Rock Sliders to do or not to do

[bambam351]

I don't think anyone should get too bent out of shape about the whole airbag compatibility deal....
I have been out of the gen parts game for a little bit (6 years) but up until then ONLY vehicle manufacturers had to do destructive vehicle testing on accessories that may affect air bag operation.

Yep, when a Genuine bull bar/steps etc are said to be air bag compatible - they are... Manufacturers had to prove it twice by smashing 2 vehicles - if it didn't work try again....Little wonder they are gold plated when development costs include a minimum of two written off vehicles.

Unlike the aftermarket - they have to do a mere pendulum test on there accessories - bar bolted down and a big weight belted into the front of it - impact measured etc etc...
Not on a vehicle at all.
Somehow a pass using this test gives airbag compatibility bragging rights.

So when ARB and the like claim air bag compatability - there is no physical proof their products will not effect airbag operation - and how would you ever know....

Legislation at it's best people

[Dicko1]

I don't think anyone should get too bent out of shape about the whole airbag compatibility deal....
I have been out of the gen parts game for a little bit (6 years) but up until then ONLY vehicle manufacturers had to do destructive vehicle testing on accessories that may affect air bag operation.

Yep, when a Genuine bull bar/steps etc are said to be air bag compatible - they are... Manufacturers had to prove it twice by smashing 2 vehicles - if it didn't work try again....Little wonder they are gold plated when development costs include a minimum of two written off vehicles.

Unlike the aftermarket - they have to do a mere pendulum test on there accessories - bar bolted down and a big weight belted into the front of it - impact measured etc etc...
Not on a vehicle at all.
Somehow a pass using this test gives airbag compatibility bragging rights.

So when ARB and the like claim air bag compatability - there is no physical proof their products will not effect airbag operation - and how would you ever know....

Legislation at it's best people

Good post mate....Legislation and advertising....bullshit at its best and manufacturers will say and do anything to get your dollars...

[Amok]

Agree with the above guys, but its also about not giving a reason for your insurance company to deny your claim. And believe me they will do anything they can to wiggle out of it. I have been through 2 months of investigations when I had a car written off. They eventually replaced it when they decided they'd wasted enough time and resources trying to find a way out.

So if I was going to buy rock sliders, I'd want a pair that were ADR compliant to save my own ass if in the unlikely scenario of dealing with dodgy insurance companies (ie all of them)

[ilikeachallenge]

Ras soar sliders

I have rasslar sliders fitted to my pc and they have saved the sills from any damage but the powder coating is very poor and chipped off in places within weeks of fitting without any off-road work.when I went back and pointed this out they refused to repair or re coat them and just said come back when they rust.sorry rasslar you will never see me or my wallet again.

[ilikeachallenge]

Just an update re my sliders.Rob at Rasslar discovered a supplier had supplied an incorrect primer for their powdercoating and this caused the chipping.I took my rockslides in and they stripped them and recoated them free of charge.they look new again.well done Rasslar

[Peterng]

I found my Bushskinz Rock sliders have been a good benefit.
1st mod I did, when I got the Paj...
There has been talk of the side impact SRS bags and stuff, but I don't try overthink it..
Why I like the Rock sliders..side steps...whatever..
Well, they have protected the underneath sill a many times when I have gone over one of two decent tree branches covering a track or two...one snapped and due to its internal tension, it flew up...hit the rock slider, was deflected and rolled away.
If the rock slider was'nt there, I believe the tree branch would have hit the door panel..either denting it, or giving it a good scrap.
On one or two excursions into the bush up here with the tight and very narrow tracks, I have scrapped around a few trees...the sliders seem to have protected the side of the Paj whilst I was not paying attention.
So, it's not only rocks they are good for.
Plus..and most importantly...
The little lady likes them too...she uses them as a stepup to get into the Paj, for with the 2" lift...it is a just fraction high.
She, having had a hip replacement, likes the less stress on her hip whilst getting in and out.
Also..not forgetting the furr child...
Hamish likes using the slider as a step whilst getting out of the Paj...lessens the jarring effect on himself a he gets out of the Paj..
Yeh... they are not cheap..which ever type you get...but I have found them worth it.

[Ent]

Insurance companies aside, as they can be strange beasts. I agree that they on my Challenger have proven invaluable in not having to put in claims. The side steps on the Challenger were looking very secondhand after 20,000kms and if I was in claim mode then about once a year I would be making one.

On safety my understanding is the issue is they need a compression zone to be approved nowadays. Ones from Ironman have a simple design where the side impact is absorbed by a crumple zone. Due to the side having limited depth the zone is at best 50mm, if not half that. On a solid rail ladder chassis with narrow width like the Challenger there is precious little crumple space so while worthwhile considering if an option exists I think it minimal benefit.

I would not be without mine nowadays. Only thing is the Bushskinz ones are rather poorly painted. But then again drag them off, hit with wire brush and respray from a can and you are back in business. Powder coating is a two edge sword. While looks good it means damage is expensive to repair. I consider the rocksliders to be a "sacrificial" item.

For me, even at six foot three I need them to access the roof pod. The damage they have saved runs to many thousands of dollars. This is not extreme use, they by simply fending off a branch flicked up by the front wheels saved an expensive repair. When a road gave way they took the bulk of the weight and allowed DooSo to be slide over a log with not damage to be recovered.

I consider them after the diff and intercooler bashplates to be the next item to get to protect the vehicle. As written, I would check out if Ironman (or similar) have a suitable set that complies with crash standards, as safety is always important.

[liyunzhnen001]

I really want to get Bushskinz rocksliders for the GLX-R with side airbags, but the lack of certified airbag compatibility worries me. I'm satisfied that there is little safety impact, but I'd hate to have an unrelated insurance claim refused on the basis of an illegal mod discovered by the assessor.

I'm disappointed in the soft plastic trim on my factory steps, and can see them getting destroyed even by sticks pretty quick. I may have to resign myself to just replacing them every few years.

Just a thought - I expect they don't do destructive testing for airbag compatibility, and would just use an ADR engineer's assessment? I wonder that if this is indeed the case, are there enough of us to make chipping-in cost effective means to have this done?

I called RAC, they said it is fine with non-airbag-compliant, because it is classified as accessory

[denmonkey]

Wouldn't be without them . Plus my boos bash plates.

First mod I do to my 4bys is plates.


I've got my bushskinz on and they've saved my ass more than a few times. I wouldn't do this sort of stuff if I didn't have them.


From this above (see my utube video https://youtu.be/3-kNrd3iIQQ around the 4 minute mark ) for the hiding they took and as per others have said above, on tracks where a branch or the like throws up.

re the air bag thing, I agree with what appear to be the logical comments about them not impeding the air back activation in the event of an accident.

I have no proof but it works in my mind.


I don't think the OP said what sort of driving he was intending to do though ??


cheers Brett

[nj swb]

In my line of work, we spend a lot of time on risk assessment - probability of an outcome vs the severity of the impact.

Probability of body damage with moderate impact is a much higher risk than probability of an insurance claim being denied due to having the side steps fitted.

I won't be removing my Bushskinz side steps.

[denmonkey]

In my line of work, we spend a lot of time on risk assessment - probability of an outcome vs the severity of the impact.

Probability of body damage with moderate impact is a much higher risk than probability of an insurance claim being denied due to having the side steps fitted.

I won't be removing my Bushskinz side steps.

egg zachery .

I've used mine several times vs 0 accidents.

I still don't want to test the theory though

[NTBenny]

Wouldn't be without them . Plus my boos bash plates.

First mod I do to my 4bys is plates.


I've got my bushskinz on and they've saved my ass more than a few times. I wouldn't do this sort of stuff if I didn't have them.


From this above (see my utube video https://youtu.be/3-kNrd3iIQQ around the 4 minute mark ) for the hiding they took and as per others have said above, on tracks where a branch or the like throws up.

re the air bag thing, I agree with what appear to be the logical comments about them not impeding the air back activation in the event of an accident.

I have no proof but it works in my mind.


I don't think the OP said what sort of driving he was intending to do though ??


cheers Brett

Brett,
I bought my Bushskinz side steps after watching your video and seeing how much of a pounding they took. Made me think they'll be fine for what I'll do with them. Something I'd like to ask though, how are the mounting points under your car looking after this punishment? When I fitted mine I felt the factory mounting points were probably the weakest link now. Do you have any photos of how these are handling the punishment?

Thanks,
Benny.

[denmonkey]

I haven't looked specifically at them but had a squizz under the vehicle after that day in particular and aside from breaking a bash plate bolt all was good.

Now that you mention it though, I'll get under there maybe next weekend , check it out and report back.

I agree as well that the mounting points on the vehicle are the weakest link.

Mine also need a bit of a paint tough up where they took the hits.