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Rock Hard 4x4 Sliders
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MSFTMatt
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Iāve read through several threads on these and have a question. My Rick Hard sliders are arriving in a few days and thereās been a few posts about the pinch weld clips. Can any e offer me some additional insight? Do they need to be removed? If so, whatās the best technique? Iāve read some folks have had issue with getting them out. Thanks in advance!
LostWoods
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It's not the pinch weld, it's the body mount nut clips and the only thing I can say is don't break them. You cannot easily access most (any?) of them from the top and for the front ones at least, you will have to cut the body to get to the nut.
Get a propane torch (also recommend an aluminum foil shield to cover the bodywork) and heat the bolts nice and hot before you remove them by hand. They have red loctite and will be rough coming out so work them back and forth. I did out half a turn, in a quarter through the rough spots and mine came out without issue. The clips will hold onto the bolt a little so if you start free-spinning, use a prybar to pull down on the bolt as you turn and it'll drop loose.
Highly recommend anti-seize when you install the new bolts and just remember to put a wrench on them each time you do your oil.
MSFTMatt
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Oh ok, I thought I saw somewhere someone said NOT to use a torch because of some bushings in there? No issue with you doing it?
LostWoods
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Worked well for me, just use a little shielding and don't get it too hot... No need to get it glowing or break the loctite fully, just need to soften it a little.
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MSFTMatt
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Right on, thanks! Will update here when I get them installed
AustyPosty
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Does anyone on here have the flat plate Rock hards? Rock Hard 4x4ā¢ RHX Series Tube Slider Rocker Guards - Flat Step for Jeep Gladiator JT 2020 - Current [RH-80124]
I guess im just a little worried they might stick out too far and look goofy?
I guess im just a little worried they might stick out too far and look goofy?
AustyPosty
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Looks great! Do you have Any more images of your gladiator and the sliders?I have them. I don't think they're goofy.
Climbhigh
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I love them. At first i was a little worried about how they stuck out, but i have come to really appreciate them...as a step and as a place to set something etc. you can see my original pictures and concerns on this post and a few comments there are more pictures.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...expedition-one-1200-budget.63470/post-1103162
if you have any picture request, just ask for what you want to see.
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Climbhigh
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Went out and took a couple of pictures. My posts above (in another thread) shows a comparison between the flat and angled up.
GMag
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I am also a fan of Rockhard's sliders and skids and figured I'd share my experience to help folks decide. I went with the downward angled ones as my wife needed a step to climb in. They do offer significant help entering/exiting and they are definitely built to withstand some serious rock crawling. But with 37"s I always dragged them and even on 40"s there are times they are still too low for my type of rock crawling. I have used them to pivot around tight corners, I have set the weight of the entire JT on them and they have held up well. I do have a serious dent on one tube and I also managed to hit the side of my rig just above them somehow even though they do come out a good amount.
They are however a great product and having 3 versions to choose from is awesome. The flat ones may be the best compromise as you still get a step and they offer more clearance but I feel like they come out a bit much and may be too high on my rig. The angled up ones are best if you want more clearance with the protection these offer your golden as long as you don't need a step.
For me, my rig is too tall and the fam wants a step so I can't just switch to the angled up ones or I would for sure. I will most likely be switching to the RSE retractable steps to get both clearance and a step only when I need it. I fully expect to damage them as several guys in my area run them and have. I'm sure I will complain to myself about how much I spent on them when I do damage them and how these would have cost me less than half the price of RSE, but ultimately I want the added clearance.
Here are a few pics to see them in action. First is Mottino Wash where they are carrying the JT and protecting me as I teetered over that boulder. The Soup Bowl at the Rubicon is pic 2 and they helped me pivot and protect but also hindered as they were too low and wide. Again that slight hang and width only matters if you are hitting hard lines on hard trails but it was enough to hit here before I needed them to. The last pic from the Rubicon gatekeeper is just to show the lowest point is still the belly. By the way there was no soup for me this trip but it wasn't entirely the sliders. My rear locker took a sh!t but that's another story for another post.
They are however a great product and having 3 versions to choose from is awesome. The flat ones may be the best compromise as you still get a step and they offer more clearance but I feel like they come out a bit much and may be too high on my rig. The angled up ones are best if you want more clearance with the protection these offer your golden as long as you don't need a step.
For me, my rig is too tall and the fam wants a step so I can't just switch to the angled up ones or I would for sure. I will most likely be switching to the RSE retractable steps to get both clearance and a step only when I need it. I fully expect to damage them as several guys in my area run them and have. I'm sure I will complain to myself about how much I spent on them when I do damage them and how these would have cost me less than half the price of RSE, but ultimately I want the added clearance.
Here are a few pics to see them in action. First is Mottino Wash where they are carrying the JT and protecting me as I teetered over that boulder. The Soup Bowl at the Rubicon is pic 2 and they helped me pivot and protect but also hindered as they were too low and wide. Again that slight hang and width only matters if you are hitting hard lines on hard trails but it was enough to hit here before I needed them to. The last pic from the Rubicon gatekeeper is just to show the lowest point is still the belly. By the way there was no soup for me this trip but it wasn't entirely the sliders. My rear locker took a sh!t but that's another story for another post.
antwon412
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Angled up on mine. Love them. One of the only sets that follow the contours of the cab properly.
whiteglad
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I don't plan to attack boulders with my angled-up Rock Hards, but they are great defenders against the mall rats opening their doors into me. 
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