As
a mom with a Jeep I struggle with the changes I want to make to that Jeep. It is a
daily tug-o-war trying to figure out how to make modifications for the
off-roading I want to do and yet keep my Jeep in daily driver form.
I
am so thankful for the great online Jeep community who is willing to share
thoughts and experiences. I have learned that no one idea or opinion is the
correct one -- everyone has individualized Jeep needs and wants.
Over
the past few months I have wavered between investing in a new lift, upgrading my
tires, rock sliders and new bumpers.

The folks
at ExtremeTerrain made that decision pretty easy. They sent me a pair of rock
sliders -- the Barricade Rock Sliders -- to review.
Once
my new Barricade Rock Sliders arrived, I was beyond excited to get them on my
Jeep. Of course my mom duties took precedent so I had to wait until the next
day when the kids headed to school to begin the transformation. But that didn't
stop me from going out into the garage (in the dark of night) to get under my
Jeep to scope out the project ahead.
The
new sliders did not look like they were going to be an easy swap with my stock
side steps. I was in panic mode all night trying to figure out how the new rock
sliders were going to attach. The stock steps had six bolts attached to my
Jeep in three different locations. The new sliders only had three attachment
points with what looked like one bolt. I read over the directions I think
probably about 50 times. I went under the Jeep about 20 times trying to figure
out what these body mounts were.

Well,
everything does look better in the morning. Once the kids were off to school I
got back under the Jeep in the daylight and went OHHHHHH!!!! Duh!!!
There they
were right in front of my eyes, if they were a snake they would have bit me:
three body mounts.
So,
I jumped right to it. I broke out the tools I needed and sat down to work.
I
attached the ratchet to the bolt and began to pull... and pull... and pull...
and pull... I even swore a bunch of times. I was bound and determined to do this
whole change by myself. Not wanting to ask for help, I finally broke down and
asked my husband for his muscle.
After
showing him what I was doing he just shook his head and laughed. I was
tightening the bolts not loosening them, as everything is backwards when you are
down under your vehicle. Righty tighty, lefty loosey is reversed. Once I had
that squared away it was a quick and easy removal.
So
step two began... the removal of the body mount bolts. I took the advice of many
online Jeepers and sprayed the body mounts with WD 40.
I don't think this actually made a
difference for my Jeep. It's pretty new and there wasn't really a whole lot of
rust. Actually there wasn't any rust but a lot of dirt and mud. I think this was
a trick by everyone. The WD 40 created a muddy greasy mess. Or maybe WD 40 isn't
really to help loosen things up but to make things messy just so it looks like
you were working hard.
The
body mount bolts didn't need a whole lot of muscle, with just a little force and lots
of grunting they came loose.
But, then they kept spinning and spinning and
spinning. I couldn't figure out what in the world was going on. So again -- I
headed back to my computer. I emailed a fellow Jeeper and texted another. After
some good tips I went back out and tried again.
With the use of my ratchet and
some channel locks -- I think that is what they are called -- the first bolt
popped out. Those body mount bolts are pretty persnickety. They need a firm but
gentle pull and out they come.
Whew!
With the steps off I was ready to get those sliders on. I was expecting some
tough work but I was determined to do it all myself.
Find
out in my next post if I was able to get it done all by myself or did I have to
solicit the help of my husband. In the meantime I wish I would have just taken
those side-steps off in the first place. I never did use them to get into my
Jeep plus I think my Jeep looks pretty Beast-mode "Naked!"
- Simple Living! - Enjoying Life! -
-- The Jeep Momma Way --ExtremeTerrain provided the rock sliders for review. No additional compensation received.
All opinions are my own.
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