Rock Sliders

What Are Rock Sliders?

Whereas running boards are geared towards easing entry into the cab, rock sliders are all about protection; after all, why beat up the Jeep or pickup you’ve just dumped hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of suspension, wheels, tires, and other upgrades into? Rock sliders, like nerf bars and running boards, sit just below your vehicle’s rocker panels, guarding the sheet metal against damage from rocks, felled trees, and other obstacles while wheeling. Rock sliders are typically constructed from heavy-duty tubular steel for maximum strength and durability, ensuring maximum protection and minimal body damage.

How to Choose Rock Sliders

With so many products on the market, how can you choose just one pair of sliders? When browsing our extensive inventory, consider the following factors:

Fitment

How would you like your sliders to fit? At RealTruck, we carry various fitments, including cab length and wheel-to-wheel. While most Jeep sliders, like the Fab Fours Tube Rock Sliders, stretch from tire to tire, truck sliders come in two configurations. Cab-length rock sliders extend the length of the cab, covering the front and rear doors (if applicable). Alternatively, wheel-to-wheel rock sliders, like the Smittybilt M1 Series Sliders, extend from the beginning of the cab (just behind the front tires) to the beginning of the rear wheel wells, covering the front section of the bed as well as the cab.

Sizing

Rock sliders come in several sizes; some are beefier than others, featuring wider-diameter, thick-wall tubing, while others rely on comparatively thinner and narrower tubing. Sizing also pertains to the height of the sliders, as some extend lower than others to provide more protection–at the expense of ground clearance.

Design

What’s your preferred aesthetic? Rock sliders come in various styles, ranging from angular, square-tube to round tubing. Some are minimalistic, featuring only tubing, like the N-Fab Rock Rails, while others feature welded-on step plates to ease entry into the cab, like the Havoc HST Black Running Boards. 

Material

Rock sliders are all about durability, and some materials are more durable than others. While most rock sliders are manufactured from high-strength steel tubing, others sacrifice durability for lighter weight and corrosion resistance, like the aluminum APS Truck Armor Side Steps.

Finish

What’s your preferred aesthetic? While most sliders are engineered for off-road purposes, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice looks! While most sliders come exclusively in black, others feature raw or brushed elements for added styling, like the Smittybilt Apollo Rock Sliders.