First gen Victory 4x4 Blitz sliders, any long term experience, are all sliders this heavy?

I picked up a used set for free and am waffling on installing them because they are heavy and the 4R is already a dog as a daily driver. Are all sliders this heavy, especially if it's a slider/step combo?

 

Yep, steel sliders weight a lot. My RCI's with top plates are roughly 70 lbs, combine that with all of the skids I've now put on my truck and I've added a good bit of weight. But glad its there when its needed.

 

They’re sliders, not nerf bars. ;-D

 

Plus the cost savings for getting them for free pays for a lot of gas.

 

Kids nowadays are so spoiled. I learned to drive in 1976. My ‘22 4Runner has the same 0-60 time as a 1976 Corvette. Anything with a 0-60 time under 10 seconds was considered sporty.

 

If you’re not looking for off-road protection, they make steps that look like sliders that aren’t nearly as heavy as real sliders. But they’re a hindrance off road since it reduces your clearance with no protection benefit.

On the other hand, if you need them to protect the body work off road, then yes, they would absolutely be heavy. You have to remember that a good set of sliders should be able to resist impacts with the full weight of the vehicle behind it. They are also a pain in the ass if you live in the rust belt, because they’re difficult (very time-consuming) to strip and repaint once they start to rust.

eta: if they have any rust bubbles under the paint, then I bet they were probably given away to avoid the work/money it would take to repaint them.

 

I hear ya! Light offroading, dirt roads, trails, etc, no rock crawling.

I picked them up because they were free, not because I needed sliders.

Nope, no rust issues on them. They were taken off because previous owner got bored of them.

 

In that case, if you like the look, install them yourself, and are ok with knowing that they’ll eventually get ugly (unless you live in very dry climate), free sliders are probably a good deal.

You could alway ditch them once they start getting ugly Yes they are heavy, but not anymore than carrying an extra passenger or two. There might be a small hit to mpg…. Otherwise they don’t really get in the way of maintainance.

eta: keep in mind they will change crash dynamics in side-impact scenario. But figuring out how that cookie will crumble makes it hard to say if it will help or hurt you. My guess is that they increase rollover risk from lighter side impacts if they take a direct hit or a car under-rides them.

 

Drive a 5th gen long enough and you start to eventually forget about paltry gas mileage.

 

Is that 70 lbs each ?

 

My Rock rails are factory. Sturdy to protect body rocker panels. If bashed and ruined I can replace and/or repair. Maybe 75lbs for pair. Not a step, tucked in and up. I get in & out and my leg does not touch. Frame bolted and U- brackets are about 1/4" thick. Tube wall about 1/8".

 

Looks good. Is it my imagination or do the mounts get progressively beefier towards one end?

 

You view is accurate. It mounts with 5 bolts each side. The access in the U-brackets work well to allow wrench access and fit around frame features. Very strong factory bolts-I guess grade 5 or 8. The U-brackets fit onto frame rails perfectly. I suspect the entire design has a particular crash collapse intent for a wreck - Think liability for Toyota.
Rails are supported for upward forces. If you add up the breaking strength of the bolts they are very strong.
At some point rails can be so strong they would not collapse to absorb energy in a crash - the liability concern of Toyota. My opinion is for anticipated contact with rocks, curbs or roadway medians they will function well.