[TWX]

I'm still debating what rocker protection to go with, and was watching videos on Youtube to try to get a feel for how they get used in various terrain. Found a video of a Ram Powerwagon that was specially-equipped with White Knuckles to demonstrate their need but all I saw was a truck that was mildly scraping them because they hung down lower than the body, not because the body would have contacted the rocks on the trail they chose. Honestly turned me a bit off from getting them.

So to be fair, the 2nd generation Frontier is a different truck than that Ram, and it would make sense to find out how other people have used their rocker protection and in what circumstances, and to hear if one choice was better or worse than another. It looks like the Rocky Road ones offer the most clearance, but bolting to the body they offer the least protection.

How do your sliders fare? Do you find them actually helping, and if yes, in what circumstances? Would you rather have different products than the ones you went with? How much clearance is lost?

Further complicating it I have a long wheelbase, so there are fewer choices than for the shorter wheelbase trucks.

 

[The other Sean]

Stop over thinking it. The sliders will hang no lower than the bottoms of your frame rails. That scraping sound you hear is the sound of your rocker panels NOT being damaged. Pick the ones you think look best and then don't be afraid to use your truck.

 

[Keman]

I had a set of sliders tucked up on my 05 Jeep TJ, every time I repainted them I thought about how much damage I would be repairing if I did not have them.

 

[JeniorNV]

all I saw was a truck that was mildly scraping them because they hung down lower than the body, not because the body would have contacted the rocks on the trail they chose. Honestly turned me a bit off from getting them.

But what if the rocks had been a little taller?

How do your sliders fare? Do you find them actually helping, and if yes, in what circumstances? Would you rather have different products than the ones you went with? How much clearance is lost?

Absolutely, they help! My truck sees some heavy off road use and and the sliders have saved me from body damage more times than I can count (probably hundreds). I’ve used them to slide over rocks and around rocks, and on more than one occasion I’ve had the truck slip off a rock and land hard on a slider. Aside from scratching the paint, they fare just fine. Mine are custom, but you’ll get similar protection with bolt on sliders from any of the well known manufacturers.

Even if your truck is not used as heavily as mine, they are cheap insurance. Nobody is a perfect driver and you are putting your truck at risk every time you take it off road. Rocks shift under tires, trails change from year to year, and turning around is not always an easy option. Armor will also give you some additional confidence - if you think you can clear an obstacle but aren’t entirely sure, you’ll attempt it anyway.

Stop worrying about how much clearance you’ll lose. The benefits greatly outweigh the disadvantages in this case.

 

[Nissan4Life]

When I built my sliders I notched my pinch weld so that I could tuck them up higher. I will be switching to some shrock works sliders soon. These will stick out and hang lower. Hope I do not run into issue.

 

[MNCarl]

I thought White knuckle was the only manufacturer that makes rock sliders for crew cab long beds.
Nissan Frontier Rock Sliders
Maybe there some others ?
Does RockyRoad make Frontier Crew Cab Long Bed rock sliders? I could not find that option on there website...maybe they can do a "one off" for a CCLB ?

My rock sliders get scrapped and gouged out on the trail , I then touch them up with some special paint (Chassis Saver / Paint Over Rust to Stop Rust Permanently With Chassis Saver Truck & Auto Underbody Coating) and then I as soon as I can, I go out and have some more fun on the trails.

Edit..
Added some pics.....because who doesnt like pics?

 

[5280Chris]

Hefty Fabworks makes CCLB sliders.

Store - Hefty Fabworks

They do hang lower, but knowing they are there is huge when driving off road. A LWB truck would benefit even more from that protection in my opinion.

 

[mtyler11]

I'm still debating what rocker protection to go with, and was watching videos on Youtube to try to get a feel for how they get used in various terrain. Found a video of a Ram Powerwagon that was specially-equipped with White Knuckles to demonstrate their need but all I saw was a truck that was mildly scraping them because they hung down lower than the body, not because the body would have contacted the rocks on the trail they chose. Honestly turned me a bit off from getting them.

So to be fair, the 2nd generation Frontier is a different truck than that Ram, and it would make sense to find out how other people have used their rocker protection and in what circumstances, and to hear if one choice was better or worse than another. It looks like the Rocky Road ones offer the most clearance, but bolting to the body they offer the least protection.

How do your sliders fare? Do you find them actually helping, and if yes, in what circumstances? Would you rather have different products than the ones you went with? How much clearance is lost?

Further complicating it I have a long wheelbase, so there are fewer choices than for the shorter wheelbase trucks.

If you intend to off-road, you will want sliders. It'll happen at some point, it all depends on if you do it before or after you mangle your rockers.

I have a set of White Knuckle and love them. They are heavily rashed. They tuck up almost as tight as the body-mounted style (I've seen 1 or 2 mfrs offer them) and they are TONS more protective. When I scrape it's a coin toss if what I'm hearing is slider scrape or frame scrape, but I don't worry because I have sliders. There have been times I slid a tire off an obstacle and came down pretty hard on the slider, enough that I winced a bit. If that had been mounted to teh body instead of frame, teh rocker (and door seal with it) would have bent. Friend of mine that runs Cherokees did a body-mounted slider once and ONLY once. Every time he went in the woods, he had to have a friend drive up onto his driver's slider to force it back down into place so the door could open.

If you go with WKOR, spring for the DOM. Also consider getting the diamond plate tred. It'll block gravel kicked up from the front wheel and more importantly, in the winter you won't have an inverted snow-sicle that gets your pant leg dirty/wet every time you get in & out.

And no matter what you get, pick up some grip tape/stair tread tape-stickers from Home Depot to affix to the top of the bar along the entire rail/step. First time you have to use your rail as a step and its rainy/snowy you'll thank me... Painting them with bedliner is a close second.

 

[TWX]

Thanks guys. Back in 2000 or so I put the first dent in my parents' new '99 Chevy Tracker when I went four wheeling, came down on a rock and left a 4" long crease that wasn't visible without getting underneath, but still bugged me. Probably bugged me more than them come to think of it. That Tracker was a four door but was still an incredibly short wheelbase so that's why I'm thinking something like this truck would benefit.

I've actually got some lengths of diamond-plate that's just the thinnest of veneers, a nearby Costco had a metal pile and the employee adding to it said to take if I wanted, if not he had to call and pay someone to haul it off. Looks like these pieces were used to cover the concrete curb where the carts could scrape along in storage. I've got enough to put on the top surfaces of the rear bumper that I will someday get plus on top of rockers, if I went with rockers that needed it.

I'm tempted to put a white coating on them. I'm in the desert southwest and with the temps it's nice to not brush against black-coated metal with one's leg. Probably going to do the same color for the bumper(s) if I ever do them. I have a friend in the powdercoating business so he can probably hook me up for a decent enough price.

Looking at the two fabricators that make them, Hefty's product is about $250 more expensive for bare metal but claims to be a no-drill installation, while White Knuckle's require drilling the frame in a few places. Between the possibility that they heat-treat it at manufacture plus those videos of Navaras breaking in half at the split between the cab and bed I'm really not too keen on drilling into the frame or welding to it. Wish there was less issues with waiting and lead-time for Hefty's parts.

 

[Wintermute]

Looking at the two fabricators that make them, Hefty's product is about $250 more expensive for bare metal but claims to be a no-drill installation, while White Knuckle's require drilling the frame in a few places. Between the possibility that they heat-treat it at manufacture plus those videos of Navaras breaking in half at the split between the cab and bed I'm really not too keen on drilling into the frame or welding to it. Wish there was less issues with waiting and lead-time for Hefty's parts.

Worth noting that the White Knuckle sliders don't require drilling for installation. They only require drilling for "full strength". I ordered sliders for White Knuckle, but they aren't ready yet. I'm planning to bolt them on first and then make a determination about how much strength I think the extra bolts will add.

Got a link to those videos? Never seen em.

 

[TWX]

Worth noting that the White Knuckle sliders don't require drilling for installation. They only require drilling for "full strength". I ordered sliders for White Knuckle, but they aren't ready yet. I'm planning to bolt them on first and then make a determination about how much strength I think the extra bolts will add.

Got a link to those videos? Never seen em.

This was the White Knuckle review that didn't seem to really do it despite the ominous music and assertive presenter:

White Knuckle Products as reviewed by AVR on a Ram Powerwagon


This was another video that was much more informative. Small shop, not a Nissan vehicle, but seemed to actually test how these kinds of devices work and more importantly, how they wear or fail:

4x Innovations Rock Slider Drop Test - HREW vs. DOM vs. Square Tube


This video showed another application, but the Xterra is so much shorter than the CC LWB Frontier that I doubt my truck could make this turn even with such sliders:

Rock slider bending on rock

 

[bhowdy]

As JeniorNV said .... My sliders have saved my rockers many many times. Mine were made by a local fabricator and are welded to the frame. I paid $220.00 for my sliders and had them in a couple of weeks using the local source. They imitate the White Knuckle look, except I want mine straight out instead of slanted upwards.
I would not recommend having them powder coated unless you do not get into (or plan to get into) much rocky terrain ..... if you use them like I do powder coating is a waste of money as you will be repainting them often to cover the scrapes and stop any rust from forming.

A long time ago when the sliders were brand new

Simple stair step ledge .... on the sliders!