Feature Friday: 16 Rock Slider Options For 5th Gen 4Runner

Featured Photo: Mo Esquivel (@4runningtheozarks) RCI Off-Road

Lemme Slide On Over! – Here are 16 Rock Slider Options For 5th Gen 4Runner To Look at in 2021 and into 2022

This Weeks Topic: Rock Sliders

Welcome back to Feature 4Riday (see what I did there) Who knows, maybe it will stick… This Friday we will be showcasing 16 rigs with various rock sliders to hopefully help you out in your purchasing process. You may be asking yourself though if you even need sliders.

If you’re looking for more information on sliders in general and want to educate yourself, check out these posts:

• Rock Sliders Technical Overview
• Rock Sliders Buyers Guide (Updated)

To me, rock sliders are a 2-for-1 deal when it comes to most brands. Rock sliders help protect your 4Runners rocker panels from, well, rocks. The sliders essentially allow you to “slide” over a rock, tree limb, or any obstacle that would be in the way of hindering your 4Runner after your front tires traversed over. Another form of protection is the “kick out” toward the end of the slider, near the rear tire. This allows the 4Runner to get SUPER close to trees or other obstacles that would potentially due hard, but instead, the sliders kick the 4Runner “out” of the way and save your rear quarter panel from potential damage.

The second perk of rock sliders is that they can act as a step to get in and out of your 4Runner or to allow you to reach items that you may have on your roof. This is achieved by purchasing 0-degree sliders rather than angled sliders. These sliders usually are paired with a top plate, that allows the top of the slider to be completely flat, in turn acting as a running board. Have a read below on why each user likes their setup, and see which one may be right for you. We have sliders from; Westcott Design, RCI, Rago Fab, RCI, Hefty Fab, C4, and a few others. There is also a homemade set too, that personally looks amazing and was SUPER budget-friendly.

These featured rigs are in no particular order, but definitely show all of them some love by following their builds over on Instagram.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

If you want to be featured on Feature Friday next week, submit your build through Trail4R.com/feature. We will be featuring REAR LADDERS next week. If this is you, and you enjoy your LADDER setup, send in your rig some details about your build because we want to see it and know ALL the details!

Top Companies Featured: 

• C4 Fabrication: Check Price
• Cali Raised LED Step Edition: Check Price
• Cali Raised LED Trail Edition: Check Price
• RSG Metalworks: Check Price
• RCI Off-Road:  Check Price
• Hefty Fabworks Rock Sliders: Check Price

1. Ryan Lau (@4runnersaurus) Southern Style Offroad (Discontinued)

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Price: $997+shipping
• 3/16″ wall structural square tubing
• .120 wall round tube and rear kick out
• CAD designed and laser-cut 3/16″ thick support legs
• 56 lbs each, Bolt-on using 12 bolts each slider (KDSS uses 11 on driver side)
• Rear kick out & top plates
• Black powder coat

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

My SSO sliders are awesome! The top plate is my favorite part. I love that it doesn’t span the entire length of the slider, just at the doors where I need it. The rear kick out is essential when you have a family and servers as a great way for me to reach anything on the roof. I got the sliders as a scratch and dent model direct from SSO, and they sent a video of every “blemish” before purchasing. I figured who cares, because they’re sliders, and with them mounted, look basically new. These sliders sit flush to the body, while still allowing enough useable stepping room to be used as steps. The powder coating has held up well, easily one of my favorite mods!

2. Dakota Gildea (@dak.rnr) Shrockworks

SLIDER SPECS: 

• 2” x 0.1875” wall square tubing and 1.75” x 0.120” wall DOM round tubing
• Gusseted ¼” plate frame mounts
• 45 lbs per slider
• Textured black powder coat (Offered by Shrockworks)
• No top plates or kick outs
• 3 tube support, angled up
• $640 plus shipping

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

I went with Shrockworks because of how aggressively angled up they are. They sit high and tight to the body of the 4Runner and flow with the truck. I wanted sliders that functioned as they should and didn’t have the running board look. That being said, they really don’t function as a step as there is just a tube pretty close to the door. The textured black Powdercoat has held up really well over time. I like how the mounting plates use both the side of the and the bottom of the frame. This creates a much stronger frame attachment. These sliders also make great Hi-Lift Jack lift points and can easily withstand impacts from any obstacle on a trail. All hardware was shipped with the sliders.

3. Jeremy Chambers (@white_buffalo_4r) Hefty Fabworks

SLIDER SPECS: 

• DOM 1 3/4″ x .120 wall tubing with 2×2 hitch steel main slider.
• The price right now is around $970 with $100 off coming to $870.
• We went with duplicolor bed armor and toolbox red for the color. 
• Top plates and a kick out that doesn’t push out too far.
• Not KDSS specific

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

These sliders allow for a good stepping surface and at the same time not being a hindrance when climbing in or out, and when offroad they don’t push out allowing another catch point. The round tubing allows debris to slide around better as well. These are bolted to the frame to allow ease of access.

4. Taya Coleman (@atr_coleman) BAMF

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Price: $1,325
• Kick out, sticks out 3.5″ past the main slider tube
• 1.75″ .120 steel DOM bent
• CNC and laser cut
• Integrated gussets and frame plates
• Mounted at 10 degree angle
• Filled plates
• Powder coated

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

My local off road shop carries local fabricator inventory. They offered me $1,000 flat for it instead of $1,325 off the BAMF (Bay Area Metal Fab) website. It was a steal with no lead time so I jumped at it. I’m not looking to be a rock crawler so this integrated step slider was perfect for my 4’11 self. It’s mounted at an angle that’s not extreme so I think it’s good for daily use. My 60 year old mom thinks it’s useful for her to get in and out of the car. I think it looks really good for having filled plates. There are convenient holes on the plates that I use to leash my dogs to the car while we camp(campground rules). Other than small dings from minor rocks it hasn’t suffered any damage. I’ve taken this car through a lot of snow, water crossings, tons of mud and the powder coat is still pristine.

5. Lance Antonio (@Toyholo) Southern Style Off-Road 

SLIDER SPECS: 

• 3/16″ wall structural square tubing
• .120 wall round tube and rear kick out
• CAD designed and laser-cut 3/16″ thick support legs
• Black texture powder coat by mekala powder coat
• Price: $637.60 Starting 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

The quality of the sliders is at the highest level, the welds are clean, and the fitment is a direct bolt-on. They are also great because they act as a side step for the family to get in and out of the 4Runner. 

6. Brandon Lopez (@brndn_lpz) Westcott Design

SLIDER SPECS: 

• .120 DOM
• TIG Weld
• 20°
• Powder Coated Black
• W/ith Out Top Plate
• With Kickout
• Price: $1,149

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

The craftsmanship! The welding on these things is absolutely gorgeous. The boys over at Westcott Designs are straight stackin’ dimes! Also, I love the simplistic design of the overall slider and kick out. Clean and simple.

7. Randall Diebolt (@spankowitz) White Knuckle Off-Road 

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Price: $825.00
• Weight: 55-60 lbs
• DOM 3/16” with 3/8” Mounting Plates
• Rear Diamond Top Plate
• Bare Metal

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

They were very easy to install. They have pretty sturdy ubolts around the frame. I have banged them and slid on them on several occasions

8. Christa (@seacreechr) C4 Fab

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Price: From $849.00
• Non KDSS
• step plates (removable) have traction and are 0 degree
• 100% Bolt-on
• DOM
• 65 pounds
• Flat Black powder coated (shipped from C4 raw steel)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

I like having the flat step plates with traction on top. Sliders without steps can be very slippery when standing on a round powder-coated pipe, especially when trying to reach roof-mounted gear. The slider support legs are welded at a 45 ° rotation making it less likely to become caught up on rocks.

9. Adam Wolfe (@builtbysquirrels) Home Made

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Homemade bolt-on flat sliders
• 1.75” HREW outer – round tube
• 1.75” HREW kick out
• 2” square HREW main tube and legs
• .250” frame plate mount
• .120 laser cut top plate – left over from a stair project
• Weight ~ 130lb

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

I like this setup because it’s different than so many others on the market. The entire side of the frame is braced, unlike others where the frame plate is localized to the leg of the slider. They are a great conversation starter and have held up extremely well.

10. Fred (@Cement.4runner) RSG Metalworks 

SLIDER SPECS: 

• RSG metalworks Angled Sliders
• Top Plate
• Rear kick out
• HREW
• Bare Metal
• Rattle canned Rustoleum black
• Available bare metal or powder coated
• Price: From $799.00

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

• Looks Great tucks in nicely
• The top plate protects from rocks kicking up
• kick out can be used as a step
• Solid build quality
• 2″ Main tube for increased strength
• 1/4″ Mounting plates
• Stronger 4 leg design
• Bolts to factory mounting locations on the frame with supplied hardware
• Available bare metal or powder coated

11. Moe Alchab (@mudkip_t4r) Bash Fabrication 

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Cost $1000.00 Installed
• Coated in black Bedliner
• Bolt-On Hybrid sliders with Kickout (There is a weld-on option).
• Made from DOM Square tube and round tube.
• Slightly angled with no filler plates but there is a filler plate option.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

I chose these sliders because I had been a fan of the craftsmanship over at Bash Fabrication. What made me pull the trigger was seeing the work he did building a friend’s Tundra bumper. What made me become a customer was the fact that I was getting these made by a local one-man show. Most sliders nowadays are mass-produced and every other rig has the same set of sliders. I’ve only seen a handful of 5th gen 4runners with a set of bashfab sliders.

Overall the craftsmanship on these is superb, The welds are nice and clean and the bed liner used is of very high quality. Having bashed around with these sliders they hold up very well and with them being bed-lined I have no worries about having to recoat them after some abuse.

Not to mention If you go to his shop to get work done hell let you play with his RC crawler on a course they had made!

12. Dylan Thomas (@official.badrnnr) Wescott Designs

SLIDER SPECS: 

• 20 degree, no top plate
• .120 wall DOM steel
• TIG Welded
• Price: From $725.00

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

The TIG welds are the highest quality welds I’ve seen from any manufacturer here making aftermarket parts here in the USA. Jeff likes to show off his welders’ work of art and offers a fresh clear coat to really let the welds bleed through and break some necks, or he also offers a BK08 powder coating option if you plan to keep it subtle!

Personally, these sliders are still my favorite after seeing some of the competition. I think Westcott’s really hit a home run with these sliders, they’re durable, they’re sleek, there are options to choose from. Not to mention, any questions you have about the products… Jeff takes phone calls/texts and actually responds.

13. Joshua Hunger (@roaminghunger5) Rago Fab

SLIDER SPECS: 

• DOM
• Approx 85 lbs each
• Paint – Hammered texture spray paint
• Knockouts
• Bolt on
• Price: $899.00

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

We have been using the Rago rock sliders for about a year and a half now and they have taken everything we’ve thrown at them with ease. We have smashed them into rocks, used em as sliders to get on and off shelves, used them with their kick outs as bumpers on tight trails, and we haven’t gotten a single door ding since we put them on! They are tough as can be and just as strong. We have used them as a lift point to jack the runner up to change tires and climbed on and off them more times than we can count to get stuff on and off the roof rack. We also have small children that use them as climbing aids to get into the 4Runner and they have no issues doing that even without a top plate. The sliders are tucked close up to the body as to not be an obstacle but there is enough space to get solid footing on them as well. We’ve been all over the southwest US and done everything from simple trails to rock crawling with them and never once have we worried that the Rago sliders wouldn’t be there when we needed them. They were easy to install and came with extra hardware so we could even drill extra holes for more secure mounting if we wanted. Even with all the use on these sliders all we do is sand down the paint and touch them up every once in a while and they look good as new. No bends or damage!

14. Mo Esquivel (@4runningtheozarks) RCI Off-Road

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Price: $995.00 with top plate
• Black powder coat
• 5 degree slider angle with kick out
• 45lbs per side

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

These sliders have been great to us. They have handled what we’ve thrown at them and are still holding up fine. Love the 5-degree option RCI offers on their sliders, really comes in handy when we are jumping in and out and opening the tent up. The top plate is welded on and we liked that as an option vs screwed down that you find on others. RCI did a great job with these and the fit and finish is what you’d expect from them

15. Laura Mattson (@the.kessel.runner) Cali Raised 

SLIDER SPECS: 

• DOM
• 0 degree With Top Plate
• Kick Out
• Powder coated tubes in black
• Rhino-lined top plates in black
• Approximately 104 lbs total
• Price: $1198.49

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

We’ve had these sliders on for a year now and they have held up so well. They’re bolt-on so they’re relatively easy to install. We like the step edition for easy access to the roof and getting in and out of the 4Runner. They’ve done their job a few times and have protected the 4Runner from trail damage. Looks-wise these were my favorite on the market. Added bonus: Cali Raised had amazing customer service.

16. Eric Keller (@evergreen_rnr) RSG Metalworks

SLIDER SPECS: 

• Model: Bare Angled Sliders with Kick-out and Top Plate
• Material: HREW
• Finish: Bare (then painted with cheap satin black spray paint)
• Weight: 100lb per set
• Price: $799
• Orientation: Angled
• Kickouts: Yes
• Top Plates: Yes

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SETUP?

RSG makes some of, if not, the best sliders in the game right now. Their design is extremely rigid and offers complete protection while being as minimal as possible.

I went with the angled kick out without a top plate design as it checked all of my boxes. The angled design allows the sliders to be tucked up as close to the body as possible maximizing not only ground clearance but stick out from the vehicle. I chose the kick out for two reasons: 1)The kick out helps push the rock/stump/etc out past the front of the tire to help minimize hang-ups and 2)The kick out acts as a somewhat larger step for putting away in and mounting things to my RTT (it’s a lot more stable than just standing on a single tube). The top plates were added to facilitate being a solid step. Standing on a single tube can be very awkward when you are trying to get into the vehicle or get on top of the vehicle. The top plates help solve this at the cost of additional time to clean them.

My sliders get used and abused almost every time we go wheeling and it took almost a year of wheeling before I was able to cause any noticeable damage short from scratches in the cheap spray paint. The damage was 100% my fault as well, nothing to do with the design or material RSG uses (not paying attention coming down Poison Spider will do that…)

RSG’s design isn’t just limited to the specific bends or angles they placed the sliders at. Looking at their design it shows that they did everything possible to make their sliders as strong as possible and I really appreciate the extra details. They chose to gusset each of the tubes that connect the slider to its mounting plate. Not only did the gusset but it is a gusset design to support the compression/upward flex of the slider which provides a ton of strength. RSG also used every existing bolt hole there could for their mounting. In total it is 12 grade 8 bolts into the frame making the connection almost as strong as being welded.

Regarding material… I chose HREW mainly due to cost. Based on my research HREW is a great steel for most people due to its lower cost but it is not as strong for those who really beat on their rigs. I have not caused significant damage to these HREW sliders until recently. If I had to recommend a steel type to someone, I would recommend the HREW to anyone who is only more mild wheeling, Overlanding, cosmetics. For anyone who wheels more than once or twice a year or plans on doing some pretty serious stuff (say… over a 6 in Moab), I would recommend DOM tubing. I will be switching when it comes time to replace these sliders.

I really love how RSG gives you the option of bare metal or having them powder coated as well. This is perfect for the potential different users. If you’re not planning on beating on your sliders much having the powder-coated before shipment makes for a quick and easy install. Or if you’re like me, you requested bare metal so you could paint them yourself in the cheapest can of spray paint you could find since they get repainted once a year (regrets on that… wish I used Steel-it instead).

Final Thoughts:

Well, I hope that you gained some inspiration from this week’s Feature Friday. Sliders are honestly one of the best mods I did to my 4Runner. I had Cali Raised 0-degree sliders on my 4Runner and I used them more as steps than protection with my Florida terrain. But, having them on my 4R while off-roading, definitely gave me confidence in knowing that I wasn’t going to ruin the lower half of my 4Runner while going over trees or while going past them due to having kick-outs. I highly recommend sliders if you haven’t purchased any yet. Thank you for reading guys, and have a great weekend.

If you would like to be considered for next week’s Feature Friday, we will be showcasing some LADDER SETUPS (for 5th Gen 4Runners). We want to get inspired by a variety of setups, submit your build for Feature Friday and you might get featured. If you would like to submit your build for next week, include your setup details and an awesome photo that shows it off. Have a great weekend guys!!