Just about to pull the trigger on ordering some sliders. Should I order the gussets for the sliders as well or will welding the sliders straight to the frame be sufficient? Just want to make one order instead of changing or making multiple.

 

Yes, get them.

 

You are going to weld a diamond shaped chunk of 1/4" to the frame first then the sliders and gussets right....if not I would strongly recomend doing it this way. I know others would agree!

 

Diamond....square... Whatever works

 

Ya both work but a diamond is easier to weld all the way around and it distributes the the weld across the frame better rather than a completly vertical weld that would be on a square.

 

gusset it

 

another vote on getting the gussets. Some people say you don't need them, but they're not expensive, so it's better not to risk it IMO.

 

figured as much. Gracias

 

I got flat stock 1/4" I think from a recycler. Plated and gasseted prior to welding to frame. Worked great.

 

Gusset them like this -o- to spread the load down the frame not vertical top and bottom which makes a point load aka can opener.

 

Damn that's good advice! I never would have thought of the point load punching a hole in the frame or tearing something up. Nice to know this before I get my own sliders welded on.

 

Hey Wab do you ever fishmouth or plate the frame? or just gusset and call it good.....

 

On my personal vehicles, plate the frame only. Never had a problem not gussetting them and they are a PITA to get to in order to weld. I've used square and diamond shapes, the idea is load distibution, not point loading. As an engineer I do not see it as a big issue for 99% of folks as long as you plate the frame and get some good even welds.

On others' vehicles, I have installed them every way imagineable as long as they pay for it.

 

I always gusset mine like this....seems if they are like this -0- there is no up and down support which is where all the forces come from...but I'm no engineer

 

maximum strength gussets.....Mine came with the 3x3 flat baseplate welded to the end of the slider tubes which I think is a good idea. But it also came with those thin tiny ornamental triangle braces welded to the top of the plate(as shown in the pic). Those didn't look like they could take the load that a Hi-Lift could impart so I used a piece of water pipe to offer maximum brace effect. It's an optical jpeg illusion that the flat welded plate appears to be caved in but it's not. ZUK

 

Personally I don't think sliders need gussetting period cause I don't ever put them on mine but the idea of gussetting IMO is about spreading out the forces over a greater distance on the frame, not supporting the slider legs on the frame. The sliders, plates, gussets aren't going to fail, the frame will.

 

Did you make that drawing yourself?

It's pretty cool

 

I did it in Photochop as my crayons are at home.

I hope I used small enough words and bright enough colors for you to understand.

 

I used vertical gussets on mine, 1" tube.

 

The black was too distracting should have been blue or something.