Opinions - GreenLane Offroad Sliders/Aluminum Armor

[KNorm92]

Pretty pumped...just ordered a set of GreenLane aluminum sliders. I know a lot of you will most likely scoff at this because aluminum is not great for rock crawling and it can't really be used with a high lift jack. Hoping to hear from people who have put aluminum on their Runners and their input on this.

There are 3 main reasons I made this purchase:

1. Here in MN there aren't many rocky trails for me to do bada$$ off-roading.
This means not much of a need to worry about smashing my frame unless I'm really being dumb.

2. Our winters are brutal. I would much rather put 100% steel armor on for all the mods I'm doing - I also just bought a Pelfreybilt aluminum front bumper from the BAMF auction and plan to add a rear bumper this summer. Unfortunately, steel will rust overnight with all the road salt and moisture - I do not care to sandblast and powdercoat every single spring (nor do I want to pay for that).

3. I put an ICON stage 2 lift on this fall. My lady friend is short (5'3") and my parents are getting older. All 3 of them have a hard time getting into my Runner when they ride with me so these will mainly be used as a step. They will still help protect my frame as well as protect my doors from idiots in parking lots.

Who has had experience with aluminum armor?? Curious to know your thoughts and hoping I made the right choice...seems to be the best option for me personally.

Cheers,
NS

 

[mteolus]

Are you sure you can use a Hi Lift with it?

All my skid plates are aluminum for weight reasons but i didn't put on aluminum sliders because at the time I didn't know they existed. But if they can't be used with a Hi Lift then that would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[rageandlove]

I ordered a set about a week ago for a lot of the same reasons.

They are incredibly responsive to questions (really impressive) so if high-lift is a thing, I'd just reach out and ask.

 

[jwkilgore]

Pretty pumped...just ordered a set of GreenLane aluminum sliders. I know a lot of you will most likely scoff at this because aluminum is not great for rock crawling and it can't really be used with a high lift jack. Hoping to hear from people who have put aluminum on their Runners and their input on this.

If they can't be used with a hi-lift, can they really be called sliders? Sliders should be designed to support half the weight of the vehicle on a single point, whether that's a rock, a stump, or hi-lift. If it can't do that then it's just a set of running boards. :shrug:

 

[KNorm92]

If they can't be used with a hi-lift, can they really be called sliders? Sliders should be designed to support half the weight of the vehicle on a single point, whether that's a rock, a stump, or hi-lift. If it can't do that then it's just a set of running boards. :shrug:

They can be used with a hi-lift jack but repeated use is not recommended as aluminum is not as rigid as steel and will flex. Yes - they are more running board-esque but like I said, not a boat load of trails to go nuts on here. Main function is a step and the added protection is a major plus.

 

[KNorm92]

I ordered a set about a week ago for a lot of the same reasons.

They are incredibly responsive to questions (really impressive) so if high-lift is a thing, I'd just reach out and ask.

I reached out and they were super fast to get back. It's definitely possible but they said repeated use would not be good. I've got a suitable bottle jack for tire changing.

I truly wish I could put steel on but I know a few people in Minnesota that have put on steel bumpers/sliders, etc. & they have rusted so fast. Hell, when I installed my roof rack, the holes for the hardware rusted withing 3 days...and that was in July.

 

[MAST4R]

Pretty pumped...just ordered a set of GreenLane aluminum sliders. I know a lot of you will most likely scoff at this because aluminum is not great for rock crawling and it can't really be used with a high lift jack. Hoping to hear from people who have put aluminum on their Runners and their input on this.

There are 3 main reasons I made this purchase:

1. Here in MN there aren't many rocky trails for me to do bada$$ off-roading.
This means not much of a need to worry about smashing my frame unless I'm really being dumb.

2. Our winters are brutal. I would much rather put 100% steel armor on for all the mods I'm doing - I also just bought a Pelfreybilt aluminum front bumper from the BAMF auction and plan to add a rear bumper this summer. Unfortunately, steel will rust overnight with all the road salt and moisture - I do not care to sandblast and powdercoat every single spring (nor do I want to pay for that).

3. I put an ICON stage 2 lift on this fall. My lady friend is short (5'3") and my parents are getting older. All 3 of them have a hard time getting into my Runner when they ride with me so these will mainly be used as a step. They will still help protect my frame as well as protect my doors from idiots in parking lots.

Who has had experience with aluminum armor?? Curious to know your thoughts and hoping I made the right choice...seems to be the best option for me personally.

Cheers,
NS

I have steel for the SW, but I understand your reasoning.

In those areas you may find side protection against trees much more important than rock protection underneath. Rust is totally an issue there and you sure want a step for your family so aluminum sliders for that use totally makes sense to me.

In fact, I like them as a side protection primarily myself. I am still ambivalent about their usefulness to me as under rocker protection because they are not the rock solid protection without downsides that people like to think they are. The body flexes against the frame and sliders eat a lot of ground clearance so it is possible to have damage caused by the very "rock solid steel" sliders one puts for protection on a spot where the same vehicle without sliders would not even touch.

 

[WAT4R]

1. Here in MN there aren't many rocky trails for me to do bada$$ off-roading.
This means not much of a need to worry about smashing my frame unless I'm really being dumb.

I think sliders are primarily intended to protect the body (rocker panel, lower doors) from smashing into rocks and obstacles while at the same time enable the vehicle to "slide" past and over rocks and other obstacles they come in contact with. Not protect the frame.

I don't intend to use mine either but you never know the sort of situation you may find yourself in... and sometimes really being dumb is an accident, not an intention. We've all been there.

 

[KNorm92]

I have steel for the SW, but I understand your reasoning.

In those areas you may find side protection against trees much more important than rock protection underneath. Rust is totally an issue there and you sure want a step for your family so aluminum sliders for that use totally makes sense to me.

In fact, I like them as a side protection primarily myself. I am still ambivalent about their usefulness to me as under rocker protection because they are not the rock solid protection without downsides that people like to think they are. The body flexes against the frame and sliders eat a lot of ground clearance so it is possible to have damage caused by the very "rock solid steel" sliders one puts for protection on a spot where the same vehicle without sliders would not even touch.

Totally agree. Luckily, my clearance is pretty darn solid right now and my front COs can be cranked way up still. I spent $1,023 USD for these things (powder coating and shipping included). I anticipate they will have the living daylights beat out of them. I love my Runner without them - so who knows...maybe I'll hate them and sell them right away. It's worth it to make sure my precious cargo can get in and I do a lot of city driving (parking) so if it can save one major door ding, it's already a great investment.

**I'll leave the story of when I parked in my parent's driveway during a work trip and my dad slipping with a shovel for another day** It wasn't pretty.

 

[KNorm92]

I think sliders are primarily intended to protect the body (rocker panel, lower doors) from smashing into rocks and obstacles while at the same time enable the vehicle to "slide" past and over rocks and other obstacles they come in contact with. Not protect the frame.

I don't intend to use mine either but you never know the sort of situation you may find yourself in... and sometimes really being dumb is an accident, not an intention. We've all been there.

Rocker panels and lower doors are definitely the most important areas they protect, but that can certainly help in preventing rocks from coming in contact with the good stuff underneath.

Do you have aluminum sliders?? If so, how do you like them?

 

[bigair96]

They can be used with a hi-lift jack but repeated use is not recommended as aluminum is not as rigid as steel and will flex. Yes - they are more running board-esque but like I said, not a boat load of trails to go nuts on here. Main function is a step and the added protection is a major plus.

I emailed them about the hi lift and they recommend not using them for that.

 

[WAT4R]

Rocker panels and lower doors are definitely the most important areas they protect, but that can certainly help in preventing rocks from coming in contact with the good stuff underneath.

Do you have aluminum sliders?? If so, how do you like them?

No, steel. Post pics when you get them installed.

 

[Charlievee]

Meh, not a fan of the tree logo or any logo for that matter.

 

[KNorm92]

No, steel. Post pics when you get them installed.

Will do man! It'll be mid to late March depending on how fast GLO coats/ships them and how the weather is. Low-20s are the high for the first week of next month. 45 degrees and I'll be putting them on in a T-shirt though.

 

[KNorm92]

Meh, not a fan of the tree logo or any logo for that matter.

That sounds sort of limiting given what's out there... I dig supporting small businesses and it's nice when it aligns with your hobbies - especially in this community. But hey, everyone has their own preferences down the the minute details.

Just glad we have a place to discuss our opinions.

:cheer2:

 

[aelarson]

Totally agree. Luckily, my clearance is pretty darn solid right now and my front COs can be cranked way up still. I spent $1,023 USD for these things (powder coating and shipping included). I anticipate they will have the living daylights beat out of them. I love my Runner without them - so who knows...maybe I'll hate them and sell them right away. It's worth it to make sure my precious cargo can get in and I do a lot of city driving (parking) so if it can save one major door ding, it's already a great investment.

**I'll leave the story of when I parked in my parent's driveway during a work trip and my dad slipping with a shovel for another day** It wasn't pretty.

If you do hate them...I will certainly take them! :rapture:

 

[KNorm92]

If you do hate them...I will certainly take them! :rapture:

I have a feeling we'll be twinning soon.

 

[rageandlove]

I just received mine. The sliders were shipped by UPS who damaged them.

 

[zzdocxx]

What exactly is the weight on these ?

 

[RustyAb]

I just received mine. Even though I live in Seattle and they come from Vancouver Island, I am very disappointed in what happened. The sliders were shipped by UPS, beaten up really badly, and I had to pay duty just to receive damaged goods. Not ok in any way.

Have you filed a grievance with ups about that? I just received my front skid plate from Greenlane, and it was wrapped in foam, then cardboard, then plastic wrapped. Id say the blame is on ups for the damage in shipping for your sliders.