If you’re planning on doing some heavy off roading, it’s only natural you would want to protect the frame of your ride.
Upgrading the frame with rock sliders will do that, and prevent any dents that some rocky terrain could put you in contact with.
Photo By Jason O’Donnell/CC
Finding a sturdy and protective rock slider is possible, with many brands catering to Jeeps.
Here are our recommendations for the 4 best rock sliders for Jeep Jks:
1. Tyger Auto TG-JA2J2239B Star Armor Kit : 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK 4 Door
The Tyger Star Armor Kit will have you feeling very patriotic all of a sudden.
The ornate stamped steel stars add a bit of flair to your protective gear.
All side bars use tubular steel in some variety or another. The main difference between brands is the thickness and often times this can be shared as well. So what it really comes down to in our humble opinion is ease of installation, styling, and price.
Tyger’s item is a hot seller because of those three things. Bolt-on options take the pain out of installation, and the price here is on par or less than most of the competition. Plus there are many fly-by-night brands in these aftermarket industries, but Tyger is a well-known manufacturer that makes tons of reputable products.
From bike mounts, to this. So for us, this is our top choice because they offer a limited-lifetime warranty as well(only against defects due to manufacturing though). But it’s great to know they’ll actually be around to honor that warranty if you need it.
2. EAG Rock Sliders: 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK 2 Door
The EAG side armor rock sliders are a great protective element to add to your 2 Door Wrangler.
They’re not as expensive as other options and they still get the job done.
You’ve got an easy bolt-on installation as is standard with all EAG sliders.
This model is more affordable than what it’s 4-door friends have to deal with, and it requires less work for install. Only 4 bolts instead of 6. It’s powder coated and hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you see marks on these sliders instead of your frame.
3. APS Off-Road Side Steps Armor Compatible with Jeep Wrangler JK 2007-2018 Sport Utility 2-Door (Factory Sidesteps or Rock Rails Have to Be Removed) iArmor Aircraft Black Side Steps
APS has a pair of rock sliders for your 2-Door JK. As the title says, you will have to remove your factory sidesteps if installed.
When it comes to the 2-Door model this is one of the best sellers in the category. And we like the aesthetic of it.
It’s simple, and gets the job done.
The other thing that’s simple about it? The price, this is a no frills high value item that won’t gouge your wallet. So if you’re looking for a bit more protection and you still want to keep things tied down within budget, this could be it for you.
They also offer a limited lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects.
4. Hooke Road Rock Slider: 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK 4 Door
The Hooke Road rock sliders are going to save you money.
If you want some protection for your 4 door Jeep, but you don’t want to spend too much – these are a good option.
With this model there are 2 mounting holes on each side compared to the 3 of other models.
A 2-year warranty is included with this purchase and they have a good customer service reputation if needed. The steel is on the same thickness as other models in this guide so you won’t be sacrificing quality on the actual material.
What are rock sliders for?
A common misconception people have is that a nerf bar is the same thing as a rock slider. A nerf bar is not meant to protect your frame, it’s meant as a step to help get you in your vehicle. Rock sliders are close to the frame – and act as a barrier. But, many people do step on their rock sliders to get in, it’s just not their specific purpose.
Anyone who offroads frequently will tell you, there are times when you brave it over a rock that you shouldn’t have or you’re restricted from trying to go somewhere you’d like.
Because of the fear of messing up your frame. Rock sliders are just a way to protect your vehicle from getting the frame beat up when you’re going wild over difficult terrain.
True enough rock sliders aren’t an impenetrable wall of protection, if you smack your Jeep on a rock with enough force- rails or not – it’ll cause damage.
Lots of the model designs for rock sliders are EXTREMELY similar, so paying a huge difference for the exact same thing isn’t cool. When you’re comparing brands looking for one you like, we recommend spending extra time looking at the details.
How thick is the steel? How many mounting brackets? What’s the warranty like?
We say that because there are several listings where the items are almost identical – and the only differences are what the specific company offers to set it apart.