Thoughts on skid plate tech...

TheFauxFox

TheFauxFox

New member
Currently I have the factory skid plates and I'm looking to upgrade asap. I'm planning on building some 3/16" plates but I'm intrigued by other options.

After watching the Line-X strength videos I'm considering getting the TOP side of the stock skids coated with Line-X to give it strength. Not doing bottom because it'll just scrape off. I'm not doing any hardcore wheeling and don't plan to for a long long time, obviously it will be stronger than just the stock plates but does anyone thing it might compare to a 3/16" steel plate?
 
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I have budbuilt skid plates that I have used herculiner bedliner on both sides off. I have gone heavy offroading with them several times and it has held up excellent and easily touches up to look new again
 
+1 for budbuilts. they are pricey but bud is a great guy, and i enjoy talking to him every year at jambo. he puts tons of R&D into his stuff and it shows. i currently have RCIs and while they are good i tend to bend the crap out of them left and right. when i ruin these RCIs for good im going over to BUD for my next set.

as for the linex idea id save your money. just rattle can both sides with a good paint and let it be.
 
RCI get my vote, mine are best to crap but doing what they're made to do. What advantage do Bud Built have over RCI?
 
Think I missed the materials science class where spraying 1/32nd of plastic on to 3/16ths of steel would actually add strength?

I think maybe we're talking coating durability instead?

Either way, spraying skids with anything other than some quality rattle-can enamel is a waste IMO. Rustoleum appliance epoxy is GREAT for painting undercarriage stuff like this.
 
CXS said:
RCI get my vote, mine are best to crap but doing what they're made to do. What advantage do Bud Built have over RCI?
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they hold up so much better. if you ever see and hold anything from bud it's obvious. plus seeing how they were beating the crap out of their 200 series was amazing. all with slight damage besides the expected scratches to the skids. Bud is a very interesting guy who puts way too much of his time and engineering prowess into a skid plate, but hell hes sold me
 
CruzadoBlanco said:
they hold up so much better. if you ever see and hold anything from bud it's obvious. plus seeing how they were beating the crap out of their 200 series was amazing. all with slight damage besides the expected scratches to the skids. Bud is a very interesting guy who puts way too much of his time and engineering prowess into a skid plate, but hell hes sold me
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I haven't seen a picture of his skids from the top side in a while. unless he's adding reinforcement somewhere I don't see how his difference that much than RCI's. Is he just using a thicker steel is all?

Not knocking the guy, I've heard great things about him and probably would have gone BB for my skids had RCI not had a great group buy going for a full set, powdercoated, and shipped.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I haven't seen a picture of his skids from the top side in a while. unless he's adding reinforcement somewhere I don't see how his difference that much than RCI's. Is he just using a thicker steel is all?

Not knocking the guy, I've heard great things about him and probably would have gone BB for my skids had RCI not had a great group buy going for a full set, powdercoated, and shipped.
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Bud is super anal about his skids. his draw a set up then run them through solid works and whatever other structural analysis software there is these days before he even touches actual metal. looking at his 200 series skids at jambo blew me away. every angle, bend, weld, and reinforcement has a purpose on his skids.
 
CruzadoBlanco said:
Bud is super anal about his skids. his draw a set up then run them through solid works and whatever other structural analysis software there is these days before he even touches actual metal. looking at his 200 series skids at jambo blew me away. every angle, bend, weld, and reinforcement has a purpose on his skids.
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You just sold me on the BB's. Was gonna fab some plates on my own that wouldn't be "great" but I figured better than stock. Just gonna get BB's now. Maybe I'll line-x those ;)
 
I have beat and used and abused the bud built skids pretty hard for a few years now.. other then having to retap a few bolt holds which really doesn't have anything to do with the skids themselves.. they come on and off the vehicle great when I need them to, resist bending based on design and really have held up to some serious abuse. Im not saying RCI is a bad deal but the overall impression of buds vs rci in from people who use them regularly seem to be more positive in the long run from the buds.
 
Just a side note to those of you ditching your OEM skidplates...

Right now I'm still a Level 2 Suburban Rock Crawler (Level 2 because one time I went down a totally crazy gravel road, I thought I might have to downshift into 4 at one point.)

Anyway. I'm still running my OEM skids, but over the years those little "hooks" which help with installation after an oil change and such have broken off. If anyone still has theirs stuck to the OEM skid and would be willing to send 'em my way, I'd be most grateful.
 
Damn, I was cleaning my storage the other day and tossed mine. I'll take another look to make sure later today.
 
CruzadoBlanco said:
+1 for budbuilts. they are pricey but bud is a great guy, and i enjoy talking to him every year at jambo. he puts tons of R&D into his stuff and it shows. i currently have RCIs and while they are good i tend to bend the crap out of them left and right. when i ruin these RCIs for good im going over to BUD for my next set.

as for the linex idea id save your money. just rattle can both sides with a good paint and let it be.
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I'm curious how bent up your RCI skids are? Got a picture? My front skid has held up fine this past year even with it lowered with the diff drop, though maybe the white paint has imbued an aura of protection. :angel:

My homemade rear skids have some long dents/scrapes along their length, which I expected being that they have minimal bends or gussets, but have held up fine. The stock gas tank skid on the other hand, I'm surprised it's still attached TBH.

My brother's budbuilt's on his FJ have held up great, no complaints either.
 
Inv4drZm said:
I'm curious how bent up your RCI skids are? Got a picture? My front skid has held up fine this past year even with it lowered with the diff drop, though maybe the white paint has imbued an aura of protection. :angel:

My homemade rear skids have some long dents/scrapes along their length, which I expected being that they have minimal bends or gussets, but have held up fine. The stock gas tank skid on the other hand, I'm surprised it's still attached TBH.

My brother's budbuilt's on his FJ have held up great, no complaints either.
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I'm currently on my 3rd rci front skid. The first was aluminum, second was steel before they reinforced the front bend, and my 3rd is steel with the reinforcements. I just pulled it off and beat it some what flat again.but it still has a pretty nasty bend right under the front diff. It does its job but it could do so much better. But at least they keep warranting them when I completely ruin them so there's that I guess.
 
My RCI skid is before they reinforced the bend, usually it's getting slammed at the bend or just after causing it to flatten some. I'd thought about reinforcing it, I just don't have the time and energy these days. the same with all my other skids, they're bowed a bit in the middle from impacts, not enough to cause an issue really; but annoying.
 
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