ButchBuilt Rocker Protection

Butch Lewis recently replaced my rocker panels with some 3/16"-wall, 4" square tubing, capped at the ends with plate and sealed, tapped and threaded for use as an air tank. He put nerf bars on it, which aren't part of the air tank. The tubing for the nerf is 2" OD steel with .120" wall thickness. The square tubing is welded to the body, replacing the old rocker panels entirely. Some ask me why he didn't attach the rockers to the frame. He told me:

I haven't gone off-road since the mod, (work!) but these are preparation for Rubithon. I'm not in a hurry to actually test these, but they're good insurance.

When I get the air compressor hooked up and working, filling these tanks, I'll post a write-up of that, too.

The workmanship and quality are top-notch, and they're just plain pretty. They don't depart too much from the original design, and he left me a little more tire clearance on the trailing edge of the front wheel well and the leading edge of the rear wheel well. I'd recommend Butch for any custom fab work you're considering for your cruiser.

Butch also put some BMW seats in for me, but that's another subject.

UPDATE

I put these nerfs and rockers to the test during Rubithon 2000, and they are very stout. The only evidence of their trip through intense boulder fields, significant drop-offs and rock surfing are some scrapes in the paint. I was even able to use them as steering devices. If I'd get in a tight turn that was too acute for the long wheelbase of the FJ55, I'd put the nerf on a boulder on the inside of the turn and pivot on it. Quite a few times I'd come down off some ledge or overhang to slam the rockers on something. The whole truck would shudder, but there was no damage to the rockers.

Next up, on-board air with these things as air tanks. Thanks, Butch.

Morgan, July 2, 2000


Morgan Fletcher <morgan@off-road.com>
Last modified: Mon Jul 3 15:17:31 PDT 2000
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