full underbody armor (skid plates)

CSL

CSL

New member
After the video evidence from last weekend of me grinding my transfer case (makes me shudder to watch), I have additional leverage (for the wife) to my need for complete body armor under our 3rd gen.

What are the best (strongest, most coverage) skidplate systems for 3rd gens. (front skid, under the rack/pinon, transfercase, bellypan, etc). I have found Budbuilt and Skidrow.

Budbuilt seems interesting, but their website is less than impressive, as it is not very clear and understandable. I don't understand if the flat crossmembers and transfer case clocking is necessary or not. Has anyone done this "clocking" of the T-case?
It looks like the budbuilt "combo" is just two peices that cover it all from bumper to past the t-case? Is this true?

Any suggestions/experiences for a complete underbody armor system would be appreciated.

Help me spend money I don't have! :bigok:
 
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If you get the Bubbuilt belly skid you should not have to clock the t-case. When I had the belly skid on my black 3rd gen I did not have to do so there's about a 1/2" to 3/4" clearance (off the top of my head from what I remember) between the skid and t-case.

The belly skid bolts up to crossmember right before the muffler and gas tank.

This is the best photo I can find at moment which shows where it ends.
IMG_1409.jpg~original
 
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CSL said:
Help me spend money I don't have! :bigok:
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lol, thats what this site is for! I dont really have any info for ya. But I'm hoping to get some skids this summer, and im thinking i'll go with bud built just from what i've heard from others.
 
The other thing that is not mentioned on buds site about the front skid plate is that it also bolts to the steering rack (there's a metal stip on the skid that bolts to it).

That will help keep you from bending it. From experience I didn't do this and bent the skid to a point where I lost some of the angle and it wouldn't bolt back up right.

If you do what I did you can also bend the belly skid (where the bend is is right under the t-case). The skid save the t-case and was still able to bolted back up despite the bend.

IMG_1440.jpg~original
 
Glenn, I love how you just go tear something apart on your truck or get stuck or something and then you turn around to your wife and are like, "now i need 'x' part so that 'x' doesnt happen again"

HA HA HA I just love it... In a good way. Sorry, this is completely irrelevant to the subject.

but i was lookin into skid row, they look beefy, and are cheaper. i wouldnt be makin the purchase until this summer so ill be askin you about your findings
 
00Spork said:
Glenn, I love how you just go tear something apart on your truck or get stuck or something and then you turn around to your wife and are like, "now i need 'x' part so that 'x' doesnt happen again"

HA HA HA I just love it... In a good way. Sorry, this is completely irrelevant to the subject.

but i was lookin into skid row, they look beefy, and are cheaper. i wouldnt be makin the purchase until this summer so ill be askin you about your findings
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Ha, Ha!! Yeah...we'll see how long that lasts before she catches on... After seeing Athena tear it up in the FJC last weekend I thought of my next step in the "strategy" Let her take the wheel more often and get her hooked on the technical wheeling part and then the "convincing" will get easier!! She had a jeep years ago, and took it on trails. So wheeling is in her blood...I may be opening a big can of worms. :D

Wish me luck!! lol! :cool:
 
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Thanks for the link, Dewrunner. I can't believe I didn't find that thread. I did a search, but obviously didn't try hard enough.

So it sounds like the Bud built complete setup is only 2 parts, where the Skid Row setup is 3 parts. It sounds like with bud built the $575 gets you the whole package, BUT you have to get it painted on your own? I wonder what that will cost?

I don't particularly like the advertisment on the front of the skid row front plate, but I guess your going to get something like that regardless of who makes it.

I would really like to hear someones personal experience (and pics) of a complete bud built setup.
 
CSL said:
Thanks for the link, Dewrunner. I can't believe I didn't find that thread. I did a search, but obviously didn't try hard enough.

So it sounds like the Bud built complete setup is only 2 parts, where the Skid Row setup is 3 parts. It sounds like with bud built the $575 gets you the whole package, BUT you have to get it painted on your own? I wonder what that will cost?

I don't particularly like the advertisment on the front of the skid row front plate, but I guess your going to get something like that regardless of who makes it.

I would really like to hear someones personal experience (and pics) of a complete bud built setup.
Click to expand...

See my two post. I'll try to find more photos'
 
new pics on my skidrow thread

hey check it out again i added some new pics, that show it A LOT better. with a nice camera and guys dont be hatin on my rust i didnt know it was that bad, but i got under with a wire brush and rustoleum after i took the pics, so im covered :)
 
Doh!

sorry Smallfry, I had seen your posts and your pics, so I don't know why I was acting like I hadn't got someones help on BudBuilt...I think I am losing it! Thanks for the pics, and the links. Bud-built sound pretty stout. I could justify the $575 package deal, but it's the painting that worried me. Reading the threads you posted at ttora, it sounds like most just paint it themselves. After the first trail run, the paint won't be the same anyway!

So what's this "clocking" the transfer case thing? anybody done this for greater clearance? I will search around more on that ttora site, but don't have time right now.

Dewrunner, I'll check it out!
 
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