So, I'd doubt that the stock step rails, being aluminum and all, would really hold up much to protect the rocker panels off road. Has anyone tried any mods to them for reinforcement?

gothamist, you gotta know _something_ about this. that pic of low clearance you have on your site woulda had me weeing myself!

mikeT


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2001 SE 4X4
Rain+Dirt do it for me.

Replace the stock rails with Rock sliders

most definetly..ditch the rails for sliders

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Ed Britt
black '00 XE 3 pack 4x4
ARB
32" Super Swamper TSLs

I know both of my rocker panels have numerous dents in them...

Seriously, ditching them for rock sliders is the best/only option. I'm starting to wonder if there's any point for me, since my rockers are pretty much toast as it is. At least once I get the sliders I can slide over rocks w/out that terrible screeching noise meaning my paint is dying...

For now the best thing to do (until you can afford sliders if money is an issue) is to take off the steprails...if I had them on for that Conway River trail (or most of my other trips in GWNF), they would only have caused more damage than I already have.

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html

Gothamist, maybe those rocker panel guards that Ian came up with could both hide the dents and then provide future protection. Just a thought.

jeff

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yeah, i've seen those and they seem bulletproof. having a step there is convenient for getting to the roof and kicking snow off the boots, etc.

thanks,
mikeT



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2001 SE 4X4
Rain+Dirt do it for me.

at the same time without naming names, i know of someone with rock sliderz on their X that if they had had Ian's rocker panel guards on they would have totally crushed the rocker panels flat. a few people have been finding the limitations of the stock frame mounting holes for rock sliders and the like.

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Synchro (aka Kirk)
synchro@xterraoffroad.com
2000 Xterra SE, Alpine Green, 4x4, ARB, 32" BFG MTs

[This message has been edited by Synchro (edited 02-27-2001).]

Can you elaborate on these "limitations" without "naming names?"

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blueghost
'01 Xterra SE 4x4

The bolt holes in the frame actually BENT OUTWARDS when my sliders came down REALLY hard on a spot that also jarred my ARB about 1/4" and wrecked my fog lights (where Ian has his mounted, I do not recommend that anyone else put them there). The sliders themselves held up fine but the frame bent where the sliders are bolted on. Ian's rocker panel covers (which look like a good design) would have gotten the same damage, as would any other slider design. So it wasn't the sliders' fault, it was definitely OPERATOR ERROR but now I am stuck with a section of bent frame where the bolt holes are.



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philosopher@angelfire.com

Philosopher's Xterra

Mid-Atlantic Xterra Club

It was probably the only situation you can find where I suffered less damage due to *not* having my sliders yet, whereas Philosopher came down super hard on his rock sliders bending the frame, I came down on my transfer case skid plate (bending that up a good 3/4".) All I have to do to fix my "damage" is straighten the plate, whereas the wussy bolt holes in the frame of the X curled up for him...I've been advised to weld mine on to the frame, which I'm definitely looking into.

p.s. No knocks to Ian, but Synchro is right--Philospher probably wouldn't be able to open his passenger doors right now if he had Ian's design (again, not a fault of the product, a fault of the frame mounting and the fact Ian's are much closer to the rocker panels themselves.)

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com