SOS Concepts Skids and Sliders Review

Since the vendor subforum for SOS got nuked (a suggestion for the mod team - this was a great resource that just went poof, maybe next time make it read only or something), I thought I'd post up an unbiased review of these for people looking.

There was some past concerns about quality and communication, and I was a bit skeptical when I went to order. Based on proximity, and Black Friday sales pricing, I took a chance. Here are my thoughts and experience.

The Product

• Skid trio (IFS, mid, transfer case)
• Sliders with kickout

The Why

• Price during the sale for the skids wasn't much more than buying the TRD Pro skid from Toyota. I also decided to grab sliders at the same time because of the price. Pricing was near the bottom of most everywhere I looked, and I could avoid a shipping charge by picking them up. I am three hours or so from his shop, but thankfully I was able to arrange for someone to pick them up for me the day they got done. These were purchased with my own money at a publically available discount.

The TL;DR

I'll likely be picking up a gas tank skid from Eddy as well, I am happy with the quality and the price paid.


The good

I was impressed by the quality and the speed. Even during a big sale, these were ready for pickup in about five weeks. The skids are 3/16" steel and the 15° sliders are DOM and square tube. Prep was fairly minimal, some IPA and occasional green scotch brite pad. Then primer and bedliner.

The fit quality of the skids was spot on. I thought that maybe a couple of holes were slightly off, but after backing off a couple of bolts I was able to get them all in. I installed the IFS and mid skids, and installed the TC skid a few weeks later (why to come).The alignment of the drain plug hole and the filter door was just fine, did my first oil change with them on (and a Fumoto valve) and it was easy.

The bending form issues of the past are not present here. I did not see any major issues with welds, but I have not welded in over twenty years and wasn't proficient then. The hardware here is stout.

The fitment of the sliders was pretty on point as well. The intended holes matched up really well. You can see where the plastic welds (?) are perfect for the intended holes in the slider plates. The hardware included appears beefy and there was enough.


The okay

The jigs for the TC skid and the sliders may be based on older frames. For my 2019 Sport, I did not have the required holes to mount the rear of the TC skid. I had to drill holes in the frame, which took me a couple of weeks to come to grips with. I only bolted up the rear two mounting points, I didn't see a point to drilling for all four at this point and time. I can always do so later.

There is also not an abundance of mounting points for both sliders, the drivers side much more so than the passenger. I think I have four main bolts through the sliders on the drivers, five or six through the passenger. The driver side also has some minor bolts for the covered control module and a small bracket. The page on SOS's site does mention that there could be less holes, but I'm honestly not sure what a big drop will do. Wasn't planning to test that out regardless.

If it were me personally, I would go with button head (think carriage bolt with a hex insert) for the filter door just so that there is less to potentially get hung up on and shear. However, I discovered today that I'm going to have to order it instead of picking up because they are a metric size outside of what Lowe's carries.

The needs improvement

Communication wasn't fantastic through email (either direct or through his site). I had a question about the product before I ordered and never got a response. My question about a timeframe I guess was technically answered three days later when I got the email they were done. I was able to get a response the same day on pickup day when I let him know he could release my purchase to @15ACOR (thanks again). I have gotten a bit better luck through his Instagram for a couple minor things. He is a smaller shop, and I do give a bit of leeway for that. However, this was a complaint from the old days that still needs some improvement.

The gallery

 

Did you undo the nuts on the crossmember and reuse the factory nut to secure them in the middle?

Im thinking that it's the obvious step, but wanting to confirm before I take those off.

Also, another vote for the poor communication.

 

The two sets of two that are the long bolts? Yes. Just take the nuts off but don't remove the bolts.

I do notice he is more active both on here and IG than he was.

 

I appreciate it.

I've hit yet another roadblock. The place where the xfer case should mount to the frame overlaps my slider mounts. That's no fault of SOS, but I also have no holes there and don't recall reading anything on their website about drilling the frame.

 

Do you have SOS sliders as well? I have the the same set up as @TheCochese has only in a 2nd gen. I have the SOS sliders and SOS skid plate trio. I did drill out the four holes in my Trans skid and they did not interfere with my SOS sliders. I know that some other company's sliders do interfere with the mounting of the SOS trans skid.

 

No. I have relentless sliders.

Again, no fault of SOS. Just unfortunate for me.

 

One of my wheeling buds ordered sliders from them per my recommendation. I had been chatting with Eddy prior through Instagram. My bud got his sliders and was having trouble with fitment, but couldn’t get a response from Eddy. I figured I would reach out for him and got instantly blocked by Eddy. Been trying to get unblocked for about 4 months now as I want to get matching sliders (I have hoop bumper from them) but no luck. Still probably going to order the sliders.

 

Man, that's not cool. @SOS CONCEPTS @uploadadventure

 

They still have my business.. did hurt my feelings a bit though.

 

They went cold on me too.

I want to support them and give them business. I know running a fab shop isn't easy. Something aint right there though. There are too many people on this forum alone who have reported issues with SOS. I'd highly encourage you to look elsewhere. If you want semi-local, Bud Built is in NC.

 

Im running SOS sliders and rear bumper on a 2nd gen and had no issues with the install.

 

In fairness, this is the first that I've personally read about issues with the sliders. Issues with skids lining up properly are all over the forum. Seems like the sliders and bumpers are generally spot on.

Again, I want to support small business. But with this one, count me in the "I had a bad experience" club.

 

I as in Eddy don't know about this situation. I as in Eddy didn't run the IG or FB for over a year. But hey. Thank you for the blame. Like you knew it was me personally.

 

My apologies, I assumed i had been talking to the owner as we had been dming about the bumper I bought that turned out to be one of the first you ever made in your garage.then one day I reached out about my friend and got blocked without a response. This was about a year and a half ago. I shouldn’t have assumed it was you. But I did email trying to get unblocked and got an empty response.

 

The only people I see banned were commentors that bashed others in comments and or people from my personal life. What's the name of the account and I'll check it out.

 

If you don’t get a response from Eddy (@SOS CONCEPTS ) shoot me the PM with name and order number and I’ll get you squared away as well.

 

Me tagging you to get some attention on it isn’t blaming you. There was absolutely no reason to be like that.

 

Got a response from Eddy! Unblocked and happy

 

That's my fault sir. Quoted the wrong message that's all.
Thank you for the write up as well. I did have problems with skids. There was 9 IFS skids that were wrong. It's was our new press break. It was not bending or coming down parallel causing a twist into the plates. Not something we could see happening. Had them send a new hydraulic ram. I swapped it out and they have been great since then.

 

How do you buy the Tacoma skids from this company? I can only find fuel tank skid for Tacoma on his site?