Skid Plates?

[Chuck]

Hey, does anyone know of some good type of skid plates to put on the bottom of a 4runner? and even a 2001 tahoe LS? but im looking for some skid plates, if anyone knew where to buy some, or I could prob make my own, what type of material should be used though etc?
thx,
Chuck

 

[RunnerUp]

hey, so first off, what kind of vehicle do you have? how hard do you plan to use it?if you have some alright fabrication skills and plan on beating on them, you can prob. build your own using 3/16" steel for nearly bullet proof protection. you would prob. want to rib the plates to add strength. i personally paid someone to build mine, it was cheap (300$) and got my entire undercarraige covered.

 

[ksneubec]

I am curious about this too- I know Jaos makes one, but I thought (hoped) it was kind of pricey- ~$330.

 

[fourwd1]

If you'd like to gain a few inches of underbelly clearance at the same time, Bud Built makes an excellent cross-member/skidplate for 1st and 2nd gen trucks and Tacos. Great stuff, great guy, great service. (and no, I'm not related in any way, just a satisfied customer)

Check out his site, and tell him I sent you.

 

[Jared]

plastic is an option

If you are going to make your own and want to try something different, I hear that some rock crawler type guys are using plastic for their skidplates. They are using that super hard/tough plastic that cutting boards are made from. I have no idea where to get it, but I'm sure some fab shop should know. If I was going to do it, I think I would do the same. Certainly cheaper and lighter than steel.

 

[fourwd1]

None of the rockcrawlers I know (and that's a lot) are using that for skid plates. Side panels on buggys yes, but not skids. You need 3/8" + steel for that on a crawling truck. That stuff (delrin I think ?) would last one time as under armor.

 

[zig]

It's UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight - Polyethylene). We use it all of the time at work. It comes in a 4 x 12 panel I believe. I thought about it, but I don't know if it would be very good for die hard rock crawling, but probably good enough for an occassional romp in da woods.

 

[Chuck]

Alright well i finally jsut purchased my vehicle, a 99 4runner sr5, 4x4... with an elocker... now i dont have much fabrication skills, i have some friends who might... my mother actually is the one who uses the blowtorch in the family, might ask her for some tips... but anyways, im going to be doing mudding, gravel roads, and trails... no serious rock crawling... maybe one day, but not too many rocks in this area. So what would you suggest for that the 3/8 steel still?
and how would i go at making ridges in it?
Thanks,
Chuck

 

[RunnerUp]

if you arent going to be doing any hard core 4wheeling, with deep mud or sharp rocks, you prob. dont need to upgrade from your stock skid plates. I take the 4runner out and basically just beat on it and I didnt upgrade until I ripped my front skidplates (yes, the two that are connected) right off when i was getting recovered. If you want to add the protection like some steel, or if you can afford it aluminum, and are ready to deal with the extra weight on the already slow 4wd 4Runner, then I will send you pictures of my skid plates, they go from my ARB front bumper, to the gas tank, cheap and effective, bullet proof. Still need that gas tank skid built, but hey, whats the worst that can happen.....

 

[Z71sc]

Rancho

Ranho sells some....ready to go...but it would be cheaper if you went to a buggy race shop

standby

run a search here below

http://66.209.65.23/cgi-bin/jhtx5/x...session=&page_dirx=offroad_ns&time=1110308143