Feedback for Tree Slider Design

Hi All.

After looking at all of the available tree slider designs I've decided that in order to get what I want I'm going to have to build them myself. Before I go ahead and fork out for materials, I'd like some feedback on some of my ideas please...

Just so there's no confusion, I'm talking about the tree sliders which protect the rear side panels (above the rear wheel arch), not the rock sliders which protect the sills.

The problem with existing designs is that they're too small for my needs. I have wide arches fitted which are made of ABS plastic and are known to break. None of the existing designs I've looked at extend out from the body panels far enough to offer any protection to the arches. Ultimately, I want to build a tree slider which extends beyond and therefore protects the wide arches (amongst other things) that I have.

Another thing with existing designs is that you have to drill through your bodywork in order to fasten the sliders to the vehicle. In this image, you can clearly see the bolts:


I could potentially copy the design above but make the tube extend further however, my problem with this is that if I decided to take the sliders off at a later date then I'd be left with unsightly holes in my panels.

For this reason, I've come up with an alternative mounting method which is where I'd like your feedback.

Instead of drilling holes through the panels, I'm thinking it would be good to use some steel angle and slot it inbetween the rear tub and the van sides. I've tried to illustrate what I mean in the image below.

I could then use the existing bolts which hold the van sides to the tub, and this would save having to drill any holes in the body.

The problems I can forsee is that it would collect water and also highlight any imperfects in the straightness of the panels. i.e, if I adopted that design on my car, then standing outside the car, I'd probably be able to get my fingers down behind the sliders part way along the panel. A solution to this would be to flip the angle iron upside down so that it covers the capping.

The main problem though is that I don't know enough about Land Rover tolerances though to say what impact this will have on panel alignment. For example, I'm worried it would lift the back end of the roof too much and increase the gaps in the tops of the doors. So for this reason, I'm reaching out to you intelligent people to see what your thoughts are?

I usually try not to drive into trees

I assume you need them for working/playing on muddy side slopes rather than the look? Have you considered a roll cage? Extending out so far from the body seems quite extreme to protect plastic spats.

Tight bends in dense trees: https://www.muddymillers.net/apps/photos/album?albumid=15854993 (Although mine is a daily driver rather than a purpose built trials vehicle).
My Defender has been an absolute money pit since I bought it 12 months ago so I'm trying to put off buying a roll cage until a later date.

Thinking about, it might be better to extend round the corner and below the quarter panels too. So that the quarter panels are lifted by the same amount.

My thoughts:

Depending on the thickness of steel used it will certainly result in bigger panel gaps above the doors and to avoid panel gaps between the sides and the tub you'd need to do the full length of the tub. You may also kink the roof doing this unless you undo the windscreen to roof bolts and fill the resulting gap at the top of the windscreen.

It's a lot of work and probably why something like this isn't already available. In my opinion it would also look terrible and may be illegal anyway as it would introduce sharp projections from the body.

How often do you get stuck in tight trees in your daily driver?

Mine isn’t my daily driver, and pretty much gets used for just the tip runs or laning.

It isn’t as much of a problem as you would think, I have found rock sliders that extend out from the body down low much better and more useful.

And yes I have had mine hard up against surfaces.

What’s our end use aswell? As a roll cage is probably unnecessary aswell unless you are into hardcore trials or bling

DefenderPilot said:

Depending on the thickness of steel used

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I guess we're probably talking about 3 or 5mm.

DefenderPilot said:

it will certainly result in bigger panel gaps above the doors and to avoid panel gaps between the sides and the tub you'd need to do the full length of the tub. You may also kink the roof doing this unless you undo the windscreen to roof bolts and fill the resulting gap at the top of the windscreen. It's a lot of work and probably why something like this isn't already available.

Click to expand...

That does sound like unnecessary work.

DefenderPilot said:

In my opinion it would also look terrible and may be illegal anyway as it would introduce sharp projections from the body.

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I'm not overly enamoured with the look either. Sharp projections can easily be fixed though.

flat said:

How often do you get stuck in tight trees in your daily driver?

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To be honest, I find myself in more tight spaces against walls than I do trees, or leaning over against the side of a verge, but the tree sliders would be equally useful in both of these situations.

flat said:

What’s our end use aswell? As a roll cage is probably unnecessary aswell unless you are into hardcore trials or bling

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Personally, I'm not overly keen on the look of either options but as I often take my three kids out with me it makes sense to fit a cage.

How about designing something easily removable so you only need to fit it when trialling/laning etc? That way it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it does the job.

DefenderPilot said:

How about designing something easily removable so you only need to fit it when trialling/laning etc? That way it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it does the job.

Click to expand...

It's not the look that worries me,but more the effects it would have if I tried to sandwich it between the rear panels.

I wonder if you can weld a bracket into the tub cappings? They are only steel after all.