Rock Slide Engineering Gen III Install

[jwseaton]

To keep the next person from making the same mistake… wiring harness routes up through the rear floorboard on the JT.

Instructions weren’t clear and all the videos I found were on JLs. So after snaking everything through the front, I get to begin again.

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[jwseaton]

If you go through the front like I did… door sensor plugs will never reach the rear

 

[WILDHOBO]

To keep the next person from making the same mistake… wiring harness routes up through the rear floorboard on the JT.

Instructions weren’t clear and all the videos I found were on JLs. So after snaking everything through the front, I get to begin again.

It happened to me as well. I called them and they were very cool. Apologized and explained it’s supposed to be rear, as you said. No harm. Just put the front plug back.

 

[jwseaton]

It happened to me as well. I called them and they were very cool. Apologized and explained it’s supposed to be rear, as you said. No harm. Just put the front plug back.

Yeah, I made a few mistakes, but I finished the electrical last night. Impressed I didn't actually mess anything up, and everything fits back like it should. Now I've got to mount the actual steps this weekend. Can't wait for the finished project!

 

[Daa03c]

Won’t water get in through the plug?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Won’t water get in through the plug?

They provide a grommet, so maybe if you submerge the floor, but otherwise probably not. I never have.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Fill that plug with urethane - when done because once it sets you ain't moving the wires again.
Urethane is what "glues" the windshields in vehicles. Flexes a bit but seals like crazy.
Or an automotive seam sealer in the plug to surround the wires.

 

[Free2roam]

So under the back seat? What about the rest of the install? Do the wires route under the carpet or under the truck?

 

[WILDHOBO]

So under the back seat? What about the rest of the install? Do the wires route under the carpet or under the truck?

They mostly go under the truck above a cross member. Nothing goes under the rear seat.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So under the back seat? What about the rest of the install? Do the wires route under the carpet or under the truck?

Ignore any back seat or module talk. That's years ago. There's nothing that mounts under a seat and no module if you buy new product, the 3rd generation..
All wiring is under the truck except what goes up through the EXISTING holes in the floor for the door switches - and the shutoff switch that mounts under the dash near the OBDII port.

Don't sweat it - only side interior panels need to come loose to mount the door switches and the wiring. 90% of all wiring is under the truck.
You don't have to drill, you don't have to go through the firewall, you don't have to remove any seats, and there's no modules to mount.

Trust me and @WILDHOBO on this - he's got 'em, and I have them mounted on both of our Jeeps. I spoke with him on the wiring and such before I ordered. It takes some time, but the wiring is really fairly simple save for pulling the side trim loose inside (B pillar) to run the wires up to the magnetic switches that stick to the truck (no drilling!!!)
If this old fart can handle it, you can.

I will suggest this - mounting the steps themselves - you do need to loosen the body mount bolts. Make sure you have a torch or an inductive heater. If you bust one of those bolts - well, ask me how I know.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Ignore any back seat or module talk. That's years ago. There's nothing that mounts under a seat and no module if you buy new product, the 3rd generation..
All wiring is under the truck except what goes up through the EXISTING holes in the floor for the door switches - and the shutoff switch that mounts under the dash near the OBDII port.

Don't sweat it - only side interior panels need to come loose to mount the door switches and the wiring. 90% of all wiring is under the truck.
You don't have to drill, you don't have to go through the firewall, you don't have to remove any seats, and there's no modules to mount.

Trust me and @WILDHOBO on this - he's got 'em, and I have them mounted on both of our Jeeps. I spoke with him on the wiring and such before I ordered. It takes some time, but the wiring is really fairly simple save for pulling the side trim loose inside (B pillar) to run the wires up to the magnetic switches that stick to the truck (no drilling!!!)
If this old fart can handle it, you can.

I will suggest this - mounting the steps themselves - you do need to loosen the body mount bolts. Make sure you have a torch or an inductive heater. If you bust one of those bolts - well, ask me how I know.

^
This exactly.

And I will add, DO NOT TOUCH THOSE BODY BOLTS WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. No matter how tired you are, it’ll be worse if you break one. Slow and steady. If one starts to bind, tighten it a half turn and start back again. They don’t need to be removed. They just need to be loosened to fit the brackets in between the bolt head and washer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

^
This exactly.

And I will add, DO NOT TOUCH THOSE BODY BOLTS WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. No matter how tired you are, it’ll be worse if you break one. Slow and steady. If one starts to bind, tighten it a half turn and start back again. They don’t need to be removed. They just need to be loosened to fit the brackets in between the bolt head and washer.

Mine stopped solid. There was no moving it either way. The only way some of them came loose was with heat. No matter how much I tried back and forth, it took heat.

Even FCA's documents on things involving the body bolts show using an induction heater.

The left front on mine totally stopped moving either direction - it wouldn't budge - I was trying to tighten it when it broke using a 15" bar - that's not even a breaker bar compared to today's standards.
Heat, slow and steady, back and forth. If it stops moving, heat it! But be careful with a torch as those body mount pads are right there.
I spent about as much time on those bolts as any other part.
Almost every person who has broken a bolt has said it was the left front of the 3 on each side you need to loosen.

 

[Free2roam]

My body bolts never broke. The front two were not loose but definitely not as tight as the other 4. I bought a 1200 watt induction heater. Worked like a charm. If that's the only time I'll ever use it. It paid for itself. Mounted my steps last Saturday. Just to many other things going on to finish the wiring.

 

[Free2roam]

Ignore any back seat or module talk. That's years ago. There's nothing that mounts under a seat and no module if you buy new product, the 3rd generation..
All wiring is under the truck except what goes up through the EXISTING holes in the floor for the door switches - and the shutoff switch that mounts under the dash near the OBDII port.

Don't sweat it - only side interior panels need to come loose to mount the door switches and the wiring. 90% of all wiring is under the truck.
You don't have to drill, you don't have to go through the firewall, you don't have to remove any seats, and there's no modules to mount.

Trust me and @WILDHOBO on this - he's got 'em, and I have them mounted on both of our Jeeps. I spoke with him on the wiring and such before I ordered. It takes some time, but the wiring is really fairly simple save for pulling the side trim loose inside (B pillar) to run the wires up to the magnetic switches that stick to the truck (no drilling!!!)
If this old fart can handle it, you can.

I will suggest this - mounting the steps themselves - you do need to loosen the body mount bolts. Make sure you have a torch or an inductive heater. If you bust one of those bolts - well, ask me how I know.

I saw a video where the guy mounted the switches to the door jam next to the hinge area. Is that correct or do they go near the back of the door where the locking mechanism is?

 

[WILDHOBO]

I saw a video where the guy mounted the switches to the door jam next to the hinge area. Is that correct or do they go near the back of the door where the locking mechanism is?

Front doors get magnets near the latch, with sensors on the b pillar. Back doors also get sensors on the b pillar with magnets on the hinge side.

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