Would rock sliders bend or damage frame in an accident

Anyone have experience getting hit in the side or tboned with sliders installed? Did it bend the frame or flip the car?

also wondering in minor fender benders if the sliders damaged anyones kdss from side impacts?

 

Probably just act like the frame its mounted to. It sounds like you dont even need them anyway. Asking that type of question. So you could probably pass.


Now, if you wheel your rig,.... rock sliders are a absolute must have. Especially since these are not easy to get high (tire size). So do you mate, and the one thing i wouldnt be worried about, is how these would maybe save you if you got T boned, errrrrrrrr, what have you.
Happy adventures out there mate.


(They are tied into your frame. Where you read anything, about anything with your question, seems odd)

 

I would assume that hit in the side would be way higher than rock slides installed. Besides if you'll get T-boned your truck will be most likely totaled since side airbags will be activated.

 

This Tacoma was T-Boned and according to him the sliders helped.
Not my video. Link to Tacomaholic you tube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_P3mISnG-Y

 

that's how my old 2010 SR5 looked after got tboned. Airbags went off and my insurance company said that it's a total loss. Didn't have sliders on it, but stock plastic running boards were intact.

 

Thanks for attaching the video. That brings to light how the sliders and truck may perform in an accident. His truck wasn’t totaled. Sounds like the worst thing is he has to pay for his ppf to be removed and waiting for parts. I could live with that. Obviously height, speed, etc would change things.

 

pretty nasty accident. Thanks for sharing the pic. Hope everyone was okay. Can’t beat oem running boards.

 

If you get into an accident enough to bend the frame with sliders, it would have bent the frame or otherwise totalled the car anyway.

Nonissue.

 

I would assume it would be easier to flip the vehicle with sliders if a low car hits you hard enough. A lifted 4runner with sliders has plenty of space for a miata or corvette, etc to get under there. The sliders would not deform as easily as the body, so I could see sliders making it more likely that a low car could put you on your side.

After all, if you can use a farm jack to lift a 4runner by the sliders, a car wedging itself under there would do the same thing. Add impact energy (with none being absorbed by the body), and I can easily see the whole thing being easily popped over on it’s side by some cars in some t-bone situations. It’s all kind of a crap shoot though, since you cant control whats going to hit you or how. But worth noting nonetheless.

 

I spoke to Jason at Demello and he said a sedan tboned his FJ but the slider protected him and pushed the car to his rear wheel & tire. Car was totaled and he needed a new tire with no other damage to him.

 

Same with me, i was doing about 40 mph. and a smaller vehicle slammed in to the side of me. It scratched my sliders a little and also the rear driver side wheel, but the angled slider directed the car under the rear wheel and over the front fender i went. I had the slider touched up and a new wheel put on, the other vehicle’s front end was trashed.

 

Won’t going under the runner be better than all that energy going into the side of the vehicle?

 

It might be better/acceptable in fender benders at slow speeds.

But in higher speed crashes where retaining control after an impact is important, or when rolling over might lead to tumbling, it might be really bad for a car to slide under the 4runner. I think in those cases, deforming the body is better if it keeps you on your wheels.

It’s a pretty complex question though since crash situations are very unique. Since the OP asked about flipping potential, I thought it would be worth noting that, while sliders can protect the body of the 4runner in off-roading or some crash situations, they can also be expected to increase the probability of the vehicle to get rolled in some crash situations.

If my goal is to protect occupants in a crash, I would not get frame mounted sliders. On the whole, think they would decrease occupant safety. Sure, there might be situations where they might help, but anectdotes of a 4runner being unscathed after an impact should not make someone believe they should install sliders to increase safety.

 

Oh now you tell me.

 

Planning on getting into an accident is see. Personally I would work to avoid the accident in the first place.

Too many variables with accidents. But I will say this, with any tall vehicle they are more prone to flipping, and since the 4R has a frame its likely it will get bent in a T-bone accident.

 

Huh? Do you wear a seat belt? If so I guess you’re planning on getting into an accident.

 

It wasn't in my 4Runner, but my Shrockworks sliders on my old truck saved me when I was t-boned at an intersection by a 16 year old kid who was racing and ran the light. When the paramedics pulled me out, they commented on how stout those things were (DOM tubing) and how they kept the kid's BMW M3 from coming further into the cab. Truck was totaled, but sliders definitely helped me.

 

Exactly. I don't really need rock sliders because I climb rocks. I wanted them for the armor.

 

Seems like we have a few real life scenarios from sliders saving trucks and people. Thanks for sharing!

I guess it’s everyone choice on what they think is good for their trucks. My heritage grill doesn’t protect me or help with horse power but I bet a good majority on the site have done the mod and enjoy how it looks. To each their own.

 

I'm not convinced. If a car is low enough to get under the sliders, it would also be under the body (at least until it gets farther in, at which point it would be lifting on the body). Yeah, some of the energy would be absorbed in damaging the body but it would have to be lower to get under the sliders than it would need to be to get under the body so fewer vehicles would get under if you have sliders than if you do not.

I don't think that many vehicles are getting under the sliders or body, at least not around here where most people drive trucks and SUVs...

 

The risk calculation is tough for sure because of all the variables. But sliders attached to frames are rigid and cant absorb energy, only transmit it. Even if they don't get under, I think the jolt of energy transmitted to the frame would still make tipping more probable, especially if there is any speed or turning involved at the point of impact. Even in the video linked earlier in the thread, the youtube personality said that he thought the tacoma felt close to flipping (that car didnt go under either).

I have sliders, a lift, and a steel bumper. I intend to keep them since they serve a role for my 4runner and what I want to do with it. I know it’s less safe. But it’s more safe than the motorcycle my 4runner replaces. It’s all relative, and the decisions are all personal calculations.

That said, it’s worth considering the drawbacks of some of the “hard” mods options available. They are not the best choice for “street only” vehicles. Some people may be making a decision between frame sliders vs body mounted sliders. Or actual steel bumper vs brush guards held on by brackets. If somebody is looking to mod their truck for the visual aspects only, and will never pivot on a rock, use a winch, etc, then it doesnt make much sense to trade your safety away. Especially if the vehicle is used primarily for transporting family around. There are plenty of sweet looking step/body mounted slide options that will help you retain the ability to manage/absorb traffic accident crash forces, and look still look great at the same time.