Choosing the Right Rocker Panel Protection

By Frank Ledwell
Editor in Chief
(From Issue 3, Volume 2)

In the last version of ‘The Freek Garage’, we discussed the fabrication of rocker panel guards on Matt Adair’s XJ. This issue, we’d like to focus more on choosing the right rocker panel guards for your rig, and the different options that are available to you when choosing the proper protection.

 

When most Jeep enthusiasts hit the trails, often times body and frame protection come second to having plenty lift and large tires. The fact of the matter is that if you don’t have a properly prepared rig that includes rocker panel protection, a lift and large tires won’t protect you from the prospect of leaving the trails with a damaged vehicle. There are several design options for rocker panel guards that provide aesthetic value and functionality for your rig, and depending on how you plan to use your Jeep, some options may be better than others.

 

If you plan to use your Jeep vehicle in occasional off-highway situations where there are easy terrains and non-technical trails, then stock nerf bars will work just fine. They provide

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adequate protection along a portion of the Jeep body, but because they usually decrease the amount of clearance available under the vehicle, they will limit the terrain that can be explored. 

 

For those who use their Jeep vehicle to explore varying terrain difficulties, there are several options available from several manufacturers including Rokmen Manufacturing, an industry leader in the off-highway fabrication market. Rokmen offers two types of rocker panel guards that both provide tremendous protection on the trails: the Mercenary series for TJs and LJs, and the Step Slider option available for TJs.

 

The Mercenary series features wheel well to wheel well protection, as well as complete underbody coverage, to protect your vehicle from practically anything on the trails. Side-mounted for maximum clearance, this option is undoubtedly an excellent choice in any off-highway situation.

 

The TJ step slider, which we recently tested, is another option whose hybrid design not only protects against trail damage but also from debris damage in the big city. We were thrilled by this rocker panel protection because it has functionality that works wonderfully for daily driver use but still provides excellent protection on even the most difficult of trails.

 

Choosing the proper protection for your Jeep is vital while out on adventure. Whether it’s a trip to the local adventure park or a transcontinental excursion through desert and jungle, the options are out there to make your next trip a fun and damage-free experience and one in which you should always remember to ‘tread lightly’.

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