jsc7002 wrote:
TruLiberty wrote:
wish i had welding tools...think .120" steel would be strong enough?
I bet it would and it would be easier to weld, but I would agree with Inc and I would do 3/16"
I was looking at my .120 wall 2x2 rock rails that I took off to do this mod. They are dented and one side is actually bent, ever so slightly upwards. Granted I bent it on a massive boulder, the size of the front tire, going like 5 mph and wasn't paying attention. I hit it, went up in the air, bounced twice on the rock rail and slid off. When I got out to see what I did I thought for sure I screwed the rails up, the rocker panels and the doors, luckily it didn't. I never noticed the dent or bend but when I built these I didn't want to take the chance of bending or getting dents in something I built into my jeep's body. I can't go back and unbolt these to replace them so I wanted something that will out last the rest of the jeep when I abuse it. So I went overkill. The hard part to weld was the body panels, not the rails. The rails took nice deep burns easily, but the body would melt even on the welder's lowest setting if I wasn't really careful.
Go for 3/16" if you are concerned about cost and weight, or 1/4" if you aren't worried and don't want to worry.