Overkill Armor Protection 101 - Belly Skid Plate

Ebag333 · 10-02-08, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreeperSleeper

Well, I'm still interested up here in Portland... And I'll be more than happy to put them through hell to see if it will bend.

Pfft, you'd do your best to bend it if it was 1/2" diamond plate.

Hmm, the way you wheel maybe we should go that route.

knoll0351 · 10-02-08, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLXTACY

Ok good, made it sound like Gabe offered up his

Woah that train up right quick. Exit only and that is just dirty! Not to judge those that think it's cool, but not my cup O tea! Now a couple of :beaver: on :beaver: that's a completely different story...

CreeperSleeper · 10-04-08, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebag333

Pfft, you'd do your best to bend it if it was 1/2" diamond plate.

Hmm, the way you wheel maybe we should go that route.

knoll0351 · 10-06-08, 04:51 PM

Because size does matter

Ebag333 · 10-06-08, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knoll0351

Because size does matter

That's what she said!

knoll0351 · 10-06-08, 06:52 PM

Why else would she put up with me? Sure as heck not my charming personality or patience...

MaddBaggins · 10-06-08, 08:49 PM

Nice work.
I'm in the anti-full skid crowd, however. I think if you need that much protection and extra weight, maybe you need more lift or better driving skills. My wifes X has full belly skids, but hey, she's a girl...

Still, very nice work and innovation.

Ebag333 · 10-07-08, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

I think if you need that much protection and extra weight, maybe you need more lift or better driving skills.

So...when you completely stripping your rig of armor? You don't need sliders, just more lift or better driving skills.

The extra weight is really quite negligable. I cannot see a difference with the plate on/off in the amount of lift I got. I'm sure I could measure it and find a difference, but when you're talking about tenths of an inch (if that)...

For me, it comes down to protection. Slee or IPOR will cover you 99% of the time. It's that 1% that this is built towards, and I certainly like the peace of mine I have by knowing that *NOTHING* will be cracking open my t-case like an egg. Regardless of how I come down on a rock.

But to each their own.

CreeperSleeper · 10-07-08, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

Nice work.
I'm in the anti-full skid crowd, however. I think if you need that much protection and extra weight, maybe you need more lift or better driving skills. My wifes X has full belly skids, but hey, she's a girl...

Still, very nice work and innovation.

I agree... to a point. Then you get into the situations where more lift = rollover no matter how good of a driver you are. I have done everything I can to run a 37" tire with as little lift as possible. Because of that, I have hit just about everything under my rig. (And on the sides of my rig, for that matter!) The problem isn't always drivers skill, it's the rocks are too big or too slick. Then again, I tend to put my 80 in places most people wouldn't.

knoll0351 · 10-07-08, 06:22 PM

And that is who armor is designed for precisely!! To put your vehicle somewhere that most people wouldn't and most vehicles are incabable of going!!!!

BlueHZT60 · 10-08-08, 08:22 AM

I could be easily talked into a skid plate for the 95. It is currently doing a really nice stink bug - as the first stage of the build is complete - OME.

On the plate being close to the TC. It needs at least 1/2" of space. On my 60 the plate was up close and tight, then one rock later it was rubbing. I ignored it for a bit and now have a couple shallow grooves in my TC. Also I bent the 1/4" plate wings on my rear bumper. Things happen on the trail that result in some really strange bends and dents in places you'd never think of.

Bob
JSC member

Quote:

Originally Posted by knoll0351

Yeah, if anyone is interested in having me assist them in fabbing up a skid plate shoot me a PM and we can talk about the details. And if there is anyone that would like to simply purchase one of these fine pieces of steel we can discus cost. I enjoy working with metal and perfecting my welding/fabbing skills.

On this version we'll call it 1.0 there were a couple of issues that I would have handled a bit differently had it been on my rig or had I been able to messure once and cut longer the second time

. I think that version 1.2 will be much more symetrical as well as coming out quite a bit cleaner. Not that there is actually anything wrong with 1.0 just a couple of minor things that I'd improve on the second time around.

We have recently started the Jefferson State Cruisers and I left an open invitation to our members that if they want to pay for materials I would love to assist them in whatever fabrication they are looking to make happen. We can be found in the TLCA Forum/Clubhouse or by clicking on the link in my signature line.

Enough advertising, please feel free to post up with any questions or PM me.

Ebag333 · 10-08-08, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueHZT60

I could be easily talked into a skid plate for the 95. It is currently doing a really nice stink bug - as the first stage of the build is complete - OME.

On the plate being close to the TC. It needs at least 1/2" of space. On my 60 the plate was up close and tight, then one rock later it was rubbing. I ignored it for a bit and now have a couple shallow grooves in my TC. Also I bent the 1/4" plate wings on my rear bumper. Things happen on the trail that result in some really strange bends and dents in places you'd never think of.

Bob
JSC member

I have an idea for this plate that should create enough room...

It's really just one spot on the t-case that's the problem, maybe a 4" x 6" area (longer than it is wide).

knoll0351 · 10-11-08, 12:51 AM

"If you were to give a Marine an anvil in the middle of the desert he'd find a way to break it" SSgt. Findley USMC

Nothing is indestructable, some things just take a little more work than others

Ebag333 · 10-11-08, 11:48 AM

As promised (better late than never, neh?) the "schematics".

Or my poorly photoshopped measurements.

(Click for larger version.)

These are anything but precise, but they should be close. But it's a skid plate, not a watch, yes?

96r50 · 10-11-08, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebag333

These are anything but precise, but they should be close. But it's a skid plate, not a watch, yes?

I think the millimetres (mm) should really be centimetres (cm), otherwise the skidplate will only be big enough to protect a watch

Ebag333 · 10-11-08, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96r50

I think the millimetres (mm) should really be centimetres (cm), otherwise the skidplate will only be big enough to protect a watch

Errr...yeah...I knew that.

Ebag333 · 10-19-08, 03:28 PM

Got to play with the skid plate some yesterday. It worked fantastically.

The two guys I was with (knoll0351 and 2ndGenToyotaFan) even helped stack some rocks so I could smack it a few times. Hit it pretty hard once, made a pretty nice bang. Aside from the paint being scuffed a bit, zero damage.

I was a bit concerned about one sides mounts as they're a bit thinner (due to being cut out for access to the bolt). No warping or twisting at all. (And the Mark II version would have different mounts on that side which would be about 10x stronger anyway.)

I think you're going to have to wheel pretty dang hard to bend/break this.

With the way the plate is ramped it also works excellent for driving over brush and "small" tree's. It really removes a lot of potential hangup spots for something to stab into (and protects the wiring/linkages up there). Got to test that out a bit too.

Walking Eagle · 11-25-08, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

Nice work.
I'm in the anti-full skid crowd, however. I think if you need that much protection and extra weight, maybe you need more lift or better driving skills. My wifes X has full belly skids, but hey, she's a girl...

Still, very nice work and innovation.

This past weekend I could have used a belly pan. Under water and mud lay a tree branch - tree branch stuck itself up into the undercarage. Wrecked the hose clamps going to the rear heater, which then let loose a couple hours later on way home. Also managed to rip the ground wire from the speedo drive. If you drive ravines around here with alot of brush, it has it's advantages.

That said - I'd rather go straight across and have it dip down for the t-case rather than having it stand off from the frame that much - but that can be more difficult

Ebag333 · 11-25-08, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Eagle

This past weekend I could have used a belly pan. Under water and mud lay a tree branch - tree branch stuck itself up into the undercarage. Wrecked the hose clamps going to the rear heater, which then let loose a couple hours later on way home. Also managed to rip the ground wire from the speedo drive. If you drive ravines around here with alot of brush, it has it's advantages.

Last trip I went on I drove through some pretty serious brush, talking about maybe 2" diameter branches sticking out everywhere, ready to hang up and rip something off.

I was *VERY* glad for the full coverage at that point!

BTW, I'm still curious to see some pics of where you got the damage at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Eagle

That said - I'd rather go straight across and have it dip down for the t-case rather than having it stand off from the frame that much - but that can be more difficult

I would have as well, but then you're talking about adding a serious amount of difficulty to the build. Spacing the plate down is simple and easy, going around the t-case would involve lots of cutting, angles, etc. I chose the quick and easy route.

CreeperSleeper · 07-14-09, 04:55 PM

Considering I lost my skidplate last time I was up, it's time for something like this...

Ebag333 · 07-14-09, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreeperSleeper

Considering I lost my skidplate last time I was up, it's time for something like this...

Lost your skidplate....

Oh I know there's a story (and pics!) behind this one!

CreeperSleeper · 07-14-09, 06:31 PM

No pics, but lets just say I was the only one in the group that was stupid enough to try a certain trail. Ended up deforming my sliders, loosing my skid plate, destroying my rear driveshaft and kissing every panal from the B-piller back... on both sides.

Did I mention that I was wheeling with minis that had dual cases and bigger tires than me? Needless to say, I have only gotten to go wheeling once this year...

retrofive · 07-14-09, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreeperSleeper

No pics, but lets just say I was the only one in the group that was stupid enough to try a certain trail. Ended up deforming my sliders, loosing my skid plate, destroying my rear driveshaft and kissing every panal from the B-piller back... on both sides.

Did I mention that I was wheeling with minis that had dual cases and bigger tires than me? Needless to say, I have only gotten to go wheeling once this year...

wow. where about was this?.... local trail?