ASFIR 4x4 Skid Plates
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Sometimes it seems when I post a new product (i.e. the new Kaymar bumper thread), which the majority of the board probably hasn't seen much of before, it immediately gets thrown the tomatoes from the crowd fairly quickly.
Oh well. I am just glad to see some people who like to just browse and kick around new product ideas. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Slee products, but I keep my eye out for other vendors and like to post the products up if the discussion hasn't taken place yet.
Oh well. I am just glad to see some people who like to just browse and kick around new product ideas. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Slee products, but I keep my eye out for other vendors and like to post the products up if the discussion hasn't taken place yet.
really...guess I'll remove my aluminum skids from my FJ40 immediately...obviously, they've failed my application for the past 5-6 years...wait, you even RODE in my truck at CM09! Blasphemy!
ASFIR does have great products, Camel4x4 had a set for the FJC at the Summit and they are well built and strong.
Steel: durable but heavy, and needs maintenance IE: paint
Alum: strong, but needs more support than steel and can gouge...never rusts...
UHMW: slippery and protects well, but needs a backer system...
my FZJ80 has steel, my FJ40 has aluminum, and my RZR has aluminum/UHMW mixed.
I love that you and anyone for that matter posts new products. Hell I bought a LoadSpotter as a "New Product" that was posted here. But the reason I bought it was because I looked at everything else on the market and felt that the build quality and customer service were the best available.
I agreed with the negative comments about the Kaymar. It did not look well thought out and was bulky. I still think that Al has no place on a heavy 100 series weighing in at twice that of a 40, even more.
I stand by my first post. I posted the positives of Al but ultimately think the negatives outweigh it. Someone will test them and either prove me right or wrong, i have no agenda.
I buy lots of Slee stuff but don't have a blind allegiance to them. If they make a crap product, I won't buy it from them. Even if they make a good product that doesn't do exactly what I want (i'm thinking the jerry can basket for the ladder. I want the swingout!) I won't buy it.
Keep the new products coming and buy the hell out of them. I'll wait until they are tried and true so I just have to buy it once.
Woody, good to see you stopping by. As much as I'd like to say you're right, for the 100 series I still dont think aluminum is a good idea on a 100 series. Lets try and put my 100 through all the trails we did in the 40 at CM'10 and see how many times it gets stuck. No wait I dont want to roll it and crush the sides and ruin the fancy paint.
With the ground clearance that you have, and the weight "advantage" that Jon pointed out, Aluminum is a GREAT idea for your 40. Keeps it light, and when you end up using them you HAVE to be crawling for the rocks to get into it, which means the Aluminum isnt going to take that severe of a hit. On a 100 series, trying to go where vehicles that can just go bigger lift you always end up hitting and smashing something. Trying to drive the best line usually works but when your truck slips off the rock you tried to climb because your tires are wet, it slams down HARD.
I didnt post my comment in the 40 section, so keep 40s out of this.
TO ALL, PLEASE NEVER STOP POSTING NEW PRODUCTS...WE CAN'T ALL AFFORD THE VANITY OF SAYING WE GOT "SLEE'D" I'm desperate to find a skid system for less than freaking crazy @$$ $1500ish!!!
Thanks for this thread as it provides me more ideas than my current, buying a welder and sticking a hack job under my rig.
(and yes, I have bought plenty of products from Slee and will again...but its not the end all, be all)
Thanks for this thread as it provides me more ideas than my current, buying a welder and sticking a hack job under my rig.
(and yes, I have bought plenty of products from Slee and will again...but its not the end all, be all)
Look at BOIR. There's are almost HALF the cost of Slee skids and worth every penny. I can't compare them to Slee because I haven't seen or had the Slee skids in person. BUT, I know that no one would be unhappy with Mike's product. I also believe that with the Slee belly plate you still need to remove the cross support. BOIR's leave it in place. Not a knock against Slee. They make very well thought out products that are have small details very refined. But we are talking about skids here and there is no reason to pay almost double for something you don't see.
Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not important. I don't see my lockers and gears.
1loudLX said:
Seriously? You don't have enough years behind the wheel on or off-road nor experience with products to know.
Surely you aren't suggesting BOIR skids are not a product worth considering?
There are some great options out there. People just have to pick the right one for their needs. Neither you nor I can choose that for them.
What we can do is recommend products that are worth looking at.
I didn't say they weren't worth considering I just said that just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not worth making sure it's quality.
That's not a bad thing.
WWW.bumpitoffroad.com. if you want any more detailed pics let me know and I will try and snap some.
Regarding the cross support. I know Slee wouldn't design it to be removed if it were a big deal. I only posted that because there were people whom were concerned about it in another thread. Everything Slee makes is bullet proof.
Regarding the cross support. I know Slee wouldn't design it to be removed if it were a big deal. I only posted that because there were people whom were concerned about it in another thread. Everything Slee makes is bullet proof.
Our belly pan replaces the stock cross member. The belly plate has a integrated cross member.
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Well after much deliberation, I'm going for it.
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I thought about starting an install thread, but may as well add to the drama of this one, leave it all in a nice little package for the next guy. I'll start with my rationale..
My last truck was pretty built, and that was fun. But my family is in a different place now.. and I just don't wheel that hard of stuff anymore, which is as much my rationalization for selling the 80 as it is for this skid plate decision. So this 100 series is a pretty mild build- won't be as big as my 80 was, and won't be as big as the truck I build after this one. For now, it's the right truck for me & my family... we'd rather camp at Devil's Kitchen than run Pritchett Canyon, in Moabspeak.
So I'm intrigued by 100 less pounds, compared to the Slee set. That's a full fridge, or a person... a lot to be lugging around town to soccer practice every weekend. I also like that they can come off fairly easily for future maintenance and repair.. no need to get the floor jack out and tweak your engine mounts, again. And I wanted to do something different.. and hell I just sold a car so wtf, go for it.
First impression is they're thicker than I thought they'd be. the bend quality looks pretty decent I guess, and even though they came with a few scratches that are nice and shiny.
My last truck was pretty built, and that was fun. But my family is in a different place now.. and I just don't wheel that hard of stuff anymore, which is as much my rationalization for selling the 80 as it is for this skid plate decision. So this 100 series is a pretty mild build- won't be as big as my 80 was, and won't be as big as the truck I build after this one. For now, it's the right truck for me & my family... we'd rather camp at Devil's Kitchen than run Pritchett Canyon, in Moabspeak.
So I'm intrigued by 100 less pounds, compared to the Slee set. That's a full fridge, or a person... a lot to be lugging around town to soccer practice every weekend. I also like that they can come off fairly easily for future maintenance and repair.. no need to get the floor jack out and tweak your engine mounts, again. And I wanted to do something different.. and hell I just sold a car so wtf, go for it.
First impression is they're thicker than I thought they'd be. the bend quality looks pretty decent I guess, and even though they came with a few scratches that are nice and shiny.
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The rear cross member looks pretty tough- even though it's got the notch for the exhaust pipe, it's still a pretty solid feeling hunk of steel. Yes, the two cross members are steel, not aluminum. I'm a little bummed at the middle cross member though, kinda thin how it terminates at the mounting plates, and the welds at the ends seem small to me. I don't know, I'm a sucky welder but I'm tempted to spooge another bead across there if there's clearance- will get this all bolted up first. I'm sure it's fine for a while, maybe just something to monitor...
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Last bummer is there's no hole to swap out the oil filter, so either I cut one or the front one has to come off next time I change the oil. I just changed it, so I've got 6 months to worry about that one. Who knows if the other t-case and tranny pan drains line up, we'll find out... also no idea what kind of driveshaft access I'll still have. Should be fun to figure out.
Install, at least phase 1 if there are difficulties, is scheduled for Saturday morning. Additional complications include the Slee diff drop and MetalTech sliders.. I learned tonight that I may need to do some cutting & drilling, as these aren't designed for the gas engines, they were made for a diesel with the cross member in a different location. I don't want to get ahead of myself though, we'll see what happens when I start bolting stuff up...
One more set of pictures..
Install, at least phase 1 if there are difficulties, is scheduled for Saturday morning. Additional complications include the Slee diff drop and MetalTech sliders.. I learned tonight that I may need to do some cutting & drilling, as these aren't designed for the gas engines, they were made for a diesel with the cross member in a different location. I don't want to get ahead of myself though, we'll see what happens when I start bolting stuff up...
One more set of pictures..
ASFIR Skids
Well since I'm the only person I know of running these. We sell these as well, and although I don't think you bought them from us, but here is some helpful info:
-Front skid - corners need trimmed to fit ARB bumper, easy.
-Center skid- needs cut down about 5" as this is for diesel models. also the front steel braket needs modified if you have sliders (likely). The area around exhaust pipe also needs clearenced.
-Tcase skid fits w/o mod
Some Pics.
Overall I think its worth it. I like them. they are light, easy to remove, I still have access to oil filter etc. They are super strong. They are 1/4" thick with steel supports. No powdercoat to chip, no rust. For some steel might be better for whatever reason, and I'm certain Slee has the fitment down better than ASFIR.
Well since I'm the only person I know of running these. We sell these as well, and although I don't think you bought them from us, but here is some helpful info:
-Front skid - corners need trimmed to fit ARB bumper, easy.
-Center skid- needs cut down about 5" as this is for diesel models. also the front steel braket needs modified if you have sliders (likely). The area around exhaust pipe also needs clearenced.
-Tcase skid fits w/o mod
Some Pics.
Overall I think its worth it. I like them. they are light, easy to remove, I still have access to oil filter etc. They are super strong. They are 1/4" thick with steel supports. No powdercoat to chip, no rust. For some steel might be better for whatever reason, and I'm certain Slee has the fitment down better than ASFIR.
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hey thanks very much for the info! Didn't realize you also sell these, but if you're the only one you know of running them I guess you don't sell that many? Or maybe just not 100 series..
anyway your tips are right in line with what Slee told me when I picked them up, except for the exhaust pipe clearance that's a new one. I'm sure it'll be obvious when I get into it, and I'll do my best to put up a few pictures of the effort. I know there are at least a few guys on here who are waiting to see how this pans out for me, then will decide if they want to go this same route.
You say you have access to the oil filter, so did you cut a hole to access it? My front plate has no hole.. also I see in your large belly plate you marked the 5" cut, but you also marked one of the oblong openings to be bigger- did you need to enlarge that hole as well for drain access? I suspect a lot of this will be obvious once I get under the truck, thanks again.