VXC rear skidplate UPDATE...

[ron]

hey folks...

Just thought to update those still wondering whether I'm really serious about creating the rear skidplate to compliment the front. Here's the CAD rendered images of what's to become the mold to produce the plate. This is about 90% complete as I'm finalizing the hole mounting placement locations along with the walls of the mold itself. But, the images will show you some indication of what's to come assuming it passes the test fit and look of the 1st prototype.

And once this part is released, I hope to follow shortly, with the sides to complete the entire kit.

Anyway, onward.

[Cyrk]

Looks great, will add this to my wish list... keep up the good work!

Where are the clear marker lights?

[johnnyapollo]

Hey Ron,

Looks good! Any provision for Tone's hitch or is that a cut-job?

-- Best, John

[Tone]

I sent Ron a message regarding that but in retrospect, cutting it to clear the 2.5" x 4.5" cutout required by the hitch should not be a big deal.

[johnnyapollo]

I'm thinking that the paint will chip up pretty bad from cutting - it's be great if there was a finished opening for the hitch - something a little more than a rough cut hole. It would really give it a finishing touch.

-- Best, John

[ron]

Modifying the rear plate to accommodate Tone's hitch shouldn't be much of a deal as Tone mentioned. I studied Tone's cut-out of the cladding for the hitch and it looks like a centered 2.5" square slot to clear the hitch when reinstalling the cladding bumper. You would lose the center screw mount for the rear plate during the modification. But, I don't think it will cause any issues as there are 4 others.

I suspect that there would be 3 possible scenarios to the hitch issue:

1. Those that don't plan to install the hitch, will receive the plate as is without any modification for a hitch install.

2. Those that do want the hitch but have not purchased it from Tone yet, will receive a plate that I will modify in advance and perhaps include a break away removable section where the slot would take place to accommodate the hitch.

3. Those that already have Tone's hitch installed, which I will cut out a slot in advance to the painting of the plate therefore one would just slip the plate in over the hitch to install.


I'm considering purchasing Tone's hitch in advance of the release of the rear plate to the public so I can see first hand of what I need to do for the modification.

As a note, for the group that #1 applies to in which you decide to change your mind after the fact, keeping the rear plate installed and removing the entire rear bumper cladding would allow you to cut both the cladding and the plate simultaneously to create the slot. And, just like the front plate, I will include a bottle of touch up paint along with the rear plate so you can touch up any paint chips during the cutting process.

Oh, BTW, Cyrk, I'm still in the process of fabricating the final mold for the clear lenses. Just one of the many balls I'm juggling these days. I'm hoping to offer those along with the rear and other goodies very shortly.

Thanks again for the compliments.

[ron]

Another update...

Had the prototype mold machined out and formed the first test fit prototype rear plate. Results are awesome!!! I also installed Tone's hitch and installed the plate afterwards. Looks great with both components. However, I need to modify slightly the slot where the hitch is applied. Other than that, the plate fits very nicely and really compliments the rear as well. I'll post pics when I get a chance.

[ron]

Latest pics as promised:

Here's the final CAD model before submitting to the machinist.


This is the foam mold machined in two halves at a time.



This is after the first vacuum-form over the prototype:


After all the excess flash material trimmed off to the profile line of the plate.


Preliminary mounting and test fit of the plate before the hitch installation.


Here's a pic of the plate painted in Black after the modifying a slot opening for the hitch clearance beforehand.


After the hitch installation, the rear plate is finished and mounted using the stock bottom screw mounts only.


A full rear view of the plate with the hitch combo.

[Raque Thomas]

Ron, looks great - I can't wait till it's ready. One thing though, it looks like the opening fot the hitch is much too large. It may be just the pictures; but on the prototype, the area designed for cutout looks MUCH smaller than the area cutout shown on the pic with the hitch installed. On that picture, it looks like the opening cut out is much larger than required to clear the hitch.

I know when I was installing my hitch, I was concerned about how the cladding was going to look cut out around the hitch. I did it a little at a time until it barely cleared, and you couldn't tell that it had been cut, because of the close fit to the hitch - it looks factory. Again, the picture may be misleading, but it looks like there is a lot of open area around the hitch on the installed plate, which makes it look like an afterthought. The depressed area on the shot before hitch install looks about right.

[2K1 1K2]

hello, ron. hope all well. skidplate looks great!

btw, nice font on your decal. any chance of this decal or one with this sites address being made available?

take care!

-jose

[Anita]

Very very nice, Ron! I wanna see this and more in Vegas!!

[ron]

Originally posted by Raque Thomas
Ron, looks great - I can't wait till it's ready. One thing though, it looks like the opening fot the hitch is much too large. It may be just the pictures; but on the prototype, the area designed for cutout looks MUCH smaller than the area cutout shown on the pic with the hitch installed. On that picture, it looks like the opening cut out is much larger than required to clear the hitch.

I know when I was installing my hitch, I was concerned about how the cladding was going to look cut out around the hitch. I did it a little at a time until it barely cleared, and you couldn't tell that it had been cut, because of the close fit to the hitch - it looks factory. Again, the picture may be misleading, but it looks like there is a lot of open area around the hitch on the installed plate, which makes it look like an afterthought. The depressed area on the shot before hitch install looks about right.

hey Raque...

The opening slot on the "just painted" pic is the actual opening slot to accommodate the hitch in place. Originally, I was going by what Tone's instruction of cutting out a 4-4.25" long by 2.5" wide cut-out which I found out to be only applicable to the cladding itself and not anything else over it. It's kinda hard to explain, but I believe because the curvature of the skidplate over the cladding combined with the angle placement of the hitch's square tubing, resulted in lengthening the slot in order to have the screw holes match up with the cladding mount holes. Don't know if that makes much sense or not. But while I kept fitting the plate over the hitch, I found myself trimming off more and more of the slot and thus the longer slot than the cad model. I'd say about 2.5" longer. Anyway, I think you may have mistaken the reflection of the hitch on a glossy black surface as part of the opening which it's not. The slot is shown as it is in the "just painted" pic. It's also squared off at the top to fit flushed along the top surface of the square tubing of the hitch. Believe me, the slot opening is not noticeable unless your directly underneath the vehicle.

I plan to re-adjust the slot on the CAD model to reflect the measurements of the test model. If you look closely to one pic, you'll see that the plate surface actually cover the 1/2" locking pin hole partially. This of course will prevent locking any kind of hitch accessory to the hitch which does no one any good. I plan to insert either a "trench" detail of some sort to allow a pin to be snaked into the hole or maybe another rectangular slot opening may be needed as a last resort. Either way, I'll be purchasing a hitch accessory with a locking pin to test it.


hey Jose...

I don't know what font I used for the decal on my avatar. Just pulled out what looked legible from photoshop in small print. BTW, mount those Borbets yet? Yes, I DO miss them and would like to see them on your truck soon. I'm sure they'll look killer!!!

Anita...

I'll try my best to do as much as time will allow me. I'm afraid once I start releasing the new parts, my time may be thinned out even more. However, I do have back-up help on the stand-by once things get overwhelming.


Thanks for the kudos all..

[johnnyapollo]

Hey Ron,

AWESOME!

-- John

[thebear54]

Ron,
I may just have to break down and buy one of those from you....AWSOME job
John

[Medman]

Ron, excellent work as usual. You can put me down for one as soon as your ready to take orders!!