a review: white knuckle off-road rock sliders. #whiteknuckleoffroadproducts #rocksliders #trailarmor #overland
White Knuckle Off-Road Rock Sliders
Like any fine product your initial impression is what really sells you on it. Whether it’s a fine wrist watch or a quality hand tool, when you pick up that item and feel it you know you have something of quality. When John from White Knuckle sent a set of rock sliders for the 3rd gen 4Runner it was evident we had something of very high quality. After getting these things unpackaged we were drawn to their impeccable build quality and the sheer beauty of something that is designed to be absolutely abused. We couldn’t wait to get them on the 4Runner!
Rocker panel protection may be one of those mods some may think isn’t all that necessary, and it depends on a person’s needs as to whether they are a true need. We knew that this was a vulnerable area that needed some attention and White Knuckle became a top choice for us. John sent us the DOM tube model (strongest) with a very nice black powder coat finish and a rear kickout (which has become an absolute savior). These sliders are heavy (55lbs each), strong, and are obviously built to take whatever you can throw at them on the trail. Not only do they protect the vehicle incredibly well they also offer you the ability to jack the vehicle up with a high lift jack in case of a flat on the trail, and there is zero doubt they will hold up to that use.
The sliders came with a package of self-tapping screws that required drilling holes in the frame in order to mount them. We contemplated various methods for mounting them and since we already had the welder fired up for some bumper work we opted to clean the frame up and weld these bad boys on, which turned out to be a very solid mount. The mounting plates on the sliders matched up perfectly with the frame and body of the 4Runner. Obviously built with attention to detail and precise measurements by John and his team.
How do these things perform on the trail? Well, in short...incredibly well! The rear kick out on the sliders have become our best friend. We have drug these things over rocks, roots, stumps, mud, and so on. In one instance the 4Runner was stood up on its end in a bad cutout in the trail and most of the weight of the vehicle was pushed onto the right side kickout which essentially saved a large portion of the passenger side of the vehicle. We were sold at that point and our confidence in using the kickout as a tool to navigate terrain continued to grow. Dropping the vehicle on its side in large (off camber) rutted sections of trail and riding the slider the whole way is possible. Navigating tight sections of trail and using the slider to kick off of stumps or rocks is also possible with no worry of harm to the slider, and most importantly, the vehicle. We also use the sliders regularly to stand on in order to remove items from the roof and to open the roof top tent.
We have put these sliders through their paces since they were installed and have been nothing but pleased. I can usually find something in a product that I’m not particularly fond of or that doesn’t meet my needs but I can honestly say this product is pretty much perfect. It does its job and it does it well and shows zero sign of failure. What more can you ask for in a product built for abuse? If someone were to ask me if I would recommend this product I would answer them with a resounding YES! Not only is their product of the highest quality, John is a top notch guy and customer service is obviously high on his list. Trust me on this one!
More info at White Knuckle Off-Road Products.
The cost of the 3rd Gen. 4Runner sliders from White Knuckle is $560 for the strongest version with a powder coat finish, it is truly an unbeatable value! If you want more info click the link above or give us a shout through the email on the website. Thanks guys, and happy trails!!
Written by: Jeremy
Also check out our "Test Run" video, it shows the White Knuckle sliders in action.