Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I'm just starting my project to build some rock rails. In a few months, I'll probably be posting a request on how fix body damage. :D Anyway, I'm using 2x6 tubing for the outside rail. I've cut it to the length I want, but now I need to decide how to mount it.

I've been thinking that I'll stick it 3 INCHES off the body.

What to do guys think? Should I go to 4 inches outside? 2 inches?

Here are some photos of how it would look with 3 inch exposure.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

For some reason, having something hard stick out about 3 inches sounds right to me! Do you think you can make them strong enough to hold a parson of my girth and stature?

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Freudian Slip?

yours sticks out only 3 inches when hard?

poor nav

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Lookin good CO , slide away :giggling:




homo thinks im the goon LMFAO :beerchug:

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Looks great Alan. I think that's about perfect to keep the sid eof your rig away from a wall maybe example (going up Hell's Gate).

I'm almost afraid to ask, but how far does Dirty's rock rails stick out or Phil's for that matter?

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Looks good CO...you might want to seal the ends of those for better aerodynamics;)

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

fill with foam first so you get the floatation advantage ;)

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Of course. I'm gonna put some end caps on later.

Yeah, I'm thinking that 3" is enough. It will work both as side protection and a nice step for my shorty wife. :D

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Are you going to taper the ends into the truck?

Are you going to PC them yellow to match your shock boots?

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

No, I'm not going to taper them (may change my mind). I did angle them when I cut them to keep them from hanging up.



Not sure on the color. Black is planned, but yellow is a possibility.... :dancingbanana:

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Are you going to war?:p It's gonna look good.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I certainly would taper the ends. It would make them stonger at that point so they don't crush in.

3" out from the body should be sufficient. Find out what drty's are.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I think Drty's protude less than that.

Sweet CO! Nice job. :beerchug:

Are you attaching it via the existing mount holes? I had thought of removing the actual rail and welding a new one to the factory bracket/support arms in such a way that it would be flush with the under body. Taking in the weight and shape difference of course. Maybe a makeshift rubber 'gasket' or tubing between the rail and the body. I also like the idea tacking a thin sheet along the arms for added protection of hang ups and for additional support of the new rail.

But then again- I don't weld or fabricate- just ideas.:)

I hate to admit it but a matching yellow would look nice- provided it be done right, but scraping is inevitable. You might coat the bottom and lip with a black or spray liner. Or a 2 part apoxy.....

Hey!, you could knit some great covers and switch them according to the season.;):D:D

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Please spare your daughter. She too is innocent and should not be exposed to you drunken rage.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

CO, when I had my rockers extended that far out, I had a lot of prob with them getting hung-up in a rock-garden type of trail. I found that I had to take whole new and unfamiliar lines to fit/squeeze between boulders.

But then, I saw how well Drty and dochummer's extended rock rails did in Big Sluice in the Rubicon, and now I'm not certain if the problems I had was due to my rockers extending those far out, or just a bad wheeling day for me...

So, something you may want to think about when you fashion the mounting brackets -- would be nice if it is possible to adjust in the future as you form an opinion on how they perform.

Otherwise they look great aesthetically -- so long as you keep em sans the uber-ghey CO Hummer signatures.. :fdance:

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

You Sir, are easily enraged and a sick one :D

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

And for that you are banned NEO.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Hell yeah CO. That looks awesome. I would taper the ends as others have said. All you need to do it remove a little strip from the top, V the sides, heat er up to bend it, and weld it back together.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Looks nice. But if that is 3 inches, you should go with two. One inch narrower then what your pic shows and they would be perfect. The farther out they stick they more if a hindarance they may become in some situations.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Again buh-bye.:D

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I was originally going to cut off the existing rail mounts (the 5 u-shaped brackets) and attach them to this peice. However, they are not long enough for me reach the 2x6 and I'd need to weld in a filler. Instead, I'm going to make mounting brackets using some 2x2 1/4" square tubing with the some 1x1 1/8" supports. Who knows if it will work out. It's going to be a lot of angle cutting, but it surely won't bend like the current brackets/fins. I won't need the thin sheet for protection.



Hmmmm. With all the descenting opinions on the 3" extension, I'll probably back it off the 2.5". I'd like to keep it big enough to use a step too.

I don't really want to taper the fronts inward since I like the look the way it is. I've moved the front forward a little more that the stock rails, and I highly doubt I'd get wedged in between the rail and the tire. Gonna have to think about that one.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Ever thought of using some heavy gauge angle iron? that would look pretty decent hugging the bottom lip and it won't sacrifice your clearance.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Where? You mean along the outside of the outer rails?

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

That would look sooooo sweet. There are a couple of company's that do this for the H1. Unlimited off road used to, but I do not think they are in business any longer. http://www.h123andmore.com/guards.html . These are the rockers I want for my truck. Notice the price tag??? Yeah, thats why I do not have them. :(

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

CO, make sure you cover the ends with metal. It will add strength and keep junk out.

Talk about rent free! We own this KK.:giggling:

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Those do look well thought out. DAMN $ DAMN!

THey look to sttick ou around 3" or so also. I think that's fine. It will keep your door panels a little more away from rock...esp. when you are on a sideslope.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I concur, they are lined up nicely with the sidewall

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

3 inches is, if anything, not enough. Mine are at 5" and are angle up at 10 degrees but are round tube. I am going to come back and plate the top for steps at some point.

Having them out there making wheeling nice since you feel like you can lean on them a little more with that extra width.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

So I've made some progress....

Cut the brackets off the original rails:


Then, cut out some extensions using 2x2 1/4" box tubing:


Lined it up and tacked it all it. Hope to weld it solid tonight:

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I can't believe you really weld.:giggling:

IMO, the rails should stick out about as far as the outside of your tires, but farther than the stock rails. 3 inches looks about right. Taper the corners and have them come back toward the rear tire a little farther. (like 4 or 5 inches) I would use a little thicker tubing for more strength.
Remember that your pant leg will rub the dirt off everytime you get in and out of the door, too.

I'm not going for new rails, I'm just going to buy a paint gun. ;)

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Well.....It's a little late to bring to extend them farther back. Actually, I was considering shortening them a tad, but I'm gonna keep them as-is.

I've changed my mind about the taper. I will be tapering the corners. They rails stick out about 1/2" beyond the wheels. I don't want them to hang up, so they will be tapered in the front from about the middle of the 2x6.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Yep, mine extend back 5 inches to match the contour and to get more protection back there. If you are on small sharp rocks and slide off, it can wedge between the rocker and the wheel.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I extended mine about 2.5" farther back than the stock rails.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Mine look goofy because they back into that area where it angles upward and starts into the rear wheelwell, but it offers extra protection.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Post some pics, man!

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

No

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Yes.

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

Nope, Alec will just photochop it with bigger than normal rockers

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

:D

Re: Need Opinions on my Rock Rail project...
 

I already have those