Any rock sliders out there that don't rot?

[upnorthranger]

These rock sliders have been on my truck for 18-months and 2 New England winters. They began to form visible rust within just a few months of going on my truck. At this point they might be ready for the scrap yard. I called around to a bunch of local powder coating businesses and no one will touch them. At this point, I do not want to mention the company who manufactured them as I'm working with them to see what they can do for me and it's not my intention to just trash a small company's reputation on a forum. So far they have refunded me the upcharge I paid for the powder coating option. These are from a USA made company who seemed to have solid reviews from the research I did. I paid over $1,300 (incl. shipping) with the DOM steel, top plates and powder coating.

Is this typical for rock sliders in the northeast or any area that sees road salt in the winter? Would like to replace them with something that can at least protect the door lowers and rocker panels from paint chips and pebbles when driving dirt roads. Not sure if true steel rock sliders are cut out for areas other than dry, desert climate. Maybe just a cheap set of running boards though I could not stand the stock side steps that came on my Tremor.

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[D Fresh]

I think anybody who has shopped sliders for our trucks could tell you who made those

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Wow - that diamond plating is awful. It’s too bad because it looks like a nice design. My Westins are looking rough after a few seasons but not quite like that. ?

Someone should be able to disassemble these, media blast them to bare metal, prep, and coat them. I’m curious - are local powder coating shops worried about disassembly, cleaning them up, or the type of coating that is required?

 

[yamahaSHO]

Mine are aluminum, aside from the brackets. I did have to spray an undercoating on them as the front bracket gets sprayed with rocks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RJWY7HG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[upnorthranger]

Wow - that diamond plating is awful. It’s too bad because it looks like a nice design. My Westins are looking rough after a few seasons but not quite like that. ?

Someone should be able to disassemble these, media blast them to bare metal, prep, and coat them. I’m curious - are local powder coating shops worried about disassembly, cleaning them up, or the type of coating that is required?

They all told me they have seen this before with rock sliders, they're hopeless and just rot from the inside out when powder coated.

I found one local company that was willing to sandblast and Line-X them for $600.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

They all told me they have seen this before with rock sliders, they're hopeless and just rot from the inside out when powder coated.

I found one local company that was willing to sandblast and Line-X them for $600.

That might be your best option - maybe not the look you’re after but still pretty good. Too bad these are becoming more expensive for you.

 

[Racket]

These rock sliders have been on my truck for 18-months and 2 New England winters. They began to form visible rust within just a few months of going on my truck. At this point they might be ready for the scrap yard. I paid for the powder coating option. These are from a USA made company who seemed to have solid reviews from the research I did. I paid over $1,300 (incl. shipping) with the DOM steel, top plates and powder coating.

That's a shame. I like the flare at the back and the way they tuck near the body though. Pity the manufacturer hadn't put more thought into making them more durable at that price.

 

[subquark]

These rock sliders have been on my truck for 18-months and 2 New England winters. They began to form visible rust within just a few months of going on my truck. At this point they might be ready for the scrap yard. I called around to a bunch of local powder coating businesses and no one will touch them. At this point, I do not want to mention the company who manufactured them as I'm working with them to see what they can do for me and it's not my intention to just trash a small company's reputation on a forum. So far they have refunded me the upcharge I paid for the powder coating option. These are from a USA made company who seemed to have solid reviews from the research I did. I paid over $1,300 (incl. shipping) with the DOM steel, top plates and powder coating.

Is this typical for rock sliders in the northeast or any area that sees road salt in the winter? Would like to replace them with something that can at least protect the door lowers and rocker panels from paint chips and pebbles when driving dirt roads. Not sure if true steel rock sliders are cut out for areas other than dry, desert climate. Maybe just a cheap set of running boards though I could not stand the stock side steps that came on my Tremor.

I don't have rock sliders (I think of those as structural elements that can literally carry the weight of the vehicle when doing aggressive off-roading).

For side steps, mine have made it through one New Hampshire winter and look great. They're expensive but still look new-they are stainless steel. I do have a small surface rust "stain" that should easily rub off.

I have soaped and rinsed the truck twice during the winter including once using an under carriage pressure attachment (second image below).

But with all that said, it looks like your diamond plate could be wire brushed or bead blasted and repainted - looks like a thick piece of steel.

The rust on the fasteners doesn't look too bad to me and phosphoric acid should clean it up and slow the rusting (my yardstick for rust is pretty long because I've had an FJ40 as a daily driver since 1976 and basically any bolt has to be busted off when working on the frame and body).

https://www.westinautomotive.com/hdx-stainless-drop-nerf-step-bars/2022/ford/ranger

 

[Frenchy]

First off that is not rot..... That is surface rust that can be managed.

Thanks to where you live it will be very hard to manage it with all the salt and whatnot on the roads......

Since it seems you have the option for a Line-X for it I would.go that route as it may hold up better

 

[Jhbryaniv]

These rock sliders have been on my truck for 18-months and 2 New England winters. They began to form visible rust within just a few months of going on my truck. At this point they might be ready for the scrap yard. I called around to a bunch of local powder coating businesses and no one will touch them. At this point, I do not want to mention the company who manufactured them as I'm working with them to see what they can do for me and it's not my intention to just trash a small company's reputation on a forum. So far they have refunded me the upcharge I paid for the powder coating option. These are from a USA made company who seemed to have solid reviews from the research I did. I paid over $1,300 (incl. shipping) with the DOM steel, top plates and powder coating.

Is this typical for rock sliders in the northeast or any area that sees road salt in the winter? Would like to replace them with something that can at least protect the door lowers and rocker panels from paint chips and pebbles when driving dirt roads. Not sure if true steel rock sliders are cut out for areas other than dry, desert climate. Maybe just a cheap set of running boards though I could not stand the stock side steps that came on my Tremor.

Wait, that diamond plate is just screwed on? It's not even welded as a single piece?

Also, the under body rust pictures you show - was that not powder coated, or did it get knocked off?

It looks like the diamond plate and some of the supports are surface rusted, as well as the weld areas...

The main slider itself looks like it's in good shape. (looks doesn't mean it is)

Has anyone had a conversation with the fabricator (I think I've figured out who it is) about the materials they use and if it is different alloys... As a guess I'd say they used different metals which is why the tube looks OK, but not the other areas....

 

[9zero1790]

wow the northern winters are rough on cars on trucks! it almost looks like they powder coated the tubes first, but not the hardware or diamond plate at all and then welded the stuff last.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Wait, that diamond plate is just screwed on? It's not even welded as a single piece?

Also, the under body rust pictures you show - was that not powder coated, or did it get knocked off?

It looks like the diamond plate and some of the supports are surface rusted, as well as the weld areas...

The main slider itself looks like it's in good shape. (looks doesn't mean it is)

Has anyone had a conversation with the fabricator (I think I've figured out who it is) about the materials they use and if it is different alloys... As a guess I'd say they used different metals which is why the tube looks OK, but not the other areas....

It’s as if they had different coatings suppliers for each component. One with decent products, one without. ?

wow the northern winters are rough on cars on trucks! it almost looks like they powder coated the tubes first, but not the hardware or diamond plate at all and then welded the stuff last.

They really are!!!

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Just google the suspected fabricator’s name followed by “rust” and you’ll get your answer. Lot’s of unhappy campers on multiple forums.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Where and what is this?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Where and what is this?

Looks like the underside of the diamond plate John.

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