Rocker guards are a necessity. It doesn't matter if you wheel mud pits, rocks, tight forest trails, or mall parking lots, rocker guards should be one of the first additions to your Jeep. They keep rocks away, some provide steps for when you've drowned your Jeep, keep trees out of your doors, and they fend off errant shopping carts like no one's business.
As great as they are, there are a few things to really keep an eye out for, as well as some things you should know about your first set of rockers.
One very important item when...
One very important item when shopping for rocker guards is coverage for the underside of the Jeep, not just its side. If the rocker guard doesn't bend under the Jeep and protect a good amount of the underside, look elsewhere because it is largely cosmetic. Also, if there is a step on the rocker guard, be sure that there are bolts through the bottom of it as well. The Helldorado Slider actually ties into the body mounts, so we were covered.
Since these rocker guards...
Since these rocker guards tie into the body mount, the second step is loosening all of the body-mount bolts. Then, using a 2x4 to avoid bending the rocker guard and a Hi-Lift jack or floor jack, lift the body enough to get the mount out. Only the YJ rocker guards tie into one mount, other Jeeps use more than one mount.
Once the body mount is out,...
Once the body mount is out, put it in a vice and cut 3/16-inch off of it (the thickness of the rocker guards). Not all rockers tie into the body mounts like this. If they don't, then make sure that there are some bolts through them from the bottom of the Jeep.
Once the mount is cut, lower...
Once the mount is cut, lower the Jeep back down and put the rocker guard up on the body. Using either a floor jack or clamps, position the rocker guard where you want it. Ours were made for a YJ with TJ flares, and we positioned the rocker guard against the rear flare.
Do one side of the Jeep at...
Do one side of the Jeep at a time and take time doing it. Mark the holes with a marker or a transfer punch and then remove the rocker guard.
Check and double-check on...
Check and double-check on the inside of the Jeep so that there are no wires or cables that might be damaged when drilling through the body. Most Jeeps have wires that run down the driver's side, and they will need to be moved out of the way.
We chose Poison Spyder Customs' new Helldorado Sliders for our '94 YJ. They are constructed from 3/16-inch plate steel, the steps are 0.120-wall tubing, and besides the beefy materials, we like the look of them - the significant other likes the 5-inch step.
Even if you are completely...
Even if you are completely sure that your drill bit won't walk and destroy the paint, use a punch to locate the center of the hole to be drilled from the marks made earlier. This is possibly the most important step, but with care it is simple to do.
Once the holes are drilled,...
Once the holes are drilled, wipe the whole area that will be behind the rocker guard clean with a damp cloth or sponge.
Once the paint has dried,...
Once the paint has dried, mount the rocker guard up again using either the clamps or floor jack and install the bolts through the side and tighten them down. After repeating all steps for the other side, lower the body, and tighten the body mounts.
The instructions with the Helldorado Sliders were good, but we put this how-to together so both new Jeep owners and old-time hacks can see what's involved in the install.