Jeep Cherokee XJ 2x6 rocker panel replacement

[@Nickoli8390]

You did an amazing job man. And as a welder remember a grinder and paint will make you the welder you ain't. Lol

[@cablenowadays6586]

You can’t say as a welder in that same sentence.

[@Nickoli8390]

@@cablenowadays6586 sure I can, he did a good job on the project just needs a little cleanup on the welds.

[@kristophermathis8584]

Great video! I don't think jeep ever intended for us to build Cherokee's like alot of us do!

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Hell ya, but that's what makes it so fun to own one. 😁

[@rgsrails]

It's been three years now and I still like watching this now as I did then when you released it. Would you be cool with producing a "long term" performance update video on this project or coupled with other projects you've done on this rig? Maybe discussing the condition of welds, the materials used and maybe a story or two about how well the projects have fared over time.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks buddy. Yes this has held up well. Plenty of trail scars, but a must have for rock crawling. The jeep is in the process of getting new axles. So big projects coming and a few videos out recently on the new build

[@anthonybautovic8157]

I love it bro. It’s great work. Just an idea maybe drill a few holes in the bottom to allow any water out

[@slimer240]

That's pretty much standard thickness on all the off road bumpers and skid plates so it worked out in your favor. Good work I'm going to try this out on my 2nd gen dodge.

[@my_name_is_chef4856]

It's cool you listen to Chris Stapleton. Reminds me of working on my jeep and dirt bikes with my pops

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Need good music for inspiration lol. Thanks for watching

[@my_name_is_chef4856]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 That is a very true statement! Thanks for the awesome videos

[@steventaylor470]

I like that style of slider, final product looks great! Have you used them yet? I would worry about the braces hanging up on rocks or logs though. If that is the case, you could easily make that a boat side. Just a thought. Keep up the videos, yall are doing great work. Might want to get some more lighting though lol

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks man. They have held up real well. The braces have not been an issues at all. But your right a boatside would be the next step

[@silverstategarage4834]

I always wanted to do this to my ZJ but I crashed it before I could. Nice video!

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Would have been cool to see on a zj

[@ProjectXJ]

I had some great sliders that were welded to the frame but have always wanted to replace the rocker panels with 2x6. I finally got frame stiffeners so i got some quarter wall rectangular tubing. It seems that not very many people understand why i want to replace the rockers. For starters, you get more ground clearance, it stiffens the unibody and did i mention that it gives you more ground clearance? 🙂 i think by using quarter wall i should never be able to even dent it, as long as i don't hit obstacles faster than i should. I am in the middle of installing my frame stiffeners right now. I have the front ready to weld on and starting to prep the center section. I will do the sliders when i finish the center section.

[@chrishartleroad5827]

Cool idea

[@morganheberling]

i've been told when welding thick to thin to turn the amps all the way down and wire speed way down. good job bro!

[@stevendemoss6609]

Do the braces catch on stuff? I'm about to do this to my xj and it looks like the three braces would hang up

[@MrGalaxieman]

Very helpful! Thankyou. Just two questions: how did you attach the front fender at the bottom and also are the frame supports the only welds on the bottom or did you weld the 2x6 straight to the bottom of the tub as well? Thanks

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks man I appreciate it. Right now the front fender is not attached. It flaps a little in the wind but it's a wheeler. And yes I welded it to the bottom of the tub as well.

[@ProjectXJ]

I just left a tab on the fender and screwed it into the slider. It worked really well.

[@IdRatherBejeeping]

did you flux core weld this? pretty good welds if ya did! i'm getting ready to do this to my rock crawler. any welding tips for the paper thin cheap jeep metal??

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Keep the heat on the thicker material and try and just let the puddle spill onto the sheet metal

[@stephenpatton8690]

Awesome work!!!

[@affordablecutzlawnmaintena7177]

Looks good bro,good job

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

[@dallasbuilds1033]

Great video

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks

[@n8033fox]

It was discussed, but I did not see it in the video, but did you weld along the bottom seam?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yes absolutely. It's a bit of a challenge to do under the jeep

[@jakeroseburg1660]

What size channel did you use to support the unibody?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

3x3 3/16th

[@jg6878]

Looks amazing.. im planning to do the same thing....would 1\8" thick 2x6 be heavy enuf??in your opinion

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

I would do at least 3/16. Especially of you plan to ever tie in a cage.

[@jelly7310]

Push the welder tip. Don't drag if possible. Make circles with the tip, over lapping the previous circle each time.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Good advice. Over the last year or so have began to get a lot better at welding and usually I push the puddle

[@Big-kon]

Do you have a video of you building the long arm brackets? And did you build the long arms? I wanna go long arm on my 5speed 2 door xj but I can’t justify spending almost a grand on a kit when I have welding experience and access to plenty of steel.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Unfortunately I don't. But its a simple set up. Just a piece of 2x4 rectangle tube for a crossmember. Some frame side mounts built into the outer crossmember welded to the un rail and a barnes 4wd radius diy radius arm kit

[@Big-kon]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 right on brother. Sounds easy enough. I appreciate you replying to my question. Keep up the good work 🤙🏼

[@MrSrtman18]

You ever do any wj stuff.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yes check out some of our newer videos

[@thomascollins9214]

Good video! the best one i have seen on this mod. do you have any tips for when i do this on mine?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

I would say just take your time on the welding and make sure you have a couple of tall jack stands to hold the 2x6 up square with the body. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@mateovargas6504]

So for this job, frame stiffeners would do the same thing as your angle iron on your frame, yes?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yes absolutely

[@mateovargas6504]

Muddy Beards 4X4 awesome to hear. I think I’m doing 2x6 sooner rather than later and I was thinking to do the middle frame stiffener piece with it.

[@gregnorvell9730]

Looks awesome.

[@circusmonkey84]

What thickness did you use for the angle welded to the unibody?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

3/16

[@1crazynordlander]

I wouldn't knock your welding. I have seen the same decent job or worse done by a professional body shop. Not sure if I caught it or not, did you weld the tube to the underside cut you made next to the body? I am assuming you did. I think that nut that you trimmed is the seat belt fastening point.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Well thanks for the words of encouragement with the welding. And yes I welded the tube fully and I think you are right about the nut.

[@williamcordle]

Looking good have you thought of plating the whole bottom side of the slider such as one piece over all the frame tie in’s

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Ya I thought about it. It would be almost like a boatside if I did. It works pretty good now but maybe in the future.

[@williamcordle]

I think Matt with bleepinjeep do it so the bottom is smoother

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yep. I haven't found myself in a situation where the tie ins have gotten hung up. But it becomes an issue I will probably plate it.

[@williamcordle]

Muddy Beards 4X4 if it works then no need to add more weight to it hammer on

[@danhambrick6331]

Nice job.What radius arm kit are you running?

[@MSpeedThree]

Looks like Rough Country

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Negative that is home made.

[@headlesnorseman701]

is it possible to do this with 2x2 and just leave the gap? i plan on doing boatsides. and i already have a bunch of 2x2 sitting around that i got for basically scrap price lol

[@Justin-bb7oi]

@Muddy Beards 4x4, Can you make a vid on installing a trans gauge on the xj? i know you have the chevy vid. but i would like to hook one up myself on my xj 98

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Jeep life my cherokee has the ax15 manual transmission so I really dont have a need for a trans temp guage. Would be a cool idea if I could get my hands on an automatic XJ.

[@Justin-bb7oi]

Muddy Beards 4X4 darn okay thanks.

[@rondaszkiewicz2436]

Hey, If you are only stitch and plug welding , why strip the un down to bare metal and expose it o the water which will get trapped behind it?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

That's a good point. Probably didn't need to strip it all the way down.

[@coolHandLuke5150]

Will it rust? Yes. But the new thicker steel will out last the unibody. I've done it both ways. It just boils done to time and money. Is the time and money worth it in the long run? Each person will answer that question differently

[@robertweinstein6441]

Did you weld the top of the supports

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Ya just didn't show it on film. It was tricky to get to

[@adamswaz4878]

did you weld across the horizontal section where the tie ins meet the unibody

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yes across the bottom and top. I think in the video I dont show welding the top because it was super hard to access and the welds look terrible. But I think it will hold. There is a hole lot of weld on there

[@adamswaz4878]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 yeah i was wondering how much of a bitch it was to get in there thats why i ask. i was also thinking if u didnt weld it across the top maybe you drilled some weep holes or something on the bottom for water and whatever else to escape

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Didn't drill any holes in the tie ins but I did drill a few small holes through the angle plating the un channel for that very reason.

[@mrmotorbreathmfg3540]

How long would this whole project take roughly, start to finish, in the hands of a professional fabricator with all the correct tools?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

That's really hard to say. I am not a professional or have all the best tools, bit its a lot of work. I prob had at least 10 hours into it with both sides...

[@bobbynate4271]

Thanks man!

[@robertweinstein6441]

A little extra light would help

[@ralphnabozny8494]

rock slider ; wow. fork trucks are built up for more counter balance weight , like your thought.

[@BellOfTheBall639]

You remind me of myself working. 👍👍

[@Justin-bb7oi]

TheJenyffer01 same

[@MSpeedThree]

What do you think about using a piece of 3/16 plate and doing boat sides as opposed to the tie in with 2x4?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thought about it. Boatsides is a cool idea but it's just that much heavier. This is working so far. If I need to I can always put the plate on later.

[@colbyrecchia2407]

did you do this all with 110?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

No a Hobart 190. Its a 220. But I used a 110 to build other projects. It can be done

[@Josh-ye9ol]

So I been going back and forth with this upgrade for a wile, but I am not building a trail rig as much as I am an overlander. And I am trying to keep my xj looking as stock as I can. So what did this do for you really besides give ya a high clearance silder? Did it stiffen up the frame significantly? How much dose it hang out from the body?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

I use this rig as a trail rig. I have bounced the sliders off rocks and trees often. That's really the purpose. I think they definitely to help strengthen the jeep because they are tied into the un channel. And if you use 2x6 they only stick out about and inch

[@Ghostrider-ib2fh]

I’m not sure if it was asked but what thickness was the metal you were using?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

The angle iron, 2x6, and the frame tie ins were all 3/16

[@ProjectXJ]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 how thick was the 2x6? 3/16"?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Yes

[@Twizter68]

I've seen so many done this way, but one thing has always bothered me. Instead of just chopping off the fender flush with the surface, why not leave an inch or so, drill and tap a hole, bend the bottom of the fender in, and bolt it down so it doesn't flap around?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

That would be an excellent idea.

[@Twizter68]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 I thought it would be...what did you do about the rust on the inside of the rocker area?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

It was pretty surface so I sanded it down and painted with rust stop paint. Hopefully that works

[@Twizter68]

Cool. The one I watched before yours just left it rusty...I was shaking my head through his whole vid.

[@XGhost_GunX]

Just subscribed but i would like it if you had better lighting

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Thanks for the sub. I definitely have gotten better about having good lighting in my latest videos.

[@gregnorvell9730]

Well send him some lights. I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

[@fordson1932]

What year is your xj?

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

99

[@dexterkardas6559]

Any issues with the body being attached to the frame now

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

It's a unibody vehicle. It was always attached to the frame. This just adds reinforcement

[@dexterkardas6559]

@@MuddyBeards4X4 thank you. I did realize its a unibody . Its my sons jeep and i have never been under it. Definitely the way to go

[@dexterkardas6559]

Sorry "Didn't realize" blast these giant thumbs.

[@daryolAdsit]

What size angle was that?

[@daryolAdsit]

On the unibody

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

3x3 and 3/16th thick.

[@DrHavok1]

DECENT!!!

[@laneh.5150]

very cool project, but I must comment. - as another guy that always used a grinder without a guard on it.. after my cutoff wheel snagged in some material and kicked back into my finger and went down to the bone, I suggest you never use an angle grinder without a guard on it. my left index finger last joint is constantly numb and has about 50% dexterity even several years later & I would hope that never happens to anyone else.

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Wow man that's terrible. I know it's a bad habit to leave it off.

[@2dollarrip571]

Put that wire wheel on the wrong way... great video tho

[@lionreb]

What you had on there looked fine. I don't see the need to do this job at all. I have tons of rust repair that needs to be done on my vehicles which I cannot do myself and which I cannot find reasonable friends to do so it is a bit disconcerting to see you doing a change just for the hell of it...where are all the local people who will do this stuff dirt cheap for friends and family??

[@MuddyBeards4X4]

Well certainly was not just for the hell of it. I plan on fixing a cage to the 2x6 and needed something secure to do that, and they provide more ground clearance and my rockers were rusted out pretty bad. Its a solid upgrade all around for off roading. I hope you can find someone to help you out with replacing yours.

[@lionreb]

Thank you for your reply....I will watch the whole video later when I have a bit more time and perhaps I will understand your intentions a bit better. Mostly my own frustration talking...I respect the work a lot..

[@user-uq6ty1qo9l]

I'll lend you some money for a light