Rear lower control arm skids - who makes them?

[ATwoZ]

I talked to Bud today about his RLCA mount armor and he's still tweaking. He also told me Rob has left BB.

Wow. Had just traded emails a couple weeks ago with Rob.

 

[CharlieS]

Jason would make them, but he’d need some massive number of sales to make it work. I think he said 85 sets (?) because of the minimum quantities his metal cutter has.

I have to say that this was a weak spot for me last weekend. I attended a advanced recovery class where the second day was a trail ride on trails where they wanted us to get stuck so we could practice recovery techniques. It was hands down the most technical and challenging trail I’ve ever been on, and many of us got hung up.

I was the lowest rig with 33s and a 2-1/2” lift.

I got stuck twice requiring recovery. Any guesses where my first hang up was? Yup, the upper mount for the lower control arm. The one with no skid that is now mangled… (and the rear diff at the same time)

The second time I came down on a big rock between the differential and the lower shock mounts on the rear solid axle, which is a lot sturdier.

 

[jrmudder92]

Jason would make them, but he’d need some massive number of sales to make it work. I think he said 85 sets (?) because of the minimum quantities his metal cutter has.

I have to say that this was a weak spot for me last weekend. I attended a advanced recovery class where the second day was a trail ride on trails where they wanted us to get stuck so we could practice recovery techniques. It was hands down the most technical and challenging trail I’ve ever been on, and many of us got hung up.

I was the lowest rig with 33s and a 2-1/2” lift.

I got stuck twice requiring recovery. Any guesses where my first hang up was? Yup, the upper mount for the lower control arm. The one with no skid that is now mangled… (and the rear diff at the same time)

The second time I came down on a big rock between the differential and the lower shock mounts on the rear solid axle, which is a lot sturdier.

Damn I doubt we can get that many. I hope so. Because I would love a set. Although I do know he would eventually sell them all. Just not as soon as he would like too.

 

[ga12r1]

I've got the TT armor and sheared the bolt heads off at Windrock last time out. Im gonna beat everything back in place and then weld it. I would highly recommend throwing some weld on these instead of totally relying on the bolts if doing any serious wheeling.

 

[CharlieS]

I've got the TT armor and sheared the bolt heads off at Windrock last time out. Im gonna beat everything back in place and then weld it. I would highly recommend throwing some weld on these instead of totally relying on the bolts if doing any serious wheeling.

View attachment 2716202

Wow, that’s serious. Although it looks like it mangled the guard, it looks like it did it’s job of protecting the mount. My mount is all chewed up now.

 

[grinchy]

Maybe reach out to Metaltech 4x4 and see if they want to add this SKU? I suggested it previously as their LX570 sliders already attach into the RLCA mount, so it'd be an easy extension or add-on for that product. A standalone version could serve both needs.

 

[JohnJB]

Keep hounding Bud. Can’t promise it’ll get them over the finish line; they’re sooo close though.

 

[afgman786]

I've got the TT armor and sheared the bolt heads off at Windrock last time out. Im gonna beat everything back in place and then weld it. I would highly recommend throwing some weld on these instead of totally relying on the bolts if doing any serious wheeling.

View attachment 2716202

With the amount you bash your RLCA, how are you going to replace the arms when they bend again if you weld the skid in?

 

[ga12r1]

With the amount you bash your RLCA, how are you going to replace the arms when they bend again if you weld the skid in?

I'll do a stitch weld so I could cut them off easily. I always keep an angle grinder and sawzall on the trail.

I've stitch welded my BB gas tank skid to the frame too. If I need to drop it ill just cut it loose.

 

[indycole]

IMO, I'd prefer the RLCA skids be sacrificial parts rather than potentially ripping the entire bracket off the frame.

 

[ga12r1]

IMO, I'd prefer the RLCA skids be sacrificial parts rather than potentially ripping the entire bracket off the frame.

Good call. I haven’t yet reached ripping armored factory mounts off the frame territory. That’s probably a place I don’t need to travel in a 200.

 

[CharlieS]

@indycole Part of the issue is that there are no bolt on options available for the 200 anymore. Jason at Trail Tailor isn’t making them anymore, and Budbuilt hasn’t released theirs yet (and it is going on years in development). Are you aware of other options for bolt ons?

 

[indycole]

@indycole Part of the issue is that there are no bolt on options available for the 200 anymore. Jason at Trail Tailor isn’t making them anymore, and Budbuilt hasn’t released theirs yet (and it is going on years in development). Are you aware of other options for bolt ons?

Nope, unfortunately.

 

[bemerritt]

Bothered Bud on this last week and haven't heard anything yet. This seems like a relatively easy custom solution I might try out. With what happened to the TT version and with bud working on a 1/4" solution, that seems like the material of choice.

 

[WCDAVE]

Here was a prototype being test fit on my truck back in October.

Doubt this is still the working version, but apparently 2020(?) on has a different mount/bolt hole configuration. It looks like it would be a simple thing, but it’s more complicated than just building a steel bucket.

I would think serious rock crawlers would want to weld a more robust replacement mount directly to the frame rather than put a skid on top of the OEM one, but I guess additional protection is just that.

 

[nexizen]

I'm in for a set as well.

 

[snowtaco]

I'd like to get a set as well

 

[Climbermac]

I'd be in for a set

 

[forwardnum1]

Likewise

 

[LCMoneyPit]

Likewise

ditto