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

[ShadowsPapa]

Another vote for and glowing review of the RSE step sliders. I skimped out a little on the build of my first Gladiator and didn't get the RSE steps, which made entry/egress a bit too much of a challenge for my personal tastes on a daily basis... This time however, the RSE steps were among the very first mods installed, and it's a total game changer. As far as install goes, the wiring was tedious for me personally because I'm a gear/lever type guy and I despise wiring, even perfectly pre-loomed stuff that practically falls into place like what RSE provides. The only other concern for me was the weatherstrip installation, as having that misaligned would have driven me crazy every time I approached the rig. Thankfully I got it close enough

Ha! You cheated and used a lift!

The wiring on the JT was much easier than the JLU 4xe.
However, the wires from the main loom that go to the door switches is so short that if you need to disconnect those switches, it means pulling the trim back off to get to those connections. I wasn't able to follow their "leave disconnected until...." or troubleshooting bit because there was no way to reach in and disconnect anything once the wiring was in place behind the trim. Even pulling the B pillar trim loose, you can't get to the connectors on mine (either the JT or the JLU) you must remove the trim or at least have it almost removed.

I agree on that seal strip - I'd have been really unhappy had that not lined up perfectly - and I mean perfectly.

So there was a lot of measuring, taping, readjusting, measuring again, and so on.

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[cranbiz]

What I did with the weatherstrip was install it from the top after the sliders were installed. It was a bit harder this way but they are lined up perfectly. Peeled back the tape covering enough to get a good grip on it, positioned the weatherstrip and peeled back the tape and pushed it in place. It helps to have another set of hands if you do it this way but you only put the steps on once.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It helps to have another set of hands if you do it this way but you only put the steps on once.

Only put the steps on once for each of our Jeeps. Measure and it's easy enough.
So I don't have a clue what you are talking about "you only put the steps on once". That's the way it's always done - put on strip, put on step - ONE time. Never any on, off, on again. Never.

The only thing I ran into was that the left side of my JT the rocker panel isn't as even as on the right side so that seal piece almost wasn't thick enough. Got around that by loosening the bolts, putting a jack under the step (step retracted of course) and lifted a bit then tightened the bolts again. Tolerances. Not putting the strip on until later would not have mattered a lick because it was lined up perfectly, just that the step sat out a bit due to the natural tolerances of anything man-made.
The seal strips went on fine. As snug as things fit there'd have been no way to put them in after the steps went up because the step top pushes in on the rubber so it would have stuck to the rocker panel as it went in before it was down far enough.

 

[Boostnu]

What I did with the weatherstrip was install it from the top after the sliders were installed. It was a bit harder this way but they are lined up perfectly. Peeled back the tape covering enough to get a good grip on it, positioned the weatherstrip and peeled back the tape and pushed it in place. It helps to have another set of hands if you do it this way but you only put the steps on once.

I did the same thing on mine. It was a lot easier and lined up perfect.

 

[RacerAV]

I did the same thing on mine. It was a lot easier and lined up perfect.

Always nice to see other people get annoyed with little imperfections too, lol... makes me feel less crazy.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I didn't read all the comments but it looks like the majority, if not all, were positive. The biggest reasons I chose not to get an RSE slider was that over time the step starts to sag/won't go in all the way, especially in very cold weather. The other main reason for me was that when you have your doors off the steps are down. If you are on an obstacle and you need to get out to check your line, the steps lower. It's an additional moving part to break and is not as strong as a lot of other sliders that you can also you use as a step.

My girlfriend and I are both tall so it's a lot less of an issue for us. I'm sure if it was a nuisance to climb into the vehicle daily that I'd have a different outlook.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I didn't read all the comments but it looks like the majority, if not all, were positive.

1. The biggest reasons I chose not to get an RSE slider was that over time the step starts to sag/won't go in all the way, especially in very cold weather.

2. The other main reason for me was that when you have your doors off the steps are down

1. Not sure what one person you heard that from, but not the case. They don't sag and they do go all the way up, even in cold weather. They are on Gen III now and work a lot differently. MAYBE there were issues with the Gen I or Gen II but not with these.
No trouble in cold weather or winter. At least not with mine or with those used by other Jeep people here.
If you eventually find one of them isn't fully retracting you can force a relearn by pulling the fuse, then opening the door, letting the step drop, then close the door. It does a position relearn.

2. Not true. You turn off the switch and disable the steps and remove the doors, or do like others have done - tape a magnet to the magnetic switch to prevent them going down.
I can push one button and take the doors off and the steps won't move - they are up and stay that way.

 

[Chief_jeep]

1. Not sure what one person you heard that from, but not the case. They don't sag and they do go all the way up, even in cold weather. They are on Gen III now and work a lot differently. MAYBE there were issues with the Gen I or Gen II but not with these.
No trouble in cold weather or winter. At least not with mine or with those used by other Jeep people here.
If you eventually find one of them isn't fully retracting you can force a relearn by pulling the fuse, then opening the door, letting the step drop, then close the door. It does a position relearn.

2. Not true. You turn off the switch and disable the steps and remove the doors, or do like others have done - tape a magnet to the magnetic switch to prevent them going down.
I can push one button and take the doors off and the steps won't move - they are up and stay that way.

They must be different now. I talked to multiple with with what I assume was gen 1 and they had those issues or just didn’t know how to use them

 

[JarHeadLV]

I think they look badass. I've always had 1 ton diesel trucks and the power steps I always had were much stronger looking in the dropdown step offered for the Jeep. The dropdown step to me looks "cheap" and weak for the $$ they cost, but I think they do look good and do protect from door dings and of course on the trail. Do skinny-er guys drive Jeeps?

I may put them on my Jeep at some point but not really needed because I'm not really into rock crawling, but I can see how they would be advantageous where I'm on a trail and a bad rock area suddenly appears in my way. Better to have and not need than need and not have I guess.

 

[Boostnu]

They have a doors off kit now that you mount the switch under the seat so you can still lift and lower the steps when the doors are off. They also have the override switch that was mentioned for when Offroad you can turn the steps off so they don’t accidentally lower.

 

[JarHeadLV]

Always nice to see other people get annoyed with little imperfections too, lol... makes me feel less crazy.

"OCD Club" - dont worry, Im a member

 

[Boostnu]

I think they look badass. I've always had 1 ton diesel trucks and the power steps I always had were much stronger looking in the dropdown step offered for the Jeep. The dropdown step to me looks "cheap" and weak for the $$ they cost, but I think they do look good and do protect from door dings and of course on the trail. Do skinny-er guys drive Jeeps?

From what I’ve read they are supposed to handle 650lbs on the step.

 

[JarHeadLV]

From what I’ve read they are supposed to handle 650lbs on the step.

That's impressive if true, they sure don't look like it!!

 

[Mbryson]

I'm 250 lbs. Have had mine on for almost a year. No issues with durability so far

 

[ShadowsPapa]

They have a doors off kit now that you mount the switch under the seat so you can still lift and lower the steps when the doors are off. They also have the override switch that was mentioned for when Offroad you can turn the steps off so they don’t accidentally lower.

Yeah I forgot about that kit that plugs in and lets you operate them manually. Handy if you are hung up at each end and the middle getting out is a fair drop. Or - just for tooling around doors off in nice weather.

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