Last night I stayed late after work and spent about 2 hours inspecting and  Rustblocking my GV, getting ready for winter.  While it was up on the frame hoist I realized there's a fair sized difference in the ground clearance between the bottom of my rockers and the bottom of the frame itself.  I have no lift of any sort, my GV is stock in that respect, but it sure looks like I'd be able to get some Rockrails (or similar) mounted to protect the bottom of the rockers, and NOT lose any more ground clearance.

I didn't measure as I wasn't thinking about it at the time, but later that night when I was eating dinner it struck me that this might be possible.  So now I just finished browsing around this site seeing what's available and I REALLY like those Rocky Road Rockrails.  I had a bad experience with an ugly rock on a stock friendly (HAH!) trail this past spring and haven't been out on a club excursion since. 

SO the big question, since I don't have a body lift, if I installed these Rockrails, would they drop down lower than my frame rails?  They look really nice on Rocky Road's site but it's hard to tell if they would or not.    One of the pictures shows under a white '01 Tracker and it looks like the bottoms of the rockrails are level with the bottom of the frame, same pic I don't see any sign of a bodylift either, bonus.

Anyone who knows for sure let me know...  it looks like I'm going to be postponing my A/T tires purchase for another winter...

Thanks

James

The rocky road rock rails don't drop below the frame height.

get a lift!!!  rock rails aren't gonna do you any good if you aren't on the trails!  i took my tracker through the quinn last weekend, nothing but rocks and my rockers remain unchanged.... lift..tires!!!!

Get 'em.

LIFT.........................................  the quinn makes that 'stock friendly' club trail look like a paved road.... 

LIFT.........................................

NO!

  the quinn makes that 'stock friendly' club trail look like a paved road.... 

Obviously I won't be going on that one.  Hey last weekend I found this hydro access road off Darling Road, sound familiar?  I went a little ways in but was short on time and alone but it looked nice...

I'm perfectly happy with the mild stuff.  I like ROAD RALLY more.

I really think they misjudged that "stock friendly" level and didn't anticipate the amount of wet and mud and the amount of vehicles making the ruts deeper and deeper and deeper.  If the ground was a lot dryer I'm sure I would not have had a problem with that particular rock because then there would've been less ruts & more traction for my bald "car" tires... 

You weren't there anyways, sheesh.   

James

Go ahead and get your tires first Ralley_t.  If your tread is indeed getting worn, you're putting yourself unnecessarily at risk.  IF you or a love one is hurt because your beast lost traction on a road and crashes and burns... who cares about trails, or lifts or anything else?   LATER...  consider adding some OME springs or a set of coil spacers (one inch in the rear and 3/4" in front) .   The slight lift the springs or shorter coil spacers give you WILL provide you more frame clearance... along with the tires if they are slightly taller than stock issue. 

Best of all, the springs WILL provide you a "more better" road ride and your handling on the road won't be compromised.  Your sway bar will still mount right back up and you'll be a happy camper, but take care of the safety issues first.  Rock rails would probably be your third resort if you aren't satisfied with the previous upgrades.

The reality is there ARE different strokes for different folks.  There are trails I will never run because I don't want to beat the hell out of Buster's body panels.  But there are guys who have the lift, tires and armor who intend to run these trails and can travel them without totally trashing their truck's bodies.  That's OK with me.  I still enjoy the hell out of reading bout them, seeinig pics of their rigs, modifications, and listening to all the BS banter about the same.   It's all good.  I wish I lived where there were more readily accessable trails.  I used to ride dirt bikes and race in motos, but it got old packing up the bike and transporting it for hours to a place where I could ride legally, so I said screw it and sold the bike and the gear and never looked back.

LOL - OK, I tried....  ya, the quinn is rated by the local clubs for 33's minimum and one locker...  went with another tracker and a sami, we didn't need any tugs, just a little push or bounce here and there and done!  it was tight, had to remove the mirrors before the trail...  in all honesty i'm very surprised i didn't obtain any body damage on the trail.....  i guess i like that sorta thing more than speed, i get my high speed fun skydiving.  i must admit that the trails around our area this year are in worse shape than last year without question.  been up to darling road before, you can go all the way through there i believe, there are a few spots that are rough but can be avoided if my memory serves correctly.  if i do the wabum (rusty bat trail) this year i'll pm you.  we brought a stock gv in there 2 yrs ago and he did quite well, just taking his time..  it's near calabogie.  so get your rails and start sliding!

He Ralleys this truck not mud it So you dont need a lift. More like a stock heigh more travel lift with some protection.

The RR frame slider protectors do not go lower the frame . I called them last year and was thinking of getting a set for my GV. Since NB has some crappy winter clearing on the bases and i can hear ice hitting my rockers. One of these days its going to be hard and colapse. Just like my POS gas tank skid plate lol.

Thanks Josh

Springs-wise I might want stronger springs (but not higher) if I find I'm hitting the bump stops too much on the frost heaves / yumps, with the extra weight of the skids 'n' sliders.  Other than that possibility, I'm happy with the suspension the way it is right now.

I ordered up my tires and Rockrails thursday night.  Now I'm all anxious.   

James

I have the same prob being slammed LOL. Try some helper bag springs. Im not sure who makes stiffer stock hieght springs.