely scratch - but that's what they're supposed to do. I can tell you without a doubt that using a hi-lift on them is definitely not advised.

After replacing mine with PureJeep rails, I've gotten to know the area and how they mount pretty well. They are NOT a good place to jack your jeep.

Because of how they are mounted, I doubt you'll see them bend much if any, but they do what they are supposed to - take scratches and bangs from rocks so your body doesn't have to.

 

Why are they NOT a good place to jack from? I did it a couple times already...

 

You might not see any damage being done to the rails themselves..the mounting brackets are a weak point

 

because they are mounted to the body with 3 small bolts and six smaller bolts. If they were mounted to the frame like this it would be a different story.

 

I thought the brakets were what would give too...but they didn't.

The weight of my Jeep is static, so I figure if they're going to fail it would be immediately...

What I want to know is if anyone has ACTUALLY had them fail?

No offence, but I am not interested in speculation.

Thanks for the input!

 

I've landed on mine a couple of times very hard, getting some scuffs on the paint, but no bending at all. I just pulled mine off this morning to paint them and cut an inch off the rear ends of each of them to clear my tires. I can't find any deformation of the rails, the mounting points, or the subframes. My first impression, like many of the other posts, are that the mounting points and hardware are pretty week. However, I think they have been engineered to work. There is a subframe the runs down the floor pan, and the mounts are underneath that subframe. The subframe goes over the body mounts also.

If you shop the aftermarket rock rails for TJ's, CJ's, and JK's, you will notice that there is disagreement between those who mount to the frame and those who mount to the body with bracing added to the body. The frame mounted tout that it is much stronger. The body mounted tout that the frame mounted ones sacrifice clearance, and the body is more rigid and protected by mounting to it.

One point of agreement between almost all manufacturers, Jeep included, is that it is not good design to mount to both the body and the frame. The coupling between the body and frame is quite flexible, and anything mounted rigid between both the body and the frame will cause distortion and/or breakage.

Meach4x4