Put these on yesterday and I think I know now why there is little information or pics out there by folks who have put these on or especially by the company.

First, they are very nice asthetically. The flow with the lines very well and match up with the flare width front and rear. They are made out of pretty thick steel and are pretty heavy but creative folks can find a way to get them mounted without anyone to help.











Now for the bad news. Why do manufacturers not cover or plug bolt holes when they powdercoat stuff. This drives me nuts. The bolts that go through the body bottom out and start to strip about 3/4 of the way into the sleeve and they are relatively small, and probably Chinese made, bolts so add 'easy out' to the list of tools needed.

Next, and this is pure speculation, is why there are so few pictures from the manufacturer out there. They want you to see the good part of the design ( the asthetic part mentioned above) and not the purely stupid design of the underside of their "sliders". I thought, and probably most of us assume, that these are not only meant to protect the rocker panels but to also allow one to "slide" on rocks. I'm quite sure that if underside pics of these "sliders" were published by the manufacturer they probably wouldn't sell very many and I sure wouldn't have bought them. Although the function well as a step, which is the wife's primary use for them, we'll have to see how they function on the trail. Maybe grinding the hangers down and gusseting them on either side will lessen what I see as the potential to get hung up on a rock. The two hangers on the ends probably won't see as much abuse as the one right in the center which I see as the problematic one.









Hope this helps anyone else considering these. As for me, I'll keep on looking for something to replace these since I'm sure that time isn't far off.

 

Never heard of them before. They do LOOK nice and flow with the Jeep, but you're right about that bracket bro.

Have you looked at the TeraFlex ones? They match the lines of the Jeep and are designed to take a beating as well as be used as a step for the wife/GF.

 

I do like the overall shape/design of these sliders however they are really no different than the factory rubicon "sliders" as far as protection goes. Don't expect them to be more than a marginal step. This mounting style will not take very much impact so if you go wheeling don't be surprised to see your body banged up when you hit something. These would be far better if they were frame mounted! Check out the LOD sliders.

 

Agreed. And thanks for sharing. Good to know!

 

They look great, I do feel your pain with Rampage products. My wife purchased a set of nerf bars for my old TJ, looked nice from 10 feet, not made very well. Good post for someone considering these.

 

I like them but if you ever plan on doing a fender chop the flare at the back of them may look a little funny afterwards

 

Thanks you for the post!

I was considering these but now will move on.
They look great flowing with the flares but as far as function protecting the rocker and sliding, the pictures speak a 1000 words.

 

these are obviously not for hardcore wheeling but i think they look good.

 

well... I got a deal on these new in box shipped for 275.00. So I went ahead and did some modifying on the mounts...

For the front two large brackets: I cut 2inch by 4inch 1/4 steel plates- fished them up into the body above the sheet metal. They were drilled for a 1/2 grade 8 bolt. So I created a sandwhich of steel on either side of the body mounts.

The rear mount has a welded in bolt inside the body- so I just usde grade 8 bolts in the third rear mount.

Then I got a peice of 3/16 steel 64 inches long (3/4 wide). Notched and drilled it for the pinch seam mounts. Again got some grade 8 bolts and ran them through the steel-though the pinch seam and into the mounts.

The quality of the runing boards looks really pretty good, but hearing from others that the powder coat is sprayed in the holes... I filled the holes with solvant over night and then ran the bolts in before trying to mount them. Only broke one off.

I also got some black grainy tape that I ran across the top of the boards to keep them from being so slick... looks like it belongs on there.

Overall the strength gives me a little more peice of mind now.

I would never buy these at the 480 and 500 dollar range many advertise them at. They are a good deal at 275.00 shipped. The weigh 42lbs apeaice! 84 lbs on the jeep by adding these bars.

I'm on dial up- otherwise I'd post a pick for you- but needless to say It takes a lot of work to make you feel these boards are not going anywhere.

 

great write-up. I was also considering these, but am now leaning towards teraflex sliders. thanks