Skid row skid plate question

[99Yotarunner]

Have a question guys, I'm looking at buying this skid plate , I have a 2 inch body lift and my rad is lowered, im wondering if this skid plate will fit with the lowered rad? My stock one doesn't work since the body lift and rad drop......I see there's a few of you with front skids and body lifts .....does this skid still fit or did you have to space it down some to clear the lowered rad.....hoping to get some info soon id like to order this tonight or tom. Thanks

 

[JWaldz]

1st off I don't know. I have a 2" bl but my rad isn't dropped.

2nd off don't get a skid row skid unless it's for dirt cheap and you won't be bashing on it much. Trust me, I know...

 

[99Yotarunner]

It looks like there should be enough room, I would just like to no for sure, I mean I can always space it down more if need be.

 

[99Yotarunner]

Any one else? There's gotta be some one with a 2 inch body lift with rad drop that has one or can chim in ....I been trying to call them but no answer all morning ...

 

[Gerdo]

Even though it feels like I have lived under my rig at times, I cant picture if it would interfere. Will the stock skid still fit? If so, there is a good chance that you will be fine.

 

[brian2sun]

What Troy said is correct. The radiator is attached to the body only. The skid is attached to the frame. If the body goes up 2" and then you lower the radiator back down 2", then the radiator is just right back in it's original spot in relation to the skid/frame. If you lowered it more than 2", then I could see it causing a problem.

 

[JWaldz]

I will say this much.. Between my 2" body lift and my diff drop the skid row front skid is a VERY tight squeeze. Its not enjoyable taking it off or puttin it on. In fact mine is so fubarred I had to find a different solution to mounting it.

 

[brian2sun]

My Budbuilt is pretty fubared up too. 2 of the bolts won't line up even close anymore. My diff mounts (w/ diff drop) have almost punched through the 3/16" steel. Troy is right, if you want to wheel hard with them, you're better of building one out of 1/4" or something thicker.

 

[99Yotarunner]

Thanks brian...that makes sense now ......dunno why i didnt realise that ( brain fart)
You guys recomend a diff front skid? Budbuilt seam better ?

 

[techno]

I do not have a body lift so my radiator is in the factory location. You can see the clearance that it has.
Hope this helps.

 

[Gerdo]

My Budbuilt is pretty fubared up too. 2 of the bolts won't line up even close anymore. My diff mounts (w/ diff drop) have almost punched through the 3/16" steel. Troy is right, if you want to wheel hard with them, you're better of building one out of 1/4" or something thicker.

Brian
You wheel pretty hard. Maybe those 35s will keep your skid of the rocks. Naa, you will just do harder trails and lines.

3/16" is a good compromise of strength and weight. They get REALLY heavy with 1/4". Some of us have added some reinforcement bars to our skids.

I have heard that the Buds are great. I do like the fact that the SRs have the two factory style front center frame mounts. I did this with my (one offs) front skid. This is one improvement I think Bud needs.

 

[brian2sun]

SR are BB are both 3/16" so it doesn't matter too much. Personally, I think the SR is a better front skid only. I don't like SR's full 3-piece skid set though. BB's belly pan extends about 1' longer than SR's. SR's leaves a big empty hole so you can get hung up on rocks a lot easier between your t-case and the last crossmember. So if you plan on a full skid set, I'd go with the BBs. If you're only going to run a front skid, I'd probably get the SR.

 

[99Yotarunner]

Thanks for the pics ! It should be fine, I don't wheel too hard over rocks and stuff out here in northern ny, mostly trails and logs and wooded areas ....just want somethig covering rad before it gets trashed or a hole put through it ....il be oredering one prob tom ....then hopefully gettin a odl front bumper in a month or so ! Can't wait
Thanks all you guys for the help and info

 

[JWaldz]

If I knew about SR's weakness, I definitely would have welded in some reinforcement for it. The laser etching on the front makes it vulnerable to warping and torquing the entire skid. If they wouldn't have done it, they would be the best front skid out there, IMO. As far as a whole set, BB is the way to go.

Brian, you wheel harder than the average person on here. Which is why your front skid looks like it was thrown on a land mine BB skids definitely take quite the punishment.

 

[brian2sun]

Brian, you wheel harder than the average person on here. Which is why your front skid looks like it was thrown on a land mine BB skids definitely take quite the punishment.

Lol, I know. BB makes a good product and you wheel hard too so I'm sure it didn't take you long to find the weakness in the SR skid. If I was to make my own though, I would do it about the same, except I'd use 1/4" at least on the front 1/2 of the skid. And maybe add some gussets here and there.

I don't know about the SR plate, but I asked Bud to make my oil drain hole 3" instead of the standard 1.5". It makes changing the oil a lot easier with the skid on and a lot less messy.

 

[techno]

If I knew about SR's weakness, I definitely would have welded in some reinforcement for it. The laser etching on the front makes it vulnerable to warping and torquing the entire skid. If they wouldn't have done it, they would be the best front skid out there...

The logo and words are not etched on mine, they are full cuts. Etching would have been a much better solution if they really wanted a permanent logo, but etching is more expensive than full cuts and can look crappy after powdercoating. One other improvement would be to make the bend radius on the front edge much larger, similar to the stock skid plate. This would help streamline the approach.
But I still wouldn't call these features 'weaknesses', the skids (I have the front and transmission pieces) are massive improvements over stock.