How many hours of labor to install rock sliders?

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besamel

New member
I have a quote from a 4x4 shop in town to install rock sliders on my 4runner 2020 (kdss). They quote me 5 hours of labor which seems on the high side to me. These rock sliders don't require drilling of any new holes (that's what the manufacturer claims). I called the shop several times and they stand by these 5 hours, saying that from their experience it's what it takes to install rock sliders on cars, tidy up all cables, etc, etc.

At an hourly rate of $125, this adds up quickly. What do you folks think? Is this reasonable or not? The manufacturer said that this should take 1-2 hours only....
 
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If you’re a bit handy with tools, you should be able to get them done with the help of a buddy and a 6 pack and maybe a pizza. I certainly wouldn’t pay for that much in labor. They are right, it’s a one to two hour job max.

Either way, never go back to that shop cuz they’re ripping you off.


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Me and my 9 year old son put my metal tech sliders on in less than an hour. I jut balanced them on a floor jack and had him tweak the jack position while I got all the bolts installed. No KDSS or anything in the way but I can't imagine 5 hours being reasonable in any scenario.
 
5 hours seems a little high. If everything lines up how it should and you have the tools it typically takes less than an hour to do. I'd say billing 2-2.5 hours is a fair amount for bolt on sliders for a business since it doesn't always go perfectly when you are installing a 3rd party's stuff. With some people's sliders, the fuel tank gets in the way and some places will want to drop the fuel tank to put the sliders on. That is going to prob put you around the 5 hour mark.

Just do it yourself. Use a jack to lift one side of the mounting plate up to your frame and start one bolt on that end, then use the jack to lift the other side and start a bolt on the opposite end and then you should be golden. Just had start the other bolts by hand and torque them down. Not bad. They are sliders, you aren't going to hurt them as long as you don't go stripping bolts.
 
2 hours max. I did it myself. Just laid with them on my chest and pressed them up so I could get a bolt in on one side. Then lifted the other end and put a bolt it to hold them up. Then it’s just a matter of putting the rest of the bolts in and tightening it up. Very easy to do if you have a buddy and very doable by yourself. If you don’t have tools just go buy the right socket and wrench for a few dollars. You’ll save yourself hundreds.


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besamel said:
I have a quote from a 4x4 shop in town to install rock sliders on my 4runner 2020 (kdss). They quote me 5 hours of labor which seems on the high side to me. These rock sliders don't require drilling of any new holes (that's what the manufacturer claims). I called the shop several times and they stand by these 5 hours, saying that from their experience it's what it takes to install rock sliders on cars, tidy up all cables, etc, etc.

At an hourly rate of $125, this adds up quickly. What do you folks think? Is this reasonable or not? The manufacturer said that this should take 1-2 hours only....
Click to expand...

call around different shops to get more quotes. While shopping for rear shocks I had quotes for labor from 2-6 hours. DIY took about one hour with a friend, used PB blaster on bolts couple days in a row and had no issues. We were kinda shock at how smooth the install went.


Rocker sliders is more of a DIY job, if unable to do so I'd expect 1-3 hours tops.
 
5 hours. LOL

I installed RSG sliders by myself with the truck on the ground using a jackstand and floor jack to support and balance slider. Took me probably 1.5 hours

Edit: What manufacturer sliders? The RSG ones have cut outs for the KDSS brackets, etc and I', 95% sure didn't change a single thing on the install between KDSS and non
 
I'd expect 2 hours to do it properly, loctite and torque the bolts to spec if the surfaces are already perfect and clean. I know My RSG's had a good amount of bolts. That is if it all goes perfect of course. KDSS may add some time, cleaning the frame surfaces can add more time and if you have steps already to remove add another 30 min.

I'd say 3hrs to give them margin. add .5 if you have steps currently.
 
what rock sliders did you get? 2-3 sounds more reasonable. if the mounting plate is flat, probably 2. if the mounting plate is L-shaped, probably 3. the passenger side goes quick (30-40 min). the driver side is a pain, especially if you have to lower the gas tank skid for an L-shaped plate. also, peek under your truck. if your KDSS lines on the driver side run inboard of the frame, it will be cake. if they are on the outboard side of the frame, it will take longer. I did it alone with 2 jack stands and an electric ratchet. took me about 2.5 hrs and about 4,892 swear words when doing the driver side.
 
chrisridebike8 said:
what rock sliders did you get? 2-3 sounds more reasonable. if the mounting plate is flat, probably 2. if the mounting plate is L-shaped, probably 3. the passenger side goes quick (30-40 min). the driver side is a pain, especially if you have to lower the gas tank skid for an L-shaped plate. also, peek under your truck. if your KDSS lines on the driver side run inboard of the frame, it will be cake. if they are on the outboard side of the frame, it will take longer. I did it alone with 2 jack stands and an electric ratchet. took me about 2.5 hrs and about 4,892 swear words when doing the driver side.
Click to expand...

I'm looking at Parkrax. I want sliders that go down a bit so they are better as a step, and sliders with some surface on them (not just tubes). The ones from Pakrax check the boxes and are $875 (but I'd be happy to consider others). Some of the other options were >$1000.
 
Metal Head said:
Me and my 9 year old son put my metal tech sliders on in less than an hour. I jut balanced them on a floor jack and had him tweak the jack position while I got all the bolts installed. No KDSS or anything in the way but I can't imagine 5 hours being reasonable in any scenario.
Click to expand...

I need a helper dang it! They better shine up the complete underside of your truck too after they finish in thirty minutes. I can fabricate, bend and weld rock sliders faster than that. For $50-$100 of tube/pipe. I will have to sweat my a$$ off though. Just sit there and watch them that may cut a few hours off.
 
Most of them will be really easy.

Some of them use welded nuts inserts that you fish though the frame, those suck and will take longer (AKA shrockworks).

Give yourself 2 to 4 hours. Shop time can vary.

Honestly, this can be done in your driveway by yourself with hand tools, a jack (optional to hold sliders in place if doing solo).
 
besamel said:
I'm looking at Parkrax. I want sliders that go down a bit so they are better as a step, and sliders with some surface on them (not just tubes). The ones from Pakrax check the boxes and are $875 (but I'd be happy to consider others). Some of the other options were >$1000.
Click to expand...

I don't know much about those and haven't dug into it but they look solid. they have a flat bracket like I was talking about so that should make install much easier. I would just save the money and do it yourself. You should be able to do it with 2 jack stands and some hand tools. It makes it easier if you wedge some extensions or something between the frame and the KDSS lines when you install the driver side.
 
besamel said:
I'm looking at Parkrax. I want sliders that go down a bit so they are better as a step, and sliders with some surface on them (not just tubes). The ones from Pakrax check the boxes and are $875 (but I'd be happy to consider others). Some of the other options were >$1000.
Click to expand...


Might want to price out other options. The page for those sliders says $265 flat rate shipping. Guess if you’re local they make sense, but they are within $80 shipped of more well known brands (to my location). If you catch an RCI sale, you could get them delivered for the price you’d be paying for the Pakrax

Edit: I just removed and touched up and then reinstalled sliders last weekend. I usually spend quite a while in the garage when I go out there so my wife was surprised when I came back in the house less than 45 minutes after telling her I was going to install the sliders
 
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