Rock sliders are one of the best value-for-money protection upgrades you can put on a 4WD. They protect your sills and floor from rocks, logs, and hard landings — and they double as a step. But not all sliders are equal, and the DIY kit route isn't for everyone. Here's the honest rundown.
What Do Rock Sliders Actually Do?
A good set of sliders sits outboard of your rocker panels and takes the hit when you slide over a rock or obstacle. On a loaded touring rig, an unprotected sill can be caved in by a single bad line — it's an expensive mistake that's easy to avoid.
Sliders also give you a solid step for getting in and out, and if you're lifting or lowering your rig, they stay in a fixed position relative to the chassis rather than the body.
Kicker Sliders vs Standard Sliders
There are two main styles we see on Patrols, Hiluxes, and Rangers:
- Standard Sliders — a straight rail running along the sill. Clean, simple, and effective for general touring and rock work.
- Kicker Sliders — feature an angled section at the rear that kicks out and down. Better for aggressive rock work where you want to push the obstacle away from the tyre before it contacts the sill.
For most touring builds, standard sliders do the job. If you're doing serious rock crawling or technical off-road work, kickers are worth the extra effort.
Pipe Sliders vs Plate Sliders
Our slider range is built from heavy-wall tube — 40NB or 32NB depending on the application. Tube sliders are the right choice for most builds: they're tough, relatively light, and easy to fab as a DIY kit.
Plate-style sliders exist, but they're heavier and better suited to comp builds where maximum sill protection is the only priority.
Will I Be Able to Weld It Myself?
If you can run a decent MIG bead and have access to a welder, yes. Our DIY kits come pre-cut and pre-drilled — you're not cutting from scratch, you're just fitting and welding. Most people with intermediate welding experience can complete a slider kit in a weekend.
The critical things to get right:
- Fit everything up and tack in place before running final beads
- Weld to the chassis, not just the body
- Clean your weld areas back to bare metal before you start
- Treat and paint after welding to prevent rust
If you're not confident welding structural components, our fully welded option ships ready to bolt on — no welding required.
Which Vehicles Do We Cover?
We currently make rock slider kits for the GU Nissan Patrol, GQ Nissan Patrol, Toyota Hilux (N60 and N70), Ford Ranger PX Series, and universal slider rail kits for custom builds. If your vehicle isn't listed, get in touch — we do custom laser cutting and can often sort something out.
DIY Kit Lead Times
- DIY kits — 7–10 working days
- Fully welded sliders — 14–21 working days
All orders ship from Cardiff, NSW. We ship Australia-wide.