what to do for rocker protection

[goober]

ok i want to keep the weight down as much as possible but still run skid plates..  i have a tank skid, full belly skid, diff caps, shrock front and rear bumpers, and the rro rocker skids, but the rro skids dont work with the yj plates.  should i just leave them off and what ever happens to the rockers happens,  or should i make a rocker protection so they dont get to banged up.  it will be for trail only with minimal driving on the road.

[Tusker]

I would run good rocker protection of some kind.  If you tear up the rockers vary much, you will have permanent problems getting the doors to close.  I have seen unprotected Sami rockers get unbelievably tatored from one hard hit on the rocks.  They are very flimsy.

[goober]

think angle iron would be enough for some protection..? 

[zucruisers]

mine has angle iron on it...i think it 3x5, 1/4" thick...i bolted it on through the rockers then made supports to the frame w/ some smaller angle...they've taken some very hard hits and are still perfectly fine

i think using a piece of 2x4 tubing, 1/8 or 1/4" thick, cutting it into two pieces long ways to make angle pieces would work nice...the rounded corner of it would look better than normal angle iron...just a thought

[goober]

mine has angle iron on it...i think it 3x5, 1/4" thick...i bolted it on through the rockers then made supports to the frame w/ some smaller angle...they've taken some very hard hits and are still perfectly fine

i think using a piece of 2x4 tubing, 1/8 or 1/4" thick, cutting it into two pieces long ways to make angle pieces would work nice...the rounded corner of it would look better than normal angle iron...just a thought

sweet, i'll haveta look into that..  i have a metal place about 1/4 mile from my garage. 

[jerseyzuks]

I love the way my brother's turned out.  We purchased a sheet of pretty thick diamond plate & took it to a sheet metal shop with our measurements.  We had them cut it, then bend it into an L for each side. 

Looks like it came stock on the zuk...



I have seen him land really hard on them, and they didn't even dent.  The length of them distributes the impact very evenly, and the L make them very rigid.

[Freebird01]

yea them curbs are torture on a rocker panel...

[goober]

yea them curbs are torture on a rocker panel...

lol,  that would be making fun of me too.   

[jerseyzuks]

yea them curbs are torture on a rocker panel...

Can't make fun of him too much, he followed you through Paragon (and he stayed shiny side up ) 

[Rock Raptor]

I went with 2x2 1/4" angle bolted through the rocker, then fabbed 1/2" square tubing to add the step/slider.  I filled the void along the stop with 1" strap to cover up where I had removed the origional sill bracket.  The rocker lip on the bottom will have to be flattened up against the rocker for this design to work but it's not hard with a 4lb short handle hammer.
It adds allot of strength to the rocker and I did not add any metal to tie it in to the frame, just strengthend the structure that was already there.
I have bashed them hard and have yet to do any more than take the paint off.

[Freebird01]

Can't make fun of him too much, he followed you through Paragon (and he stayed shiny side up ) 

I did stay shiney side up.....lisa went turtle...

if you remember i made a pretty good run at sherbert rocks before we went over....

it was more directed at goober.....i cant knock mark too much after being my chauffer for a day!!

[goober]

blah blah blah,  make fun all you want.   but  i am almost done collecting my arsenal of parts.   

[Freebird01]

blah blah blah,  make fun all you want.   but  i am almost done collecting my arsenal of parts.   

HA...ive heard that before...

[goober]

perhaps,  but this time i mean it.   

[DirtJumper]

HA...ive heard that before...

I think a lot of us have even said it before

[hargraves]

i really like the shrock sliders they worked great with my trail tough yj kit.
I have beat them to death and have yet to dent them. He makes some really good armor.

[ba.gone]

This is what I did. I had a piece bent, and used square tubing  for a step. Bolted it through the rocker and to the frame. I can put a jackal and lift one side up.

[goober]

shrockworks does make really great stuff, however i think paying all that much $ for rocker guards is outrageous.  i can get some angle iron much much cheaper.   

[MaineZuke]

I cut mine out and welded in some 3x4 box tube. a bit heavier, but it's stout.

check out what Chris from Trail gear made - that'd probably be lighter.

[nose]

ok i want to keep the weight down as much as possible but still run skid plates..  i have a tank skid, full belly skid, diff caps, shrock front and rear bumpers, and the rro rocker skids, but the rro skids dont work with the yj plates.  should i just leave them off and what ever happens to the rockers happens,  or should i make a rocker protection so they dont get to banged up.  it will be for trail only with minimal driving on the road.

Hi Goober,

I would not run without rocker panel protection. I do not like the 1/4" angle iron rocker skids as they are heavy (never the less I had to build a set just to not use them...). Maybe that is an inspiration for you: I cut the rockers out and welded 1/8" sheet metal in instead; the whole design uses five brackets within the rocker to stiffen it.

Here is a link showing the evolution my rockers went through:
http://www.twistedintentions.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=821&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=bb1e69aaf0fe5adabf7bd4e147b32cb1

Best regards,

Norbert

[goober]

nose.  i really like that idea, how have the rockers held up in the rocks, and bashing them off of obsticles?

[Mr_DIY]

I like the 1.5" square stuff... weld some legs to the frame and you are done.  be sure to plate the frame for impact distribution... or use round tube/pipe.... whatever is easier for you    Mine are marlin crawler sliders I got for $100 + s/h

[nose]

nose.  i really like that idea, how have the rockers held up in the rocks, and bashing them off of obstacles?

Hi Goober,

the reason I went for new rockers was a Tellico trip. My stock rocker panels were partly cut open from underneath; no damage to the door opening though. Which is why the new design entails 5 gussets that strengthen the rocker a lot; see attached pics.

Since building the new rockers I have not hit Tellico again.
However, the new rockers held up fine in all other trips and are holding up really well. I hope to go to Tellico soon (maybe Thursday?) and put them to a severe test.

In addition to the added strength I think they add ground clearance when leaning sideways while sliding over rocks. I guess I have hit less obstacles with the angled rocker panel compared to the square rocker panel.

Best regards,

Norbert

[Mr_DIY]

nice fab'n nose. 

[Tusker]

Here is what I did.  I used 1x2 box tubing.  Stealthy, but they work surprisingly well.  I can't tell you how many times I have thought, "...there went my rocker panels..." and got out to find no damage. 

[Mr_DIY]

clean work as usual Tusker.. nice

[goober]

my problem is i cant take the rocker guard to the spring hangers.  the yj plates are in the way.. thats why i can not use the rro rails anymore. also im not sure where i can take them to the frame since i have a full belly skid from trail tough. i am either just gonna go the same route nose went or something of the like.