High-And-Tight Sliders

Does anyone know which fabricator's sliders sit the highest and tightest against our trucks?
It's difficult to tell from the photos posted on the forum due to varying angles.

Edit: Probably should have posted this in the Armor Forum. Will cross-post there as well.

 

I believe they are all about the same at the rocker panel. Most have tubes that angle upward from that point. Some offer 2 different angles, and some offer flat ones (no upward angle).

 

I would think that you want a little give so they can do there job and save your truck from getting banged up.

 

Thanks guys. The “tightness” I’m looking for is between the bottom edge of the rocker and the inner straight tube of the slider.

I’m looking for the smallest gap...frankly, I hate being able to see slider cross members through that gap.

 

Might need to just go to a reputable fabricator and have them make your set for you to your desired specs. I don't think any company would purposely mass produce sliders that wouldn't function like a normal slider, which is kind of what you're asking for. There is a reason why sliders are out so far. To protect your door panels from scraping trees and so they can flex on contact with rocks and not touch/damage your rocker panel. That being said Demellos Rock Crushers have a different look to them. How about fill plates so you can't see the gap? I've heard of people taking the OEM predator steps and removing the actual steps off. That looks pretty "high and tight" like you want but will provide shit for protection.

 

All vendors will make them fairly similar in distance to accomodate for flex. Ours are approx 1" from tube to pinch seam.

 

My victory 4x4 sliders are some of the cleanest sliders I've seen that still offer full under body protection and moderate rocker panel/door area protection:

 

Here's a thread about sliders and someone wanting the exact opposite of what you want. Function over aesthetics is a good recommendation.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dclb-slider-thread.539091/

 

The outer tube isn't what I'm referring to. . .it's the inner tube that runs along the body. Some have a large gap to the rocker, while others are really tight. A great example is the factory rock rails on Jeep Rubicons.

 

The factory rock rails on a Rubicon bolt to the body not the frame. That is why they hug the body. I' a DCJ dealership body man . I'e taken plenty off and on 13mm and 10 mm bolts . Cheesy.

 

Aren't those actually bolted to the rocker? Different situation.

 

Demello Offroad Rock Crusher. Contact Tiffany or Jason. They also have a hybrid slider that might work for what you need

 

You might be interested in something like these, which are fastened to the rockers I guess with riv-nuts.

http://www.randyellisdesign.com/Toyota-Tacoma-Gen-3-Bolt-on-Rock-Sliders_p_154.html

 

Demello Ofroad Dominator Sliders..

 

So is there a reason a frame mounted slider can't be built to hug the body?

 

Yes, when you hit that slider while wheeling if it's tucked up to the body like you want it then your body will still take damage from the impact.

Think of it like this. Say you are sitting crossed legged with jeans and have a dog trying to sit on your lap. The jeans are your sliders and dog is the rock. If you wear girl jeans your nuts are open to attack from said paws. Now wear some relaxed jeans and there is that protection and buffer zone because things can move. Not fixed position.

 

There’s quite a bit of movement of the body on the frame as the chassis twists. So you can only mount solidly to one or the other. The frame is obviously stronger and if you bolt or weld to it you have to have some clearance otherwise the sliders will dent the body to make the clearance.

 

Thanks for the visual!

 

Well the body and frame move independently due too soft urethane body mounts. If too close it will slap the pinch weld at the rocker with little effort.

 

I'm sure you can but I think you would need some clearance for flex when you actually use them. Also I think most people want a little protrusion so that they also protect against trees/rocks/shopping cart buggies coming from the side. Think off camber sliding down a hill sideways towards a tree.