How many hours of labor to install rock sliders?

[Jetboy]

It doesn't take much more than 5 hours to make them. In most cases you're just aligning the holes to nuts that are already in the frame rail and putting in small bolts and then tightening the bolts. It's about 10 bolts per side total. Install by a professional shop should be 1-2 hours in most cases. They've probably never installed them on a 5th gen. Some are much more complicated than this. My 3rd gen 4Runner sliders for example were much more involved to install.

Also - Pro tip. Purple Loctite is your best friend! It's the low adhesion version. Blue is also fine for this. But I love purple because it seals the threads and keeps them from rusting and also helps keep them from backing out. I find it works better than antisieze for applications like this. You'll probably have to order on Amazon. But it's my go-to for applications like this. Worth the $7 for a bottle of it.

 

[besamel]

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

Yes, I did see that, and that shipping cost is super high. I'll try and price other brands too. Thanks for the tip.

 

[<<<<]

I did my Shrockworks DIY but it was bolt-on set-up and no drilling anything. I certainly don't make $125, so it was worth of doing it myself. It took roughly 3 hours without any help. Floor jack helps to lift and hold slider in place (those things weigh a ton if you have to lift while under the frame on the creeper).

 

[fkheath]

These rock sliders don't require drilling of any new holes (that's what the manufacturer claims)..

True. There are existing holes in the frame, already threaded, to install rock sliders. Sometimes the holes are covered with a plug, sometimes not. But the holes may have rust in them, so they must be cleaned up, possibly with a tap, then lubed well. That can take some time.

 

[vermontmike]

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....

5 hours?? That is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. So that would be like 2.5hours to torque down 6 bolts on each side. Wow

 

[TRDHULK]

Took me a little over an hour by myself with a floor jack

 

[chrisridebike8]

Took me a little over an hour by myself with a floor jack

i totally agree that a truck without KDSS should be 60-90 min. the OP has KDSS and there are hydraulic lines that run along the frame on the driver's side that make slider installs a PAIN. passenger side took me like 30-40 min. the driver said took me over 2 hours, especially because the caliraised bracket requires you to lower the gas tank skid so I was trying to line up the slider while keeping hydraulic lines away from the frame. not fun.

 

[DigitalVex]

It's not much more difficult with KDSS. I installed mine, by myself, in less than two hours by just laying on the ground. The only tools you need are a 13 mm socket, a socket wrench, and some wobbly extensions. Very easy and straightforward.

Find a shop that will do 2 hours labor. That is much more reasonable given they have a lift, etc..

 

[JsinLegacy]

Local shop here quoted me at 4 hours. I just ended up doing it myself and it took me about 2 hours on my own.

If you're dead set on having a shop do them then I would call around to a few more, maybe even some in a near by town.

 

[5thToy]

RSGs, 1.5 hours by myself.

 

[TRDHULK]

i totally agree that a truck without KDSS should be 60-90 min. the OP has KDSS and there are hydraulic lines that run along the frame on the driver's side that make slider installs a PAIN. passenger side took me like 30-40 min. the driver said took me over 2 hours, especially because the caliraised bracket requires you to lower the gas tank skid so I was trying to line up the slider while keeping hydraulic lines away from the frame. not fun.

Gotchya. had no idea

 

[GT0neX]

I took about about 2 hours as well w/ my 8yo daughter helping me. It was a fun project for us. I spent a little bit of time cleaning the underside.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[5thToy]

for 90% it's a DYI install.

If for whatever reason you are unwilling or unable to do it yourself and you are bringing in your own parts (installer isn't making anything off parts) you can expect to have additional time added to your quote. It's a matter of opportunity cost. Their installers could be spending the same time doing a job where they increase revenue and profit sourcing materials.

It's just the way things work. I'm in custom manufacturing and our margin requirements are higher on consigned material projects. Additionally, there are often unknown issues with customer-provided parts and the installer has to factor that in.

 

[1jzgte]

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.

but its another 275 for fedex freight.. so now youre past 1000

 

[17KT4R]

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....

I had mine shipped to my local off road shop from Greenlane. 3hr charge for me (KDSS specific sliders), that included putting the vehicle on and off the hoist… Unpacking everything etc. I watched, something I could’ve done myself too I’m certain but I live in a condo complex.

So yeah I think 3hrs would be more fair.

 

[Captain Spalding]

besamel, you don’t need to take this job to a specialist off-road shop. Any gas station mechanic can do this. Just ask around.

 

[besamel]

besamel, you don’t need to take this job to a specialist off-road shop. Any gas station mechanic can do this. Just ask around.

Yes, you are right. I have a general shop and I'll probably use them.

I am more or less deciding in favor of the RSG sliders; they check all my boxes....

 

[shoong]

2021 ORP w/ KDSS.

took me 3 hours by myself with a floor jack and 2 x jack stands. This was done without power tools. It is A LOT of wrenching. power tools would drop this time by 1/2.

 

[TK-422]

I also recently removed mine on a 2015 ORP with KDSS to repaint them. I used two car jacks to easily line up and install them. What took the most time was the bolt on the top of the KDDS system.

The Demello sliders have a cutout for the KDDS hydraulics but still fits between the rails and the pumps.

I spent so much time turning that one bolt 1/16 of a turn over and over with an open end wrench since there is no room to do it any other way.

It wasn't the end of the world, just a PITA.

I realize the OP does not want to do it himself but it might just be a way to learn about your vehicle.

The Demello sliders are open but with grip tape make a very nice step.

 

[johnbt]

How can it take more than an hour or two?

I just took delivery of a '23 ORP w/KDSS that came from the distributor with nfab's Predator running boards/steps. (And the old black Pro wheels, and a bunch of tacked on stuff thanks to the distributor for Virginia. At least it didn't come with the mandatory blackout letters, cargo cover, charging cords and various other junk. But I digress.)

I wanted the same running boards that came on my '16 Trail Prem - the ones with the pattern that matches the black cover on the rear bumper.

For taking the Predators off and putting on 6 new brackets, installing the full-length metal plates and then the plastic running board covers with the pattern that you see...

They charged me for 2 hours labor for a more complicated install.

They deducted the price of the Predators - $665 - from the cost of the deal and they had also deducted the price of the bug shield. Yay.

Oh, and they removed the bug shield for free.

LAUGH OF THE DAY.

When I went back to pick it up THE PREDATOR BOARDS AND THE BUG SHIELD WERE IN THE BACK. I said, "What's this?"

They said, "We don't want them, go sell them."