Custom Skid Plate

[eli]

I am looking into fabbing up a full length steel skid plate for my 04 4runner. i have a pretty good idea of how i am going to make it i was just wondering what thickness steel are most skids made of. If i had to take a guess i would think 1/8" to 3/16" would be more then enough. or is this over kill. i don't want to add more weight then i have too.


also if anyone has any suggestions or insights from personal experience all the help i can get is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Good Times]

Eli:

I'm in the process go making some production run of skids for the 4th gen. I'm in the middle of getting a template done. I hope to get them out soon (most likely not for a month out due to work taking up way too much time). I'm doing this on the side so it's not something I can do daily.

3/16" is too thick and will weigh you down too much. I'll be using 11ga or 10 ga steel and if it bends, just use a bfh (big fat hammer) to mold it back in place. You want to use the skid as a belly where the skid takes the damage and nothing else.

Good luck!

I am looking into fabbing up a full length steel skid plate for my 04 4runner. i have a pretty good idea of how i am going to make it i was just wondering what thickness steel are most skids made of. If i had to take a guess i would think 1/8" to 3/16" would be more then enough. or is this over kill. i don't want to add more weight then i have too.


also if anyone has any suggestions or insights from personal experience all the help i can get is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[hossmaster]

Did you see the article from one of those 4 wheeler mags about the Lexus they chopped up. They ran a skid made of the same type of plastic that cutting boards are made of. Not sure how strong, but easy to make and have decent deflection when hit on things.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0503_tlex/index.html

 

[Good Times]

Re: Re: Re: Custom Skid Plate

Any more details on this? DIBS!?

I'm going to go full swing into production after my Death Valley trip at the end of this month. Until then I'm sort of busy working on building a tire carrier for the DV trip. I was hoping to get the skid done but I'm kinda tight on time so the skid will have to wait. No price has been set though since it all depends on how much bulk sheets I can buy at one time.

This is all out of pocket at the moment so it's gonna suck! doh!

Skid will be based on the current skid that I have with a few modifications. It will not cover the TC as the current does not either. I have not damaged the TC nor have I really banged up the TC so I won't be implementing the skid into the mix at the moment. I know there are TC skids out there for the previous gen so if needed I'm sure one can be modified to fit the 4th gen.

It will be a single piece design (not 2 pieces like some of the other vendors that sell skids). I'm doing this to cut costs and also to make the belly as flat and have no protruding bolts/nuts that'll get caught up.

I should have one done in April and have something to sell in May. Not sure how I'm going to sell/ship these items as it's going to be the sinlge piece (which is pretty big and heavy) but I'll coordinate with some local shops to see if they can handle the shipping/purchasing for me (hard to do since I already have a FT job that kills me with long hours).

Anyway, I'll be posting something once I get 3 versions done (v8, v6 4A/T, v6 5A/T). Prices will be set once I get a firm idea on how much sheet metal and time it'll take to build one.

Thanks

 

[teotwaki]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Custom Skid Plate

.......Anyway, I'll be posting something once I get 3 versions done (v8, v6 4A/T, v6 5A/T). Prices will be set once I get a firm idea on how much sheet metal and time it'll take to build one.

Thanks

updates?

 

[Good Times]

I got the v8 done but the cost was going to be very unreasonable so I made some changes in the design and currently waiting to hear back from them on how much it'll cost w/ the new changes.

Also it looks like Toyota made some frame changes from 05+ so I'll need to find some more 4runners to measure out the frame. I noticed this when I went to a wrenchathon helping out w/ some spacer installs. Looks like 05+ may have a single frame design vs the 04's. Not sure excatly but when I get these next few quotes back I'll start looking at the variations.

Thanks

 

[Good Times]

Here's some more info:

I'm still debating what size (thickness) skid to make. Either 10ga or 3/16".

10ga = 60# (approx)
3/16th = 85# (approx)

I'm fine tuning the mounting system as I'm trying to keep the cost down to a minimum. I will have a template done next week and move forward from there.

 

[Good Times]

my dilemma... shippin...

not sure but my skid is going to be a single piece 60+ inches at 85# + (packaging)... I figure that'll be $$$ to ship! eek!

 

[Good Times]

I'll come pick mine up

Are you planning on going to the crossmember just in front of the transfercase? Above or below the 45 degree bars?

This round of skid will not cover the tc and will be only available for the 03/04 v8 model. I haven't figured out a good way to protect the tc since there's really no room for me to place a subframe behind it or around it that I will feel will be cost effective.

I took a close look at the other v6 and even the newer v8 model and the frame is
different so I'll have to build a different template for those skids.

You lost me on the 45 degree bars parts.

 

[Jeffreal]

transfer case skid

Just curious about your 60+" length skid. Are you designing it to go all the way back to protect the transfer case? Maybe you don't need that much length if the Stubbs fabricated transfer case skid is good enough for that job. See the 4th gen thread here:
4th gen transfer case skid (Teotwaki)[/URL]

Anyone other than Teotwaki try this Stubb part?

 

[Jeffreal]

Transfer Case Skid link

Hmm.. the link didn't work to that thread on the transfer case skid.. here it is again with "long-hand" included:


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showt...=19845&highlight=stubbs+and+transfer+and+skid

LINK

 

[Good Times]

Joel:

It'll go under the 45 degree bars so it'll cover everything. No exposed bolts or anything so no worries about things getting caught.

Jeffreal:

The TC skid that other vendors offer is an excellect option that anyone can do. I've read that it fits w/ some small modifications.

 

[teotwaki]

Joel:

It'll go under the 45 degree bars so it'll cover everything. No exposed bolts or anything so no worries about things getting caught.

Jeffreal:

The TC skid that other vendors offer is an excellect option that anyone can do. I've read that it fits w/ some small modifications.

My TC skid plate just came today. Stubbs has designed it to bolt on with no modifications. I'll post pictures of the install.

 

[teotwaki]

Re: Re: transfer case skid

I've ordered one, should have it soon. After a rock magically loosening my transfercase drain plug, I figured it was time.

Dang, you are fast! You and I are the first to get the 4th Gen 4Runner version. I got number one and you ordered right about when Stubbs shipped mine.