got armor?

[BucknutBob]

Well, the beast finally has a bit of protection. I just picked up the truck today, so it all needs cleaned up, and it needs some paint on the new metal, but it's all solid and ready to be pounded on. The sliders are welded on, and should provide not only protection, but a jacking point, and a nice step for future roof rack access. Can't afford the tires right now, so the wheels are on hold. Down the road, I'll be adding a Warn VR10k winch and some good lights. What's really weird is how, even with the addition of the V8, and now the front bumper, the front end still sits high. Weird. I think the rear springs may be sagging on me. Oh well, add that to the list!

 

[SV_Dude]

Very nice!!

 

[mpleitez]

Nice Bob! Did you put gussets on the sliders? I can't really tell from the pic.

 

[Hyde802]

Pretty welds!! Looks nice!!

Could always take a leaf out of the front packs...

 

[KidVermicious]

Could always take a leaf out of the front packs...

This. Lift as much as you need but as little as you can.

 

[BucknutBob]

Nice Bob! Did you put gussets on the sliders? I can't really tell from the pic.

I had some ready, but the shop (which is for offroaders) didn't feel they were needed. This is backed up somewhat by All Pro, where I got the sliders--when I called their tech line, they told me they didn't use them on their rigs. I guess I'll find out when I flop it on the next boulder, huh! Hyde, you're definitely right on those welds--this guy can put down a sweet bead. Part of his business is building custom bumpers from scratch, and the craftsmanship is impressive!

 

[92-SR5]

Having plates like that on your sliders is the way to go. I have that done on my sliders

 

[BucknutBob]

Having plates like that on your sliders is the way to go. I have that done on my sliders

Yeah, they weren't part of the slider parts, but I had seen them offered separately, and asked the shop if I should go that route--their answer was "if you actually plan to use them, then yes". Well, I do plan on using my sliders every now and then--some of the trails around here have some massive boulders, and there's always the chance of slipping off one and crunching the rockers. This way the frame is nice and strong where I need it most.

 

[Vancouver93SR5-BLK]

Great slider application, I am going to follow suit. Reading your v-8 installation thread in another tab as well! Good shtuff!

 

[ToyoTech]

how is the arb bumper installed see has you have a spring hanger in the way of the rest of the bolts for the bumper??

btw the bumper looks great. love plated bumpers

 

[BucknutBob]

how is the arb bumper installed see has you have a spring hanger in the way of the rest of the bolts for the bumper??

btw the bumper looks great. love plated bumpers

A local shop made a custom mounting plate for it--the body lift forced them to chop off the extensions to get the height right. I don't believe it's strong enough for a hard winch pull, though (the mount, not the bumper, which is plenty strong), so I'll have some bracing added to it before adding the winch (which won't be for a while, unfortunately). I agree on the plate-style preference--I just like the "factory" look they have compared to tube designs.

 

[AzDirtRunner]

Very nice rig. Sliders are on my LONG list of to do's.
Are your headlights aftermarket too? If so, whered you get them?

 

[BucknutBob]

Headlights are stock, AZR. Luckily on the sliders, they're one of cheaper things you can do--these were under $300 incl. shipping. Any mods like lights will come later for me, as most of my dollars are going into the heavy hardware first.

 

[ToyoTech]

A local shop made a custom mounting plate for it--the body lift forced them to chop off the extensions to get the height right. I don't believe it's strong enough for a hard winch pull, though (the mount, not the bumper, which is plenty strong), so I'll have some bracing added to it before adding the winch (which won't be for a while, unfortunately). I agree on the plate-style preference--I just like the "factory" look they have compared to tube designs.

agreed with the factory look. hate the exposed stuff behind it when it comes to tube. post up how its mounted and modded to fit. love to see how it was done. i know there will be more bracing later on which should be to hard to do

 

[BucknutBob]

agreed with the factory look. hate the exposed stuff behind it when it comes to tube. post up how its mounted and modded to fit. love to see how it was done. i know there will be more bracing later on which should be to hard to do

TT, you can almost see the fabricated mount in the bumper pic above--just below the license plate you can see the lower portion of the plate. It's a large plate of about 1/4" steel the width of the space between the bumper rails, bent 90 deg., with gussets on both ends--this is bolted across the front of the frame crossmember, and into the bottom and sides of the bumper plates just below where a winch would mount. As you can imagine, without the original bumper mounting rails running down the inside of the truck's frame, this arrangement would probably just bend forward on a hard pull, so later I'll have some supports ran through the front of the truck to the frame, so the bumper is attached at both the top and bottom of the winch section. I don't want to be the goofball whose bumper gets ripped off on his first winch pull!