Question for folks with Rock Rails.

[joegrasse]

I didn't have any broken bolts but did hear a couple pops that freaked me out a bit. I used a 24" breaker bar and went slow and steady. It was Nov last year so the temps where about 50 degrees and I did not heat them up beforehand. I have seen many peeps just throw a impact on them and go but at the time there were a bunch of broken bolt stories circulating so I wasn't comfortable with ripping them out with an impact.

The brackets were a PITA to put on since the threads on the bolts only allow the washer to move so much. So you can pound them on or you can take a dremel and grind off a couple of threads to make them slide right in. Pounding them on would most likely strip the powder coating off and so you could see some rust on them earlier than need be.

I feel I need to express that they are not the rock sliders to end all rock sliders. What I mean by that is you can find frame mounted rock sliders that would be stronger for when slamming down on rocks etc. These are going to be strong and can take a beating but with enough force they can be dented/pushed up. So if you are a hardcore wheeler and plan on bashing on rocks all day, I would buy the extra skid plates that they offer or look at something that is made for that type of wheeling. There is no doubt they can take some abuse but they are step sliders with electric motors so if you want them to last a few years it might be best to not abuse them too much.

Thanks again for your reply.

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[Grateful1]

Does anyone know if the Mopar side steps can be installed over the Mopar rock rails?

 

[Lizzy]

Does anyone know if the Mopar side steps can be installed over the Mopar rock rails?

I have a 2018 Rubicon and my wife has a 2019 Sting-Grey Rubicon and when I made the purchases I made sure they included the running boards with them.Up here we have a lot of gravel roads and the rock rails just didn't cut it. I also had to install custom mud flaps as there were none available for the Rubicons up here.The rock rails had to be removed to install the running boards.

 

[Lizzy]

I have a 2018 Rubicon and my wife has a 2019 Sting-Grey Rubicon and when I made the purchases I made sure they included the running boards with them.Up here we have a lot of gravel roads and the rock rails just didn't cut it. I also had to install custom mud flaps as there were none available for the Rubicons up here.The rock rails had to be removed to install the running boards.[/QUOTEThis is an old picture as the running boards were installed when they came into the dealership.]

 

[thecritter]

Anyone used these rock sliders/steps.

https://rockslideengineering.com/product/step-slider-set-for-jeep-wrangler-jl-4dr/

Yes and love them they are $$ but worth it. Mine have seen a few rocks, no doubt they could take more than I am willing to risk lol.

 

[Grateful1]

I have a 2018 Rubicon and my wife has a 2019 Sting-Grey Rubicon and when I made the purchases I made sure they included the running boards with them.Up here we have a lot of gravel roads and the rock rails just didn't cut it. I also had to install custom mud flaps as there were none available for the Rubicons up here.The rock rails had to be removed to install the running boards.

Well, damn. I have the ‘18 JLU Sahara with side steps. Want to install the rock rails for added protection. That is a no go now. I was still planning on getting mud flaps. I have always liked them. To me flaps complete the look of the vehicles I drive. They are not for everyone.

 

[sam0329]

frame-mounted Smittybilts + RokBlokz mud flaps.

 

[word302]

frame-mounted Smittybilts + RokBlokz mud flaps.

Does that lower bar hang down as low as it looks?

 

[Wabujitsu]

Does that lower bar hang down as low as it looks?

Not answering for Sam, but I have the same rails. The lower rail is no lower than the frame; it looks even to me, which makes me conclude there is no loss of clearance.

 

[word302]

Not answering for Sam, but I have the same rails. The lower rail is no lower than the frame; it looks even to me, which makes me conclude there is no loss of clearance.

Well sure there's a loss of clearance, just in a different place.

 

[Jennalee]

Does anyone know if the Mopar side steps can be installed over the Mopar rock rails?

I got the Mopar side steps. They removed my rock rails. Unless they’re way underneath the Jeep and I can’t see them.

 

[Jennalee]

OP, did you order your Willys?

 

[sam0329]

Does that lower bar hang down as low as it looks?

Sorry guys just got home lol. It doesn't hang down that low like what the other member said. Just about the same as the bottom frame.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Well sure there's a loss of clearance, just in a different place.

I’ve heard that from others, but cannot wrap my mind around it, as I don’t do rock climbing in Florida. If it’s no lower than the frame, how does it lessen the clearance of the vehicle?

 

[word302]

I’ve heard that from others, but cannot wrap my mind around it, as I don’t do rock climbing in Florida. If it’s no lower than the frame, how does it lessen the clearance of the vehicle?

Unless you're climbing an obstacle that's 8 feet across and flat then you're losing clearance. You could be crawling through rocks where the biggest rock is outside the frame but gets hung up on those rails. That would be a loss of clearance.

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