Smittybilt vs LOD Sliders Strength - (edited)

[Martial Fartist]

So you get what you pay for. I got it. The thing is though, some of these “cheap” companies are making quality stuff. Which one is good vs the bad is the real crap shoot and some of them come from the same factories that make the big boy stuff.

I’m looking at the Smittybilt 77634 slider/steps. I just don’t love the inflated price tag. They used to be $350… now they are over $500.
Amazon has a few sellers that look similar for under $300. I don’t plan on beating them up, I just want them to last.

Example: https://a.co/d/2nmzpP4

Anyone take a shot on these amazon brands?
How did it work out for you?

*I do love how this one appears to have photoshopped the wrong side onto the jeep. Smh

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[ah-z]

The bars themselves look fine, not pretty and low hanging. My concern is the brackets, they look very weak and thin. Probably worth saving a little more and just get it done right the first time to save damage to the rocker rail like the OEM ones do

 

[jhackathorne]

Even if you are not using them as actual sliders, they are likely to start flaking and rusting after a year or 2. You'll find others on here that have had that occur on parts ranging from bumpers to sliders and etc.

 

[Pig-Pen]

i have the westin snyper which are near identical to the smittybilt. i think just the flat platform is different. ive been abusing the hell out of mine for years with no issues at all. ive also jacked the jeep up by them. they do hang a little low though but it hasnt been an issue. really easy to install as well. and you DONT need to remove the body bolt. they will slide in around them at an angle fyi.

id be leery on those Amazon ones. not sure about those mounting brackets. do you want to be the guinea pig. they have ONE review. that person may not offroad at all. plastic will work fine if you dont hit anything lol.

i hear you on the price increase. ive seen them go for pretty cheap used. just gotta keep your eyes open. unless you want NEW and shiny, then pay new prices. they are legit though. ive seen plenty of people who have them. i believe @Maverick909 has the smittybilt version and he does not baby his rig. ive seen them on plenty of others as well.

or you can roll the dice with the imitation amazon version....worst case you waste a couple of hundred bucks and then have to spend $500 on the SBs lol.

 

[Pig-Pen]

oh hey.....look what a quick google search found on sale...

https://www.extremeterrain.com/smittybilt-src-side-step-bars-2018-jl-4-door.html?utm_content=XTExterior-SideSteps|Smittybilt&T5_Var4=J126725-JL&intl=0&utm_campaign=XTW+Wrangler+Brands+&+Vehicle+Low+LTVMiddle&dialogtech=ppc&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&T5_Var2=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhLD0wubMhQMVvQKtBh2CTwdLEAQYCCABEgKKk_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

oh wait, $200 oversized shipping fee?! F that lol

 

[Pig-Pen]

here's the Westins i have. you'll note the similarities. not sure about this seller but the price is good
https://www.amazon.com/Westin-42-6025-Textured-Wrangler-Unlimited/dp/B07B785PYQ

hit up Marcus @River City Offroad to see if he carries either of them. he gives nice deals.

 

[Maverick909]

So you get what you pay for. I got it. The thing is though, some of these “cheap” companies are making quality stuff. Which one is good vs the bad is the real crap shoot and some of them come from the same factories that make the big boy stuff.

I’m looking at the Smittybilt 77634 slider/steps. I just don’t love the inflated price tag. They used to be $350… now they are over $500.
Amazon has a few sellers that look similar for under $300. I don’t plan on beating them up, I just want them to last.

Example: https://a.co/d/2nmzpP4

Anyone take a shot on these amazon brands?
How did it work out for you?

*I do love how this one appears to have photoshopped the wrong side onto the jeep. Smh

I’ll be up front. I had the smittybilt step sliders.if you don’t plan to wheel harder than easy trails they’re great. They hang low and push rocks from the body nicely. But beware you get what you pay for. I now have to large dents under my front driver and Front passenger door sills from coming down a little harder than I normally have in the past.. if you remotely plan to get into anything harder than mall crawling and easy fire roads than I would 100% save for a few months and get a better setup. I change my sliders to L.O.D sliders and at a hefty price but I have much more confidence in these LOD step sliders than the smittybilt ones. As for the Amazon ones you have pictured those mounts look extremely weak even compared to the smittybilt units. Note that the smittybilt only bolt around the body bolts with a couple of smaller 3/8” bolts z where as my LOD sliders now bolt up with the same six as the smittybilt plus 6 frame bolts. Which actually keeps it from hitting the door sills

here’s a picture of the driver door sill

the second picture marking out a few of the frame bolts on the LOD sliders that the smitybilts didn’t have that caused it

also a third Picture of the smittybilt bend from the rock that punched the whole step into the door sill

thanks @Pig-Pen for the tag hopefully my experience helps with the Op’s decision

 

[Red19]

These look similar and are from a reputable brand- https://www.extremeterrain.com/redrock-4x4-side-armor-w-step-pads-textured-black-2018-jl-4-door.html

 

[Martial Fartist]

I’ll be up front. I had the smittybilt step sliders.if you don’t plan to wheel harder than easy trails they’re great. They hang low and push rocks from the body nicely. But beware you get what you pay for. I now have to large dents under my front driver and Front passenger door sills from coming down a little harder than I normally have in the past.. if you remotely plan to get into anything harder than mall crawling and easy fire roads than I would 100% save for a few months and get a better setup. I change my sliders to L.O.D sliders and at a hefty price but I have much more confidence in these LOD step sliders than the smittybilt ones. As for the Amazon ones you have pictured those mounts look extremely weak even compared to the smittybilt units. Note that the smittybilt only bolt around the body bolts with a couple of smaller 3/8” bolts z where as my LOD sliders now bolt up with the same six as the smittybilt plus 6 frame bolts. Which actually keeps it from hitting the door sills

here’s a picture of the driver door sill

the second picture marking out a few of the frame bolts on the LOD sliders that the smitybilts didn’t have that caused it

also a third Picture of the smittybilt bend from the rock that punched the whole step into the door sill

thanks @Pig-Pen for the tag hopefully my experience helps with the Op’s decision

Do you think the stock Rubi rails would have caused the same damage or would they have handled it better than the smitty? How low do the smittybily sit? Doesn’t appear any lower than the frame itself?



Also @Red19 looks like the Amazon and the steps in the link you sent hang really low. You can see the pinch weld a lot. From the best I can tell the smittybilt sit almost as high as the Rubi rails, just out further. Am I looking at them right?

I’ve got some thinking to do.
Much appreciated

 

[Maverick909]

Do you think the stock Rubi rails would have caused the same damage or would they have handled it better than the smitty? No , I believe the factory rubi rail would have hit as well with how hard it came down unexpectedly .
How low do the smittybily sit? They sit about 1/2”-3/4” above the frame rail. I found they touched a lot when doing easy to moderate trails come paired to the new LOD sliders I have now. Doesn’t appear any lower than the frame itself?
I also want to mention that the LOD slider is a step as well
Added a picture of the gap between the door and the smittybilt steps

Also @Red19 looks like the Amazon and the steps in the link you sent hang really low. You can see the pinch weld a lot. From the best I can tell the smittybilt sit almost as high as the Rubi rails, just out further. Am I looking at them right?

I’ve got some thinking to do.
Much appreciated

 

[Martial Fartist]

Those sit about where I thought. Which is something I’m looking for. Amazon, red rock and quadratech all have sliders that sit super low and you can see the pinch seam. I like the aesthetics of the Smittybilt but not loving this story of how easy they flex. I don’t plan on any crazy crawling. I’m in Florida, not a lot of that but I don’t need a happy accident either.

Appreciate it, I’ll keep looking out there for something that looks as good as the Smittybilt.

 

[Red19]

Also @Red19 looks like the Amazon and the steps in the link you sent hang really low. You can see the pinch weld a lot. From the best I can tell the smittybilt sit almost as high as the Rubi rails, just out further. Am I looking at them right?

I’ve got some thinking to do.
Much appreciated

I don’t have any experience with them personally. I just saw them on Quadratec site.

 

[Martial Fartist]

Looking at the LOD signature, they appear to mount exactly like the Smittybilt… there are optional bolt holes but I don’t see how these help with the stability of the slider.

 

[Martial Fartist]

Do you believe the square tubing makes the lod stronger? Anyone else have the Smittybilt bend up on them?

 

[dcm80401]

Do you believe the square tubing makes the lod stronger? Anyone else have the Smittybilt bend up on them?

Are the Smittybilt sliders frame mounted?

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