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ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:44 pm
by saf98tj
I a looking for rocker protection for my TJ. Anyone have any experience with Ace engineering TJ rock rails. They seem to get a lot of good press on the forums. I really couldn't find anything negative online. Does anyone in the club use them?

Thanks
Scott

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:28 am
by ZAEDOCK
I've never liked tube guards. Consider that 1/8" steel is .125" and these are only .009" thicker. If these were on my rig, they would be destroyed in one run.

Mild steel tubing
2" tube with 0.134 wall thickness




I recommend a rocker guard that mounts right to the body and attaches at the body mounts. I run the old version of Poison Spyder's Rocker Knockers. They take a literal beating. It's about $100 more than the Ace, but worth it.

TJ version:
http://shop.poisonspyder.com/TJ-Rocker- ... 08-020.htm

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:13 am
by Kurt
Agreed. Spend a few more bux on some good rocker protection.

The Ace ones aor only secured using two of the tub mounting bolts. I suspect they bend up on a hard hit and damage you rocker panels and possibly break the two tub bolts. :-o
Would recommend a style like the PSC's that provide protection under the tub and on the side of the rocker and picks up the tub mounting location and bolts to the side of the tub under the door.
I'd stay away from any design that connects to just the frame or just the body mounts.

Nothing worse than saving a couple of bux and then mangling them and possibly your tub. :shock:

The PSC's I have have taken a royal beating :-o and have only slightly dented the outer tubes. :dance:

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:40 am
by Baseshakers
I've had great success with AtoZ fab. Do you need a tube step? There is a long debate on jeepforum about step versus non-step. I went without because it reduces leverage on the tub. Of course I beat the piss out of my rockers with the long wheelbase...

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:20 pm
by schwalby
I have a set of AtoZ rockers and love them. They have been bashed on a ton of times and have had no issues at all.

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:38 pm
by saf98tj
I don't need a tube step and I have the same reservations regarding only bolting in two locations.

I did run some quick calculations and the weakest point is not so much the tubing but the box section where it mounts. Of course this depends how the jeep lands.

The interesting thing is I could not find any reviews online saying that they had them bend up into their rockers. Who knows maybe people do not want to admit publicly that they had issues after laying down the coin. Figured I get more "real" feedback here.

My only hesitation with tub mounted ones is not being able to reverse the mods to the body needed.

I like the A to Z's also and will check out the psc's

Thanks
Scott

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:25 pm
by saf98tj
I ended up ordering a set of wheel well to wheel well A to Z's this week.

Now I just need to replace a front u-joint and get rocker guards installed and I will be good to go! For now :-)

Re: ace engineering rock rails

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:34 pm
by ZAEDOCK
Nice choice. You'll be happy you don't have tube the first time you hit hard.