Rock sliders

Protect your vehicle’s side and sill panels from rocks and road debris. Our range of side protection products will protect your vehicle from obstacles small and large, while providing easy access to those hard-to-reach areas of your vehicle. Superbly engineered chassis mounting systems distinguish your side protection gear from the standard steps commonly fitted to 4WDs. Designed and manufactured to ensure compatibility with side airbags and modern vehicle safety systems, these side rails and steps come as individual components, allowing for steps to be fitted without rail assembly if required (model dependant).

Which sorts of side protection is available: 

• Side rails and steps provide outstanding protection while allowing easier access to your vehicle.
• Rock sliders protect door sills from ruts, rocks and other debris. Side sill protection on the most challenging terrain.
• Protection steps provide easier access and further protection against on road and off road debris and obstacles.
• Rocker guards protect your door sills from hard obstacles and from getting in and out on muddy terrain.

Side rails and steps

Lots of stock vehicles come with standard plastic running boards or side steps. They offer a good platform to get in and out of the car, but do very little in terms of protection from large rocks or other hard surfaces. In addition, the side steps cover the 4WD’s pinch seam and give it a nice finished look, but are attached along the pinch seam through thin aluminum brackets that are designed to support just the weight of occupants getting in and out of the Vehicle.

Rock sliders also provide a nice platform to get in and out of the car and cover the pinch seam, but they differ in construction and attachment points. Typically, rock sliders are constructed from heavy-gauged steel tubing that is finished in a corrosion resistant black powder coat finish, making them incredibly durable and capable of deflect or sliding off extremely hard surfaces, such as rocks or tree trunks. In addition, rock sliders are typically attached to the 4WD’s body mounts that run along the frame, providing a tremendous amount of support that can sustain the weight of the vehicle if it come in contacts with a large boulder. 

Rocker guards

The 4×4’s rocker panel runs along the bottom side of the vehicle. They offer a solid support beam for the 4WD’s underbody and doors. Due to their location, rocker panels often come in contact with hard obstacles while on the trail. In addition, the door sills also suffer damage from simply getting in and out of the car in muddy or snowy terrain. 

Rocker guards are generally constructed from steel plates that are precisely cut to the contours of the vehicle. They are often attached to the 4WD’s rocker panel through nutserts, which require drilling holes into the side of the car, making this a semi-permanent modification. They are typically finished in a textured high-quality black powder coat finish and often come attached or are integrated with rock rails, to provide a substantial amount of protection to the lower side of the vehicle. While rock rails are designed to deflect impacts from the bottom of the car, rocker guards are designed to absorb lower side impacts, this is often seen on the trail through large branches from trees or rocks. In addition, rocker guards serve as a protective plate for the door sills, maintaining the overall contour and structure of the door opening while occupants get in an out with muddy boots.

Rock sliders

Typically, rock sliders are constructed from heavy-gauged steel tubing that is finished in a corrosion resistant black powder coat finish, making them incredibly durable and capable. They’re designed to withstand the impact from hard rocky terrain and allow your 4WD to deflect or slide off the obstacle. They’re relatively easy to install and generally don’t require any permanent modification. They’re also a great replacement for plastic side steps or a nice addition to your vehicle if you don’t have side steps. In addition, rock sliders are typically attached to the 4WD’s body mounts that run along the frame, providing a tremendous amount of support that can sustain the weight of the vehicle if it come in contacts with a large boulder. 

Who should buy rock sliders?

If you’re a 4×4 owner who has a vehicle that didn’t come equipped with side steps, then rock sliders offer a great, easy to install, visual upgrade that covers the exposed pinch seam, giving the vehicle a nice finished look. Rock sliders also offer a more rugged look than plastic side steps, providing a textured powder coat finish that complements the factory fender flares. Rock sliders can also be utilized as a great solid step to get in and out of the car and due to the attachment points, can withstand a larger weight capacity.

The main advantage of rock sliders however is their off-road protection. If you plan on taking your 4WD off-road through rocky terrain, or a wooded area where you might encounter tree stumps, then rock sliders are an essential modification to have on your vehicle. There are a large variety to choose from, differing in style, construction, attachment points and price. Even if you’re in the market for side steps, rock sliders offer a better solution, while also providing the same level of function.