Rockslide Engineering sliders/steps any good? How's the install?

[hjdca]

I’ve removed my armor to refresh it, but not the whole steps yet. I’d probably take the armor off first.

I put two new motors in, and changed the gas shocks to the new spring design for the Version 2 model that I have. I have never taken the armor off. I just do the work using the scaffolding, and paint the armor when I need to. I have some small dents, and I am worried that I may not easily get the rivets holes to line up if I take the armor off.

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[WILDHOBO]

I put two new motors in, and changed the gas shocks to the new spring design for the Version 2 model that I have. I have never taken the armor off. I just do the work using the scaffolding, and paint the armor when I need to. I have some small dents, and I am worried that I may not easily get the rivets holes to line up if I take the armor off.

I had the same concern for a while, as I also have some small dents. It came off easily and went on just as easily. I did order a new set of armor installation hardware from RSE in advance though, which made it super easy. For the river removal, I used a very small drift punch to tap the rivet center into the inside. I had the the same size as the pin. It was WAY easier than drilling them out and worrying about hitting the steel.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I haven’t had to pull mine yet since install, but eventually I will to do a full refinish. We’re you able to get away with just removing the bolts that connect the steps to the brackets, without loosening the body bolts? If so, it would be pretty easy, as you stated.

Yes - I did have to take one body bolt out as when they replaced the broken body bolt, they put the step bracket on wrong - you know how they go and don't go.
It was really a piece of cake. Slide step out, removed bracket, positioned correctly on body bolt, put it back.
I can't see needing to take them off or even loose for quite a while. Put something up under them so you can slide them straight out and you've got 'er made.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, you can definitely take them off without losening the body bolts, however, for re-install, you may have to losen one body bolt to get everything to line up easily.... If you have the armor like me, I would not say it is easy... The steps with armor are very heavy. The scafolding with a stool is a game changer, because you can get just the right height with the jack stands and you can hook up the electical connection and test the steps after your maint. work -- to make sure you get the best function and a tight step with no rattles going down the road.

If I have to slide one or both of mine out again, I'll try your jackstand with board trick - gives a lot more room to move the step farther from the truck.
I only needed to get it out far enough to remove a bracket, so milk crates with wood shims worked fine, but for real maintenance I can see the rigging in that photo working out very well.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My wife was the one who sanctioned the expensive purchase. I couldn’t justify it initially, but she was right. And I don’t think I’d be allowed to have it lifted on big tires if they weren’t there.

Similar here - after she got her JLU Rubicon, she kept asking for solutions, and even mentioned "would be nice if you did the same for your truck". With her blessing, the rest is history. She's mentioned at least 3 times now how glad she is those were installed and thanked me for doing it.

 

[cranbiz]

My CFO gave me my marching orders when we bought our JTR. A close friend put them on his JTR so she was able to see the advantages of them. Her exact words were, When are you putting the steps on?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My CFO gave me my marching orders when we bought our JTR. A close friend put them on his JTR so she was able to see the advantages of them. Her exact words were, When are you putting the steps on?

Sounds familiar.......... "you can get them put on before our trip to Florida, right?"

 

[hjdca]

If I have to slide one or both of mine out again, I'll try your jackstand with board trick - gives a lot more room to move the step farther from the truck.
I only needed to get it out far enough to remove a bracket, so milk crates with wood shims worked fine, but for real maintenance I can see the rigging in that photo working out very well.

Yes, for safety, I used white Gorilla tape to secure the 2x4s to the Jack stands. Securing the wood to the Jack stands is extremely important for safety. Please, make sure this is well done. The best thing about this setup is:
1. You can adjust the height easily.
2. You can sit on a stool while working on the steps, ie. replacing a motor.
3. You can test the steps easily on the scaffolding by hooking up the electrical and opening the door.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, for safety, I used white Gorilla tape to secure the 2x4s to the Jack stands. Securing the wood to the Jack stands is extremely important for safety. Please, make sure this is well done. The best thing about this setup is:
1. You can adjust the height easily.
2. You can sit on a stool while working on the steps, ie. replacing a motor.
3. You can test the steps easily on the scaffolding by hooking up the electrical and opening the door.

That's the first thing I noted in your pictures - securing the wood to the stands, both ends.
But - why white as opposed to gray, or even black? ?

 

[hjdca]

That's the first thing I noted in your pictures - securing the wood to the stands, both ends.
But - why white as opposed to gray, or even black? ?

lol, no difference... I just noted the white, so, it would be clear in the picture... White Gorilla tape is not that popular, so, I just wanted to note that I was using high quality, high strength tape to insure safety.

 

[Free2roam]

Are y'all reinstalling the body bolts with loctite? If so what color? What are you using for the bolt removal? I've heard torch, bolt heater etc. I will need the steps and want to circumvent any broken bolts.

 

[hjdca]

Are y'all reinstalling the body bolts with loctite? If so what color? What are you using for the bolt removal? I've heard torch, bolt heater etc. I will need the steps and want to circumvent any broken bolts.

I used a torch, 20 seconds or so on, 30 seconds or so off; two or 3 times or more. while at the same time turning a quarter turn loosen, then, an eighth turn tighten, back and forth like that, really, really easy every time after I hit it with the torch.... Loosen, then tighten a little will help clear the threads of Locktite. There is a rubber isolation mount under the bolt, so, you do not want to melt or damage that... So, go easy with the torch. Better to go in stages. Use a tight flame and let the heat travel down the bolt in stages.
Note: Regarding reinstallation, I did not use any additional locktite. The permanent locktite tends to stick to the bolts and nuts and kinda works like "Blue Locktite" when re-installing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Are y'all reinstalling the body bolts with loctite? If so what color? What are you using for the bolt removal? I've heard torch, bolt heater etc. I will need the steps and want to circumvent any broken bolts.

After breaking the left front body bolt on my JT, I bought an inductive heater. Then a member showed me the pages from FCA showing - when removing body bolts, heat with inductive heater" and I'm like - so NOW you show me that!!
On the JLU it wasn't too bad warming the bolts up with a small torch and being patient with the back and forth bit.
On the JT - 4 were really easy, one not quite as easy, and the 6th broke when I was trying to turn it back in.
And - you can't easily remove the bolts. At least on mine, there were retainer clips up in the mount that prevented me from completely removing bolts! They were completely unthreaded but no matter what I did short of a puller of some sort, they'd not come clear out.
That's likely a factory assembly thing - bolts get inserted, stay in place due to clips, body dropped on, bolts screwed in?

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

Thanks @ShadowsPapa and @WILDHOBO. Huge difference between the NFab and RockslideEngineering. It has made a huge improvement in aiding access for my wife. Some pictures of the height difference.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks @ShadowsPapa and @WILDHOBO. Huge difference between the NFab and RockslideEngineering. It has made a huge improvement in aiding access for my wife. Some pictures of the height difference.

i haven't "abused" mine like @WILDHOBO has so can't speak to toughness in the rocks, but so far, I've observed or seen no complaints. And the units even without the rock shields or guards are built like tanks, very strong and well designed housing.
To this day my wife comments on what a help they are and thanks me for getting them installed.

Love the pics, especially with the flag. Fitting.

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