Rocker Panel Design for 72-75 CJ-5

Here is a design I came up with, now this is not final but close. I am thinking about having them built out if the price is right, what do you think?

 

What supports the L under the body? The body comes down in a rolled edge, and there's nothing to support it. Usually it's the 1" of metal that sticks down that gets smashed. The large amount of metal that extends under the body doesn't seem very useful.

Long ago I used angle iron similarly (after I smashed the lower edge of the body).

How about a backing piece to reinforce the edge of the fender?

 

The reasoning I am going 10" under the body is two fold, one is to tie into a body mount and the other is to tie in the feet to my roll cage. I am also planing on using backing plates on the inside of the body, and on the underside of the front fender. The rockers will be cut from 1/4" steel or 5/16" if costs are too high.

Do you think that 10" is too much under the body?

 

My preference would be to use as little material as possible. If they are made out of 1/4" steel, they're going to be awfully heavy. One advantage of the right-angle bend is strength, and any impacting force will be distributed along the entire body. I'd think 1/8" would be plenty, or at most 3/16" thick. If you're worried about the slider pushing in on the ends, you could put a web down the inside of the slider.

 

Nice man , heres the thread on mine my drawing is not as detailed. Firegod33 makes some nice ones you might want to look at .

 

Okay, so I go up 5.5 inches on the body and how far would be sufficient under the body?

 

I have seen firegod's rockers, but they currently are not in production, he has other things on his plate. I am just trying to have a good overall design for the "intermediate" CJ. There are not many people making rockers out there for the 5's and I don't know why.

 

Yeah, I know...that is why we need to put our heads together and create a early cj-5 co-op fab shop!

 

from the two pictures I have seen of his I like the design, but I have been always been curious how far the panel goes under the body, and how it is supported.

 

I would say go all the way to the frame out of 1/4", but then again I always go overkill. Seen some of the warn rock guards made for other jeeps that are made out of 3/16" and they get bent on real hard hits. I've always liked the design of these from PSC https://www.spydercustoms.com/index2.php . but felt they could be built cheaper than what they sell them for.

 

I really designed my rockers as a hybrid of SpyderCustoms, and others...I didn't think of speed holes on the bottom to lose some weight...note to self add that junk on there...do you think the length is going to be too much, not quite to the frame, but will be supported by my roll cage foot and one body mount...maybe another on the end near the tire (bolt and rubber spacer?)

 

You'll also want to weld in some supports for that tube on the side otherwise it will bend in on contact.

Otherwise looks good.

Kevo