Sliders

We get a lot of questions about the difference, and for good reason, as there is not too much of a difference.  So lets cover what their similarities are. Rock sliders with Kicker and Step sliders are both built with the same, no drill, rock solid frame mounting design that BudBuilt is famous for.  They are both built to take an incredible mount of off road damage while keeping your frame and body safe.  They are both able to provide higher ground clearance that the frame and drivetrain, as the main tube (the tube under the rocker panel) is in the exact same position.  Lastly, both will protect the body from tall obstacles when the 200 is off camber.  If you lean the 200 over on a 10º angle, and drag up against a tree, both sliders will keep your body off that tree. Just make sure to fold in your side view mirror.

Now for the differences.  Rock sliders provide 1.5" more ground clearance under the outer tube.  That's better when playing in rock gardens, when large boulders are constant.  It also helps when the terrain is always leaning the 200 off camber, like in washed out, wet and muddy trails.  It also helps for anyone who utilizes the roof for storage.  If you have a roof rack with adventure or camping gear, or even a roof box loaded with luggage for a road trip, then when you step on a Rock slider, you are now 1.5" taller.  Even washing the top of a 200 is easier when you are taller, and the kicker... pshhh amazing to stand on to access the roof and it also makes a wonderful step for 2nd or 3rd row passengers.  Little ones will have no problem getting into the back with a Kicker there.  When off road, that Kicker portion, that's what saves your quarter panel from big rocks and trees.  If you find yourself in heavily wooded areas, the Kicker is hard to pass up.

Now, if you are thinking that Rock sliders with a Kicker is the only way to go, well, there is a reason we came up with the Step slider.  While Rock sliders give more ground clearance, they require passengers to raise their leg that much more to get into the truck.  When you have a lifted 200, a Step slider is nice to have an easier entry and egress.  Now here's the real difference, when stepping on a Step slider, it feels like going up stairs.  It's flat, it's familiar, it works better for when you have people that are not use to getting into your 200, getting in your 200 for the first time.  A reason why drivers who take clients out on business lunches gravitas toward Step sliders.  When you step on a Rock slider, it's more like stepping on a ladder.  It will have a kind of, tipping feeling for a brief moment until your foot contacts the fill plate.  Now, we don't not like when people have to settle for one option. That said, and knowing that about us, once you have used a Rock slider for a month, honestly, you won't really think much about it anymore.  A Rock slider is still a good step, but for front seat passenger, the Step slider is better for most people.  Conversely, the Kicker portion on a Rock slider is a great step for kids in the second row.  However, a Step slider overall, is better for anyone who finds it harder to get into a large SUV.

Now, we prioritize function over form, but that doesn't mean we don't like to build awesome looking cruisers.  On Rock sliders with Kickers, they generally look great on more aggressively built 200s that have a meaty tire to go with the Kicker portion.  Step sliders feel more at home on a stock or lightly modified 200.  That is not the final say in any of it, as we install a lot of Step sliders on built 200s and a lot of Rock sliders with Kickers on factory 200s.  If you want more of a sleeper look, Step sliders.  If you want more of a modified look, Rock sliders with Kicker.

I know that was a lot, but if you still can't decide, shoot us an email to [email protected] or give us a call at 828-572-1202.  We are not here to see how many sliders we can sell, if we were, we should wouldn't build them to standards that we set.  Our goal is to help you build your 200 the best way, for you, not the masses.  Sometimes, that requires a real discussion, and that's a good thing.  That's why we are here.