Rock Rail Fab. Question

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 1:44 pm

okay im finally getting around to start my rock rails i got a 2"x2"x3/16" tube for the main rail but i didnt get anything else yet and i dont have access to some 2x2x1/8" or 2x1x1/8" for the legs and i was wondering if i could just do 1 1/2"x1/8" angle or maybe even 2x1/8" angle for the legs and a brace for each of the legs?? and then of course i would have 1 1/4"x1/8" angle bolted along the pinch weld

and also where can i find some salf-tapping bolts?? ive check all of the local hardware stores and none of them have any!

like these:

thanks for your help!

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 2:04 pm

I found some self tappers at Tractor Supply, may check somewhere like that.

Rock Lizard · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 2:09 pm

Part #1132425 at Fastenal for your self tappers. I always used the one at 3040 N Ohio St, Wichita, KS 67219, which is real close to 135, just get off at 29th street I believe it is, then circle around under the highway to head west, then the first street on the right is Ohio.

As for the legs, I wouldn't use angle, especially only 1/8". Remember, the mounting is the strongest part of the rail. There are several companies that claim to have the strongest rails, but their mounting system sucks. You could have the strongest rail tubing available, but it will always fail at the mounts if they are not designed right. For steel, go to The Yard (725 E Central Ave). They have pretty reasonable prices, and I can almost gaurantee they have some 2x1x .120 tubing for the legs. I got pretty much all of my steel from them. And, if you are going to use angle for the pinch mount, I would recommend 1" x 3/16" minimum. They should have that at the Yard too.

It's a good thing I used to live in Wichita, otherwise I wouldn't know squat!

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 2:13 pm

just a starting point.

http://www.boltdepot.com/product.aspx?cc=11&cs=50&cm=16&cd=1350

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 3:35 pm

Rock Lizard wrote:

Part #1132425 at Fastenal for your self tappers. I always used the one at 3040 N Ohio St, Wichita, KS 67219, which is real close to 135, just get off at 29th street I believe it is, then circle around under the highway to head west, then the first street on the right is Ohio.

As for the legs, I wouldn't use angle, especially only 1/8". Remember, the mounting is the strongest part of the rail. There are several companies that claim to have the strongest rails, but their mounting system sucks. You could have the strongest rail tubing available, but it will always fail at the mounts if they are not designed right. For steel, go to The Yard (725 E Central Ave). They have pretty reasonable prices, and I can almost gaurantee they have some 2x1x .120 tubing for the legs. I got pretty much all of my steel from them. And, if you are going to use angle for the pinch mount, I would recommend 1" x 3/16" minimum. They should have that at the Yard too.

It's a good thing I used to live in Wichita, otherwise I wouldn't know squat!

ok thanks ill go check fastenal, i thought they only sell bulk though, isnt .120 the same as 1/8?? and ya they are just about the cheapest around here

man you have a good memory if you remember all the addresses, i go there and i dont even know the address!

Rock Lizard · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 4:09 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

Rock Lizard wrote:

Part #1132425 at Fastenal for your self tappers. I always used the one at 3040 N Ohio St, Wichita, KS 67219, which is real close to 135, just get off at 29th street I believe it is, then circle around under the highway to head west, then the first street on the right is Ohio.

As for the legs, I wouldn't use angle, especially only 1/8". Remember, the mounting is the strongest part of the rail. There are several companies that claim to have the strongest rails, but their mounting system sucks. You could have the strongest rail tubing available, but it will always fail at the mounts if they are not designed right. For steel, go to The Yard (725 E Central Ave). They have pretty reasonable prices, and I can almost gaurantee they have some 2x1x .120 tubing for the legs. I got pretty much all of my steel from them. And, if you are going to use angle for the pinch mount, I would recommend 1" x 3/16" minimum. They should have that at the Yard too.

It's a good thing I used to live in Wichita, otherwise I wouldn't know squat!

ok thanks ill go check fastenal, i thought they only sell bulk though, isnt .120 the same as 1/8?? and ya they are just about the cheapest around here

man you have a good memory if you remember all the addresses, i go there and i dont even know the address!

Yes, 1/8 is .120. You can get packages of whatever amount you need from Fastenal, you just get better prices if you buy in bulk.

I just remember where those places are, I had to use www.anywho.com to get the addresses for you. :wink:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 4:11 pm

Hey Marty,

Speaking of Rock Rails....

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 4:54 pm

well how about if i were to just do 2 legs out of 1.75x1/8 round i have enough of that, but would i have enough contact on the legs and angle (for the pinch weld)? i was gonna use it for something else but oh well :roll:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 6:04 pm

Haha, I looked at that for a second then realized those were mine.

I made those awhile back but they work out great. I was only out around $100 in metal but I had alot of extra.

I ended up taking the 1x1 bar(that bolts to the pinch weld) off and welding it right to the 1x2. That put the rails right up against the rocker panels on the Jeep which is what I wanted, tts a personal preference and you cannot see the bolts in the pinch seam at all.

I believe everything was 1/4in steel on mine except for the 1x2 which was 1/8in. I found my self tappers at our ACE hardware.

OT: I was been spraying the driveway off with a pressure washer the day before I took that pic. If you look closely you will see a J E on the driveway.... Can you guess what I wrote? :lol:

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:16 pm

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:21 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

RL uses 3/8" self tappers.Do not use the self tappers as the main support(pinchweld mount) as they are only grade 2 in strength.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:25 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

jsc7002 wrote:

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

RL uses 3/8" self tappers.Do not use the self tappers as the main support(pinchweld mount) as they are only grade 2 in strength.

oh no i know that i was talking about the mount to the unibody, for the pinch weld im gonna use 5/16" or something and prolly even grade 8 just b/c

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:28 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

jsc7002 wrote:

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

RL uses 3/8" self tappers.Do not use the self tappers as the main support(pinchweld mount) as they are only grade 2 in strength.

oh no i know that i was talking about the mount to the unibody, for the pinch weld im gonna use 5/16" or something and prolly even grade 8 just b/c

5/16" grade 8 bolts is what RL uses for the pinchweld mounts,7 per side,I wouldn't use anything less then grade 8 hardware.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:33 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

jsc7002 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

jsc7002 wrote:

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

RL uses 3/8" self tappers.Do not use the self tappers as the main support(pinchweld mount) as they are only grade 2 in strength.

oh no i know that i was talking about the mount to the unibody, for the pinch weld im gonna use 5/16" or something and prolly even grade 8 just b/c

5/16" grade 8 bolts is what RL uses for the pinchweld mounts,7 per side,I wouldn't use anything less then grade 8 hardware.

ya i plan on using grade 8 since i know a place where i can get them pretty cheap, but the way the pinch weld bolts are being used grade 5 would still be plenty strong in that situtation

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu May 01, 2008 10:52 pm

Quote:

ya i plan on using grade 8 since i know a place where i can get them pretty cheap, but the way the pinch weld bolts are being used grade 5 would still be plenty strong in that situtation

I kinda like overkill,more peace of mind for myself and my wallet in the long run.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 11:31 am

jsc7002 wrote:

lol having some fun before you clean your drive way?

did you use bolts or just the regular 1/4" sheet metal self-tappers? I think thats prolly what ill end up using

I used bolts in the frame where I could. I believe on the rear mounts you can fish them up through the frame rail depending on where you have your supports on the rails. For the other spots where I couldnt use bolts, yes, I used 1/4in self tappers. If you make the rails just right you can use the holes that are already in the frame for the stock rock rails and fish the bolts up through the frame for some of them.

I used grade 8 5/16(I think they were 5/16) bolts in the pinch seem.

kskj · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 7:08 pm

I bought all my steel for mine at the yard store.I spent about 70 bucks.I fished the nuts inside the framerail on most of them then used self tappers on the rest.The framerail is only about 1/8 thick and iwas not sure it was strong enough.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sat May 24, 2008 11:06 pm

ok what if i used 1.25x3x.120 C-Channel for the legs would they be strong enough?

sorry i know im trying to be cheap here and use metal that i have laying around

or i guess if i need to i can use some 1.5x3/16 tubing...i just dont have 8' of it for the 2 legs and braces

or how about the 1.5x3/16 for the legs and the c-channel for the braces would that be my best bet?

kskj · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2008 1:21 am

I used 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 tubing that i found at the yard store and didn't use bracing . I think it was around 20 bucks. The tubing you have seems kind of small to me .C channel might work but it won't be as strong as tubing.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2008 3:21 pm

ya I dont mind buying from the yard I just dont want to make a special trip to town just for that

Rock Rail Fab. Question

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