Greetings fellow Jeep lovers! We here over at LOD Offroad have been working hard to bring you the new Destroyer Series! Having already produced front and rear/tire carrier bumpers, we will soon be releasing the 2017 Jk Jeep Destroyer armor steps! They will feature a solid mounting system, must-have features such as no-slip tread steps, and even available options such as integrated courtesy lights! Here are some prototype photos from the fab shop Let us know what you think!

 

So these look like they mount to the body mounts ala ACE? Is there anyother attaching points? I had ACE and currently have the LoD sliders and like the way the Lod sliders are mounted IMO much stronger.

 

These will attach to the body via the three large bolts that hold the tub to the frame, as well as multiple points along the pinch weld. A compromise between frame welded and body mounted. Everyone will be able to weld them on technically so if someone wants to go that route they can choose to do so.

 

They look good!!

 

These look awesome! Can't wait to see a finished product mounted up

 

I see a really easy and clean way to add some frame connections to them. As the design is right now, I would not run them off-road. Here is why...

1. ACE body mount are known to have enough flex to run into the pinch seam and cause body damage.

2. Ace sliders provide a fairly large gap between the slider and pinch seam, so it at least limits the chance of that happening.

3. There is a ton of flex in the body mounts and bolts.

4. That flex is going to be transferred into a handful of mounting points at the pinch seam.

5. Even the best deigned boat sliders with attachments everywhere have resulted in substantial bending of the body sheet metal and even B-pillar.

Destroyer series is close - Pinch Seam Destroyer would be more accurate.

I am an LoD fan and have run and do run their products. That said, I strongly encourage some rethinking of the design and add a few frame tie-ins.

 

x2 that was my thought. I did not like the way the ACE mounted and the frame mounted LoD's are tough way better. these look like they would be replacements for the Sahara steps but not real rock sliders. Maybe they will mount more solid than I think but still LoD has a proven mount system with their current sliders so why not at least incorporate some of that in these new ones.

 

Keep in mind that this is a prototype version, and we are experimenting with various mount systems currently because several buyers expressed a dislike towards having to drill the frame in order to mount. The frame square tubing mounts are indeed a stronger connection, one that seems to have never failed on anyone, no matter how hard they bashed themselves against boulders and trail obstacles.

That being said there are a few details in the new design not being disclosed here (partially the possible incorporation of other materials such as rubber so there are a few more tests to run before we make a decision on the mounts) As always, we appreciate your feedback, interest, and will take into consideration all the good points made here when we discuss the design again with the engineering department! Perhaps we can convince them that we should keep some design features from the old steps, eh?

 

It is a little surprising that someone would have a problem drilling holes in the frame. There are already a ton there, so nothing wrong with a little more company to hangout with. If that is truly the case, then those people don't really need "rock sliders." Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure the percentage of modified Jeeps that don't see trails far exceeds those that do, so it is a big market.

That said, LoD is well known for making Jeep parts that are pure beef and essentially fail-proof. If you make a "rock slider" it has to stay true to your history and your brand. That is where your credibility is.

I am not suggesting you ignore the other customers who want a simple bolt-on product. So, you've already done most of the R&D, why not make two products out of one? Make one version as a bullet proof "rock slider" and a second version that is a "side step." The side step can easily cost less as you can use thinner steel and less reinforcement. You can probably do away with the pinch seam tie in as well if you wanted to.

Anyway, look forward to seeing the final product.

 

Finally!!! A product that looks like the OEM steps and are functional for off road rock slider body protection as well. A concept so simple, I'm surprised it took 9 years of the JK being in production before someone designed this product.

Thanks LOD for being the smartest product planning group in the room to figure out what a lot of us have been looking for instead of designing yet another set of stereo typical side step rock slider rails made from pipe tubing. I'm looking forward to seeing the production parts and it's availability!!!

I'll be happy to send you my address and pay for shipping, if you need someone to do some prototype sample testing in the rust belt.

P.S. Don't forget to make these in a length that we don't need to worry about our larger tires rubbing against them and/or making them so they can be trimmed down if needed. (ie don't make them like the OEM Enhanced Rubicon rock rails).