Skid Plate Fabbrication

[Kenny]

id like to see it installed ........with the way thing hang down under there?

[don moore]

Did you have to add spacers to it ..next to the frame?

[So-CalVX]

I wish I could afford under armor and a trip out to the trails. And that would help alot when I (eventually) move back to WV and hit the trails daily.

Also... Would they be able to fab up a front and rear skid plate like the ones on the O2 and everybody longs for? That would be awesome.

[logman]

Where do I get one of those! Are those drawings all I would need to get one of those built?

[snowtrooper1966]

Kenny!
You 'da man!
Than's exactly what I needed. What thickness stock was used? I see the cutout for the oil drain, and I am thinking this one peice protects the gas tank as well, since it goes so far back?
Thanks a million!
James

[Ldub]

Kenny!
You 'da man!
Than's exactly what I needed. What thickness stock was used? I see the cutout for the oil drain, and I am thinking this one peice protects the gas tank as well, since it goes so far back?
Thanks a million!
James

Your gas tank already has a crush panel/skid plate.
What you see under the rear that looks like the gas tank, is actually a bash pan.
After some Moab trail mods, I've removed mine & massaged it with a two pounder...make nice.

[JHarris1385]

I think I could get this fabbed for me by my local guy for about $150 tops. He did my diff brackets for $15.

[nfpgasmask]

James, if you find your guys will do this for a decent price, let them know they might have a few "local" customers. I would be interested in something like what Kenny has, but painted black of course!

Bart

[snowtrooper1966]

Not to worry, Bart!
You will be on the top of the list, even with your challenged view about films
I will keep you all posted with results and cost if I can get them to produce some....
James

[Kenny]

Did you have to add spacers to it ..next to the frame?

No spacers, they bolt right to the cross members below and to the tow hook bolts in the front. There is enough flex in the plates to make it work well.

Where do I get one of those! Are those drawings all I would need to get one of those built?

The drawings are a start point. I would have the front brackets that tie into the tow hook threaded holes custom measured to get the angle right. Mine are a bit off... to lazy to make nice.

Kenny!
You 'da man!
Than's exactly what I needed. What thickness stock was used? I see the cutout for the oil drain, and I am thinking this one peice protects the gas tank as well, since it goes so far back?
Thanks a million!
James

I used 1/4" aluminum.
I was leery about putting a skid on the gas tank as I didn't want to BOLT it on and wind up a Pinto. I would WELD a gas tank skid on the one thats there if you want that protection - if you are there, I would also have it extend over the cladding to the underside of hatch door. This is where you gouge your cladding coming off a steep rock...

Right now I'm playing with the idea of UHMW skids as some sort of gas tank skid/sliders... maybe bolt a plate of it under the rock sliders to "grease" the ride off a rock...

I think I could get this fabbed for me by my local guy for about $150 tops. He did my diff brackets for $15.

James, if you find your guys will do this for a decent price, let them know they might have a few "local" customers. I would be interested in something like what Kenny has, but painted black of course!
Bart

I hate touch up painting, so I paid through the nose to get good aluminum.

[JoFotoz]

COOL...go for it , and I'll take one too........I'll give ya $350.

I think I could get this fabbed for me by my local guy for about $150 tops. He did my diff brackets for $15.

jo

[logman]

I would be interested aswell. I could maybe pick it up too, since I only live one state away ill pay 350 no prob...

[LittleBeast]

He did my diff brackets for $15.

Dang I would love to get that deal! I might need to now with the new lift and all.

[logman]

I did some emailing yesterday to see what I could find as far as prices go.. Here is one reply from a fabricator in Kalamazoo, MI.

I think I need to find someone doing this on a much smaller scale... larger companies see this as an inconvenience if anything.

We can certainly do this unit for you, however, I must warn you that a single item such as this is regarded as a "Prototype" and is cost prohibitive.
There may be something available on the market that you can purchase, and I can tell you that if there is, we cannot beat the price you can buy it for.

I encourage you to research this and see if you can find it. In the event you cannot, and "cost is no object", then please feel free to contact us for an actual quote, which we will be happy to do for you. As a baseline, our prototype costing starts at about $2,500, although with an item as simple as this, I think we could do it for about $1,500.
Here is a freebie: Despite the weight difference, I would go with 3/16" steel to fabricate this as aluminum is actually very delicate, and dents and scratches easily even in 1/4" thickness.

[snowtrooper1966]

Your gas tank already has a crush panel/skid plate.
What you see under the rear that looks like the gas tank, is actually a bash pan.
After some Moab trail mods, I've removed mine & massaged it with a two pounder...make nice.

Thanks, Ldub!
I guess it wouldn't kill me to slide under the Dragon b4 asking dumb questions!
James