Bentup Sliders - a product review

[TheMike]

This is my first post about the Bentup sliders since I have had them installed and used. I am sorry to say that I am not happy with them at all. I gave Bentup 2 weeks to reply to my comments and they have ignored me so here is the scoop.

I have the DC 05 Tacoma. I purchased from Bentup their bolton sliders. I painted and then installed them. That is where the positive notes stop.

I bought them because they are going to be used as they are "designed" for. The first time they were used on rocks they bent up (no pun intended) almost touching the truck body. There is no way they would last under normal rock usage.

There were no gussetts installed therefore nothing holding the sliders straight when weight applied. They install only through existing vertical holes in the frame. Even though they come with L brackets the bottom of the L doesn't either rest on the bottom of the frame or bolt through it.

Yes, you could drill and further support them under pressure by using bottom bolts. You could weld your own gussets and make them infinately stronger. Do what you will to a set of sliders that are only supposed to be painted and installed to be tough and trail ready.

My ***** is that they failed as they came to be as tough as everyone stated Bentup stuff is. I remove them, straightened them, installed gussetts, then repainted them. They are now as they should have been from the get go.

Aside from the above issues, the other complaint I have (not their fault as I purchased them) is that they are big and really limit your clearance wheeling. Meaning they are flush with the bottom of the frame and stick out beyond the doors. When rock crawling they stick out far enough and straight enough that they contact the ground/rocks way to early for my liking when the truck is leaning. They are like little wings sticking out there.

If I had it to do all over again, and might in the future, I would go with a set that angle up by the doors. Like Demello's. They are a couple of hundred dollors over Bentup but I expect much more useable on the trails. They come powder coated which I believe a waste of money for items that will get scraped up and require frequent touch-ups.

Anyway, if you want trail ready sliders, there are my thoughts.

I know, pics! I am at work and can post some later.

[tbrown78]

That sucks.
Just for future reference Demello does sell their sliders bare if you want, you just have to give them a call, they're about the same price as bentup's or any of the others and they are fully gussetted and come with 16 grade 8 bolts and thick 1/4 steel backing plates. I've jacked my truck up a few times using them and they dont move. Plus they have really good customer service, if you ever have any concerns or questions they're usually really quick to respond. I tried to contact AJ a few times about some of their other products and they never responded so I gave up. Maybe they don't check email or messages.

[TheMike]

I checked the bentup site to link it in my post and discovered that the 05/06 Taco bolt on sliders are "in house only" now. I wonder why?

[TheMike]

Originally Posted by tbrown78

...for future reference Demello does sell their sliders bare if you want....

I would do it differently now but at the time I was setting up my truck for Moab. Time and money were both getting very tight. I learn something new every day.

As my father always said, "If it worth doing, it's worth doing right the first time!"

[TACODOC]

I've had my Bentup sliders for over a year now, I opted for them to be welded to the frame as this is stronger IMO. During this last year I have done some trails and had a few run ins with rocks with NO complaints, still straight and my rockers are still virgins
I personally LIKE the way they stick straight out. They do a number on rude peoples doors when they throw open their door into my truck
And, they work double duty as step bars for washing, and the young'uns and the misses, unlike those slippery round ones.
Rustoleum semi gloss black finish and easy touch up when necessary, I agree the powder coat is a waste of $$$.
For $280, AJ made them, painted them AND welded them on, mine are the first set they made for an 05 I'm very happy with them.
Bentup is AJ's side job and he's a busy, busy guy just like many of us. He is also a really nice dude with a great rep on TTORA and they dont give respect lightly over there...
Keep trying, I know he'll warranty his stuff if you talk to him about it!

My .02
...Doc

[TheMike]

Originally Posted by 05TACODOC

I've had my Bentup sliders for over a year now, I opted for them to be welded

I would have had absolutely no problems if these were weld on's. I didn't want weld ons and don't yet. Eventually I will as I too believe that's the strongest way to go.

These just didn't work as advertised, as designed (Bolt on's). Pics show issues. They are perfect now but it only took me extra money and an extra 1 1/2 days (plus paint time) to get them where they are now. I wheel the tar out of my truck but I do it softly and carefully. If I didn't wheel like that then I have do doubt that they would have bent up into my truck and caused damage that they were installed to stop.

I wrote Bentup and included pics of my issues. I wanted to hear back from them to give them an oportunity to address my concerns before I answered some PM's and questions about my feelings on the sliders. I thought it was fair. He may be a busy man but the time has passed enough that I didn't want anyone else buying these without knowing exactly how they will respond to rocks and such (like a highlift jack). If you don't wheel hard and want them for the "just in case" then great but if you wanted these for what they are designed for then be careful.

This may all be a mute point now anyway since you can't buy them anymore to bolt on yourself.

EDIT: Pics attatched

1st 3 are of the original showing both the bent brackets and filings required to initially install. The last pic is of my gusset modification.

[SMTRDSPORT]

I have the Stubbs sliders and have nothing but great things to say about them. I welded mine to the frame as well for the extra strength, and I'll tell ya what..they're solid. The sliders come bare so its the buyers option to leave them alone or paint them (I opted to hammer finish paint them with a rattle can so I could touch them up if needed). I've only had one instance so far where they came in contact with a tree stump and they were solid, didn't notice any benting, etc...

Just an FYI for potential slider buyers...

[magil]

Looking at your pictures even after your "gusset mod" the sliders are still too weak for my taste. The mount points are not designed to provide any upward resistance. The sliders are only hanging there by ONE bolt offering very little upward resistance -- only downward! Your gusset mod sure helps but it's a band-aid solution for a weak design.

The best bolt-on sliders I have seen so far are made by Hanna Quality (no affiliation with them). I've seen them in person on FZJ80 and here's a good write up on them on yotatech:

YotaTech Forums - *FACTS about HANNA QUALITY ROCKSLIDERS*