Rock rails/sliders

[telemike]

What rock rails/sliders are proven to work around here? I don't want no wimpy mall crawler step bars. I want a set of sleek rocker pretrectors. I know GM made an OEM kit, is that good? Any others?

 

[Paladine71]

I have the Rocky Road Supersliders and they are really strong. One of our vendors, Brodie, makes the Ridge Demon Rock Bashers, which are likely the best. He's in Afghanistan currently, but should be coming back soon. He goes under the name theBroken on here.

http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/for...rs-for-your-H3-and-H3T&highlight=rock+bashers

 

[MTUH3]

I have the OEM ones and they work just fine.

 

[AbsntMnded]

Another member (Schwartzzy) makes them as well and the are also stronger than OEM. I also have Rocky Road sliders and agree that they are plenty strong for my purposes, but of all the options, they are the only to leave the pinch weld exposed. Easily fixed by welding on an extra strip if desired.

Many people run the OEM sliders with no problems and beat the piss out of them. OEMs do not extend past the body, so they can not be used as a step. Removable steps are available though.

 

[telemike]

I hate step bars. You always drag your legs and pants on them and you never really step on them to get in. The H3 had some crappy mall crawler bars on them and I had the dealer take them off before I bought it.

 

[Bigunit]

telemike,
Welcome to the forum. With respect to H3 sliders, here are your current choices:

1) GM OEM H3 sliders (at a really good price IMO). I have a set of these on my 09 H3 Championship edition as well as on my wife's H3:
Hummer H3 rocker panel protector set, Smoke gray 12498471 California (R19A) | eBay

2) Schwarttzy's Sliders (these are very well made but a little more expensive):
http://schwarttzy.com/shop/
H3 Hummer Heavy Duty Rock Sliders Rocker Panel Protectioin *WILL SHIP* | eBay

As AbsntMnded stated above, Schwarttzy is a member here, so you can send him a PM if you have any questions.

3) Rocky Road sliders (that a lot of H3 owners swear by and according to many, are better/stronger than the OEM sliders but as AbsntMnded stated above and our forum Admin Alrock can confirm with pics, if they are pushed up by a big rock, the slider mount arms can make contact with and damage/bend the underbody panel seam pinch welds causing gaps which can lead to water & eventually rust getting up in there):
Hummer H3 Rockrails, Rock Sliders, Supersliders | eBay

Let us know if you have any questions. Many have found that the GM OEM sliders are more than adequate. I have a set of theBroken's Ridge Demon Rock Basher sliders on my H3T that are the best sliders ever designed and made for the H3/H3T but they aren't being made right now. Perhaps some day when Brodie returns to the US. Hope this helps.

 

[telemike]

Looks like OEM is the rightone for me.

 

[4speedfunk]

I've wheeled the hell out of the GM units. They fit nice and tight against the truck, which is my preference (they don't hinder your calf getting in or out). I have jacked both wheels off the ground by using a Hi-Lift on the rails, with zero issues. And I actually supported the truck in the air for a six-month project by using the GM rails. So they are more than adequate. I also have the removable steps...a nice feature that other rails don't offer.

On the downside...because they hug the body so tightly, they don't have the side protection that the others have. Then again...you don't have to step over them every time you get in or out. All depends on what you're looking for, and how crazy you get. It also has alot to do with the terrain you wheel in. Here in the midwest...trees are more of a concern than rocks, and the rails keep the sides and top corners of your cab off the trees.

 

[Portager]

If you find a set of the Rock Bashers for sale they are the best but most expensive. I would rank them as follows:

1 Rigid Demon Rock Bashers (only a few made)
2 Schwarttzy's Sliders
3 OEM (may be hard to find, been out of production for some time),
4 Rocky Road

Although you might get disagreement between 3 and 4. If you use them hard like we do out in the West you need the best. It they are used lightly 3 & 4 are OK.

 

[LagunaH1]

I had a set of Rocky Road sliders on my H3 and they held up incredibly well to the abuse I put them through.

 

[cgalpha08]

I like my rock roads. One of the reasons is that they stick out past the edge of the vehicle some. This has helped protect me from sliding in to a couple of trees and causing body damage. They also protect you from people who have lower cars in the parking lot when their doors open, they will hit the sliders instead of the H3 lol

 

[autumn walker]

I had a set of Rocky Road sliders on my H3 and managed to bend one of the mounting support bars... bent it up into the plastic sill, but didn't do any damage to the truck.

 

[LagunaH1]

....managed to bend one of the mounting support bars...

:whaa: how'd you do that?

 

[autumn walker]

:whaa: how'd you do that?

Honestly? That is a good question. RR claims they won't bend, I proved them wrong; however, in my opinion they did their job in that they protected the side of my truck from damage. The rock sliders could be easily repaired / replaced, sheet metal not as easy.

 

[skeptic]

Less options for us H3T owners, I went with Rocky Roads over Ridge Demons based purely on price and belief they are good enough for anything I'll put them through. No OEM options for H3T (supposedly one or two prototype sets were built that are floating around). As others have mentioned, the Rocky Roads (and possibly other non-oems) do stick out a bit and give a little extra side protection. What hasn't been mentioned is they stick out just far enough to use them as a step. I don't, but my wife and youngest kid both need to use the sliders as a step.

 

[Hunner]

Some of those other heavier ones might be better if available from forum members.
Some may recall my mod to the RR to protect the seam when I got them for my 06 as I saw that seam as something that I could screw up in the loose bowling ball size boulders around here. That seemed to strengthen them. I have slid down both sides on rock ledges and so far have been happy with those. I have also jacked up the H3 on occasion using the hi-lift and they will support the H3 even without that fourth bracket. I like the ability to use them as a step to reach my roof rack. I can most of the time remember to step out further so as not to rub my leg. Slight trade off there but ok with me. I don't wear slacks.
They are now on my 08.
I can't comment on the OEM.

 

[06 H3]

My rocky roads are beat to hell and keep on going...Are they bent? yea! Really bad actually but they have saved me from body damage numerous times and the one time they didnt they made the damage less then it would have been if I didnt have em. I wanna straighten the legs and weld in a piece like hunner did.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Woot! Thanks guys for telling him about me, makes me feel good.

 

[poncho1965]

I bought my OEM'S Jan 2006 don't think any other options were available at the time

 

[autumn walker]

I'd run another set of RR's if it were me - in fact, I'm going to build some or mod my OEM H2 ones so they stick out a bit more to use them as a step to access the roof and protect from parking lot dings! In my parking lot, HUMMER dents you.

 

[alrock]

I use the RRs as the step and also as sideways protection. I've used the RRs to pivot my truck against a rock, which is something I would not be able to do with sliders that are tucked under the body. While the support arms do flex, and they've dented my body seams, I've not had any consequences from those incidents.

Honestly, I don't think you'll see a significant protection issue from any of the choices that have been presented. I think the choices are more about style preferences, price and availability.

 

[IndyHummers]

Add me to the list of RR's. it was a pain to clean out the holes for mounting but they've saved my butt a few times. One member actually had the side of his car saved by them when an idiot decided to TBone him and the sliders shoved the car down as opposed to him plowing into the doors. Pretty cool with me lol. They do the job well.