4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
There is one more option iv'e found made by Ruff Stuff Specialties at ruffstuffspecialties .com that are in the final stages of development and will be full tube with steel plate on top and bottom so there is no chance of a rock getting stuck in the outer rail supportsw. I talked to the owner and he said they would angle up as much as possible and still be able to clear the rear passenger door and will be one of the most expensive sliders out for now. Im not sure what finish they will be available in. they will also be making a skid plate that will bolt up to the sliders and go all the way across the bottom for maximum protection. They are currently not available because they are redesigning them a little bit for less weight and more angle and lower shipping cost because of weight.
A round pipe is better suited for internal pressure than anyother shape (pressure exerts an equal outward force evenly on the cylinder shaped surface). But a slider is designed to take punishing impacts when the wheel/tire moves beyond contact with the ground and gravity causes the vehicle lands on the undercarriage (slider or skid plates hopefully). Sliders will incur dents and other deformities, when this happens. I think the strength of the slider (for its intended purpose) is more dependent on the wall thickness than the shape in this case. However, one benefit of a pipe (tube) designed slider is the reduced area making contact with the rock while sliding over the obstacle. The flat surface of a square tube slider make a larger area of contact and more friction is the result. The benefit of a square tube design is a more stable standing platform, for the type that extend from the vehicle body to hold the vehicle away from an obstacle and perform as a step.
The purpose of a slider is to protect the undercarriage from damage when misjudging the line of travel or underestimating the height of the obstacle. If the person is purposely trying slide on the rock rails (rather than drive to miss obstacles), then the driver should be looking for full coverage undercarriage skid plates and the custom sliders with minimal void areas. The larger the void area, the more opportunity to snag on a large obstacle.
I my mind the ideal slider never gets a scratch because the driver picked the right line and accurately judged the height of obstacles on the trail.
Thanks, excellent answer - I appreciate that. It makes more sense now
"Strive for perfection in everything.
Take the best that exists and make it better.
If it doesn't exist, create it.
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough"
There is one more option iv'e found made by Ruff Stuff Specialties at ruffstuffspecialties .com that are in the final stages of development and will be full tube with steel plate on top and bottom so there is no chance of a rock getting stuck in the outer rail supportsw. I talked to the owner and he said they would angle up as much as possible and still be able to clear the rear passenger door and will be one of the most expensive sliders out for now. Im not sure what finish they will be available in. they will also be making a skid plate that will bolt up to the sliders and go all the way across the bottom for maximum protection. They are currently not available because they are redesigning them a little bit for less weight and more angle and lower shipping cost because of weight.
Sounds like they might be a dealer for the Man-A-Fre's sliders and skid, but keep me posted and I'll put em up if/when you get more info.
__________________ VOODOO BLUE - 4X4 - AT - CQ - UP2 - ROOF RACK - TOYOTA AIR DAM W/HELLAS - BFG AT's - DEMMELLO SLIDERS
"Strive for perfection in everything.
Take the best that exists and make it better.
If it doesn't exist, create it.
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough"
"Strive for perfection in everything.
Take the best that exists and make it better.
If it doesn't exist, create it.
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough"
"Strive for perfection in everything.
Take the best that exists and make it better.
If it doesn't exist, create it.
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough"
Sounds like they might be a dealer for the Man-A-Fre's sliders and skid, but keep me posted and I'll put em up if/when you get more info.
No...
DEFINITLY NOT a copy of any kind.
Ruffstuff does not sell other vendors products..he creates his own. Look at his webpage, he has 'done his time' in the fabrication world, and for the end user (like myself) his prices cannot be beaten....and everything he sells is created inside the United States. Lets keep our money inside our borders. (my two cents).
All measurements for these 'new' slider design was done on my FJ...I was there, I have pics, and I wont post them until something is finished...but trust me, this will be the sh!t.
TOTALLY new design...and they are not fawking around. This is an awesome design...coming personally from someone who has had the FIRST set of aftermarket sliders (bentup rounds, later copyied by trail-gear)....then I had a Bentup square (only one side, got to compare the square/round).
When these come out, I only hope to be installing them and posting pics....although bentup now has a project FJ which they can 'test fit' them on. I also hope to get ahold of those pics also. (should they happen)
Ruffstuff is serious about creating a new venue for his business...he is well established in the jeep/FJ world aready...and is incorperating his knowledge into the FJC community. Keep your eye on Ruffstuff...
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Last edited by JLam : 11-20-2006 at 12:09 AM. Reason: showed too much cooter
However, one benefit of a pipe (tube) designed slider is the reduced area making contact with the rock while sliding over the obstacle. The flat surface of a square tube slider make a larger area of contact and more friction is the result. The benefit of a square tube design is a more stable standing platform, for the type that extend from the vehicle body to hold the vehicle away from an obstacle and perform as a step.
This is one of the reasons I like Demello's design in that he used a square tube but put on an angle such that the contact area is at the apex (corner) of the square tube. This area is structurally very strong and least likely to deform or dent as well as minimize the contact "slide" area.
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Sun Fusion 4X4 AT ATRAC Hack'd
Demello sliders
Demello front bumper w/Warn M8000
Demello rear bumper
OME 886/140 Front, 895/N71e rear
All-Pro rear links w/bracket skids
Inchworm Lefty
ARB front air locker
Nitro 4.88 gears
Bud Built skids front to back
Super Swamper TrXus Mud Radial 255/85/16
Safari Snorkel
ARB Full Rack w/wind deflector
Train Hard, Rest Harder
TLCA # 17784