I'm just wonderin......with all the threads of people modding the ruby rock rails....has anyone thought about modding the factory side steps to include some rock rails? I'm sure it could be done.

 

To be of any worth there would have to be a metal piece that ran below and along the side of the whole length of the sidesteps, like a skid plate. Even then I don't think they would hold up very well. Rocks tear those things apart like nobody's business.

 

Right....I understand the steps would probably become a causuality, but hell, if I take some 14" plate and weld it to the bottom of the step brackets right beneath the pich weld, how could that not protect it? Intrestingly enough, if I was really froggy about it, I guess I could bring the plate right out under the steps, too. They'd be protected then, wouldn't they? Course, by the time I got through with all that, I probably couldda bought some rock rails. Just food for thought.

 

I took my first "real" offroad trip with some of the Midwest guys today and BELIEVE ME... at a bare minimum you want to have the rubicon rock rails if you are going offroad. I had the Sahara-style plastic steps on the Jeep before I put the rails on and there wouldn't be anything left of the steps or my rockers had I not put the rails on. I know of at least one drop today where they more than paid for themselves!

 

your not talking about these rails.... are you ?









first, these rails are aluminum. i though about welding a thick a$$ piece of aluminum plate to the underside, but then the mounts are aluminum also. the mounts bent pretty bad as you can see. they mount to the pinch seam and thin sheet metal just behind the pinch seam. you also have to weld some thick aluminum to box them to even begin to strengthen them. then, weld more to tie them to the frame or body mounts. that sheet metal is just too weak. the stock rubi rails spread the inpact over the entire rocker to avoid damage. the cheapest easiest way to go to get steps & sliders is to weld sqare tubing from the frame out to where the steps sit.

 

That is not that bad really. The first picture you took looked like there wasnt much wrong with them except the end cap came off. Come back when they are no longer there and your pinch seam is ripped apart.

 

I have the same squashed tube side steps on my new 2008 Unlimited Rubicon. I also have the original stock Rubicon Rock Rails that the dealer removed to install the side steps. I am looking for some kind of bracket so that I can remove the steps, reinstall the original rock rails and then install the side steps outside (underneath) the rock rails. I know the first time that I actually smash onto something the steps could be toast, but I figure the more protection the better, and at least I will be able to use the side steps to get into the jeep in the meantime (yes I am not that tall, and the steps are nice to have).

Anybody have any ideas where I should look for such brackets?