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Rock Rails Thread

rharr

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you may want to consider rivnuts
https://www.amazon.com/nut-cert-tool/s?k=nut+cert+tool
instead of welding.

the jeep framing isn't that thick, and I wouldn't expect say 1/8" thick metal to provide enough depth for bolts to get a good bite. That is why I suggested the rivnuts, they will give plenty of thread bite for bolts and will firmly into the frame and transfer load well.

I am also concerned if they bend that easy from a drop what's going to happen to them when mounted and the 6000lb jeep drops on to a rock and they hit.
 

j.o.y.ride

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you may want to consider rivnuts
https://www.amazon.com/nut-cert-tool/s?k=nut+cert+tool
instead of welding.

I am also concerned if they bend that easy from a drop what's going to happen to them when mounted and the 6000lb jeep drops on to a rock and they hit.
I have no idea what they did to bend it, but it surely wasn't a simple drop. It was repackaged by FedEx too, so who knows what all went down with it. I'm not at all concerned that it's weak.

Cutting through welds will probably be easier than undoing 20 bolts with red loctite anyhow, if they need to come off.
 

rharr

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red locktite and only 1/8" bite is nothing, a 1/2" impact gun will zip them off no problem. If worried hit the bolts with heat.

welding is a pretty permeant solution and will be harder to fix/remove if they are damaged. Plus if you get a little greedy when cutting those off and bite into the frame, that's not great... best of luck with your project.
 

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j.o.y.ride

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red locktite and only 1/8" bite is nothing, a 1/2" impact gun will zip them off no problem. If worried hit the bolts with heat.

welding is a pretty permeant solution and will be harder to fix/remove if they are damaged. Plus if you get a little greedy when cutting those off and bite into the frame, that's not great... best of luck with your project.
I am really hard pressed to find a situation where they would be damaged to the point of removal other than something like a side impact collision.
 

rharr

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when a front tire is on a 45 degree rock face and the side lugs slip and the truck drops the rail on to the pointy rock, or boulder you just rode over. Maybe it doesn't apply to what you do, I have over time developed a healthy respect for rocks as that is 90% of what we have to wheel in.

Down here in rock country people are using 2x6x1/8 rectangular steel tube as their rock rails/nerf bars.
 

SwampNut

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"Rock country," love it. Yeah, I know nothing about mud wheeling, but rocks...
 

Dan in Pasadena

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That’s an interesting idea adding the steps right to the rails!
With the door shut - what is the measurement from the bottom gap to the top of the step.
(From the ground to the step would vary for those with different tire/wheel combos).
I know this is a very old post but I JUST got my Sting Gray 2020 Gladiator Rubicon today. I don't want to remove the factory rock rails to sell them AND I don't want to potentially break off a bolt in the body either.

Questions: If you're going to install the step with a bolt from the bottom-up into a hole you drill & tap yourself, why the Nylon nuts? I haven't looked closely yet but I assume the factory rock rails are a tube so unless you drill all the way through it and use a very long bolt I can't see HOW a nut would be used? What a I missing here?

PS: I will never go rock crawling but if someone did wouldn't these Rampage steps get bent to hell or ripped off by rocks on a trail?
 

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Aonarch

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Jeep Gladiator Rock Rails Thread DSC_0365.JPG


Fab Fours Rock Sliders. I just installed them and I am happy with the quality. Install was painless.

But if you do not have Rubicon rails from the factory you will need 8 M8x1.25x30 bolts and washers.
 

DankjeeP

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Any product with such a ridiculous attachment method.
Old thread, but I'm with you in rock country SoCal. Rocks can be brutal. The design of these rails looks awesome until you look at the mounting HW. Why would they do such a thing?? But others may not look for these things not knowing what can happen. If they went through the frame and added plates to the other side, they would probably be solid. Or some other method, but these little bolts are a joke.

Jeep Gladiator Rock Rails Thread Untitled
 
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Dan in Pasadena

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Ok, well I went ahead and ordered the Rampage short steps to attach directly to my Rubicon rock rails. As I said, I'll never do hardcore wheeling and certainly no rock crawling. So no need to spend most of $1000 on aftermarket rails with steps built in.

Once they're here and clamped in place it'll be obvious how to drill/bolt them OR if it's not I'll use my MIG welder to attach them. I'm not a very good welder and certainly not in the overhead position. I might have to remove the rails (UGH) to weld them downwind. No one will ever see the welds but I don't want them to look like crap.
 

Readyt

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I have the RSE Rock Sliders and Love them. Steel is 3/16 and incredibly well made. Plus I needed something for the wife to be able to get in easier. Yes you can turn the step off when you go off road

Jeep Gladiator Rock Rails Thread Gladiator 4-10-21 (4)
 

TexasCajun

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Will the Mojave rock rails fit on the sport s?
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