Like Sticking a Bull in a china Shop, dropping your fullsize rig into rocky terrain will often leave you picking up quite a few broken pieces. as many of you know, body damage is part of it: a scratch here, a dent there, and an occasional windshield or two are all fair game when wrestling the rocks. But what about the stuff that's not so easy to replace? generally the lowest point on the body and the part most susceptible to damage is the rocker panels, which barely stand a chance once the weight of the vehicle smashes them down onto the rocks.
Only a few good hits can leave you with stuck doors and mangled body mounts when playing hard, so what's a fullsize crawler to do? next to your basic set of rocker guards, the next big step in making your fullsize squeeze through rocks more gracefully is to boatside your rig. no, we're not talking about attaching your Jon boat to the side of your rig, although a rig with a dingy might be kind of cool. Boatsiding involves removing any excess body that hangs down past the floor panels and creating an angled substructure that ties the body into the frame. this process is all brought together by plating your new substructure from the bottom of the door to the frame, acting as a side skid that will allow your rig to slide and pivot around the rocks without hanging you up, thus creating a V-shaped design similar to a boat's hull. hence the term boatside.
We should advise you that boatsiding requires the utmost confidence in your ability to fabricate and work with body panels, as this is a job that requires time, patience, and a good head for problem solving. although it's not cut and dry for all vehicles, boatsiding is a great solution for hard-core rockcrawlers that are looking to push their rig to the extreme and still have it hold together. offering maximum body clearance and protection at the same time, boatsiding will have you setting sail for the next rocky trail near you.
If you wheel long enough,...
If you wheel long enough, body damage is pretty much inevitable. The first items to usually take the hit are your rockers. Rock sliders help, but in some cases they will actually lessen your clearance, preventing your rig from damage, but sometimes hanging up on obstacles that otherwise you might simply cruise right over.
Boatsiding your fullsize means...
Boatsiding your fullsize means removing any excessive body that hangs lower than the floor. To regain the structural integrity of the body, it will be necessary to tie in support braces that run from the frame to the body as they will take the brunt of the force when you get your big rig in a skinny situation.
When it comes to fullsize...
When it comes to fullsize wheeling of the technical variety, there is one company that has it covered-off road design. With decades of experience, they have chopped, fabricated, and boatsided more big rigs than anyone we know, taking their time with each masterpiece to create an almost factory fit and finish.
Upwards of 6 inches of clearance...
Upwards of 6 inches of clearance can be gained when the body is trimmed to its maximum potential. although relatively timeextensive, the benefits are great and results are obvious.
Doors can be especially tricky...
Doors can be especially tricky when modifying your rig, as precision trimming is required to give the truck that factory finish. and if your doors are beat beyond repair, it's never too late to go doorless!
High clearance with a low...
High clearance with a low center of gravity is what rockcrawling is all about. Boatsiding allows you to gain both valuable clearance and protection without lifting the rig any higher than stock.