I'm saving up my pennies to get some custom bumpers and sliders made. Should I have the front, rear, and sliders all bolted on or welded on? I know that bolt would be more expensive and easier to remove. Weld would be less expensive and harder to remove. Which would you do? Thanks,


Noel

 

I made my bumpers bolt-on but my sliders weld-on. I figured I may want to change the bumpers in the future but the sliders are there for good.

 

My friend has seen frames get bent with welded sliders and recommended having mine bolted on since even those aren't likely to give plus a little body damage is cheaper to fix than having your frame straightened.

 

if done right there shouldn't be any difference between welded on and bolted on when it comes to frame damage. How would the bolted on be less severe on the frame? they are both rigidly fixed to it, if done correctly.

 

Weld on. No bolt holes to drill, secure, no rattling and if you need to take them off, just cut them off and grind and no one will ever know they were there, unlike trying to cover up the holes you drilled in the frame to bolt them on.

I have been around sliders or as we used to call them "rock rails" for a lot of years. I have seen frames crack from where people drilled into them, but I have never seen problems from welding sliders on. In fact, adding that piece of steel parallel to the frame can only stiffen it.

I have never seen damage from welding on sliders, nor can I recall anyone I have met who has. It's always "a friend of my cousins brother" who is credited with supposedly knowing all about why welding to the frame is bad, despite first hand evidence to the contrary.

Bolt them on if you won't be using them for their intended purpose and they are only for shopping cart protection. Weld them on if you will be setting the weight of the rig on them and want them to stay solid.

 

WHat about sliders that wrap around, so you dont have to drill into the frame? Like the ones Hanna makes. They seem to be doing a good job on LC80's which is far heavier than 4Rs.

 

I don't personally have any experience with the wrap around collars, so I can't say. One hand, it looks like a good compromise for someone who wants easy removal, but on the other hand, it looks like it has the potential to slide up and down the frame. One obvious downside is that you might need to move brake lines and other stuff from the back of the frame.

Perhaps someone with first hand knowledge of the wrap arounds will chime in.

 

My sliders are bolted on, never had them loosen or rattle. Bolts allow easy removal for re-painting or for working on the truck. I've had mine on and off a few times over the years. I also bolt on my bumpers, they have also been on and off a few times over the years. Nice thing with bolting on is you can do it yourself (assuming you don't have a home welder) in the driveway with common hand and power tools.
If desired, you can also have a bolt-ed on slider or bumper tack welded in place after bolting it on for a little added strength and security.