Skid Plate Options

[TheForger]

Just curious as to how many options there are for aftermarket front skid plates. I know Slee has their steel and aluminum plates for the belly and front (and I've only heard great things about them) but I don't find them to be very visually appealing to me. I'm not really in the market for one right now but if I see one I like I wouldn't hesitate to make a purchase. I'd love to see some pics of other skids!

 

[paflytyer]

I'm confused on why skid plates need or should be visually appealing..... Unless you plan on flipping your truck over, aren't they there to get smashed and skidded on?

Slee
ASFIR
Bump it Offroad

That's the 3 main 100 series skid plate makers that I know of. I'm sure there are a few obscure others out there.

 

[r2m]

As paflytyer noted above, your primary concern is not aesthetics, but how easy it is to access your fluids and anything else your under armor covers.
Personally, I like BOR because you can cover all your essentials underneath and you can buy it in sections if you're on a budget. I have also considered making my own out of Delrin because Delrin is very lubricious and impact resistant, so it makes a great material for sliding over rocks.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[gearguywb]

I would like doe pretty skid plates please. I *need* them so that when I crawl under the truck to "work" on it they visual appeal can calm my nerves and help me nap.

 

[duggy]

As paflytyer noted above, your primary concern is not aesthetics, but how easy it is to access your fluids and anything else your under armor covers.
Personally, I like BOR because you can cover all your essentials underneath and you can buy it in sections if you're on a budget. I have also considered making my own out of Delrin because Delrin is very lubricious and impact resistant, so it makes a great material for sliding over rocks.

Just my 2 cents...

You're gonna have to get a pretty thick piece of delrin to be able to handle the weight of these heavy trucks, especially after outfitting them with armor.

 

[TheForger]

I'm confused on why skid plates need or should be visually appealing..... Unless you plan on flipping your truck over, aren't they there to get smashed and skidded on?

Slee
ASFIR
Bump it Offroad

That's the 3 main 100 series skid plate makers that I know of. I'm sure there are a few obscure others out there.

As paflytyer noted above, your primary concern is not aesthetics, but how easy it is to access your fluids and anything else your under armor covers.
Personally, I like BOR because you can cover all your essentials underneath and you can buy it in sections if you're on a budget. I have also considered making my own out of Delrin because Delrin is very lubricious and impact resistant, so it makes a great material for sliding over rocks.

Just my 2 cents...

Perhaps I should clarify a couple things....with my new bumper from BIO and with the angle of my driveway, I can see everything from the lower control arms up to the bottom of the radiator (with plate removed). The skid plate is clearly visible and greats me every morning as I climb in my truck. Even when parked in a flat parking lot I can easily see it without even having to bend down. Don't know about you guys but my Cruiser is my daily driver and although it is not the first thing that catches my eye, I still want it to look good. My OCD gets the best of me sometimes.

 

[Keowee]

Perhaps a full belly pan like the old VW. Protection and it floats.

 

[Hayes]

The front skid is generally visible, and I respect a guy wanting his truck to look good. That said, I think the front skid offerings from Slee, BIOR, and ASFIR are generally the same, and I think they look pretty good--they look better than the factory skid.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I seem to recall a TJM offering too...

 

[r2m]

You're gonna have to get a pretty thick piece of delrin to be able to handle the weight of these heavy trucks, especially after outfitting them with armor.

Yep, you're right about thickness... I'm an R&D engineer in medical devices and use Delrin extensively. I'm thinking at least 1". You can get this stuff from McMaster-Carr on line and where I live I can have it delivered next day, no shipping charge.

 

[sleeoffroad]

And there I thought our skid plates were pretty

 

[spressomon]

I know the physical constraints involved but that doesn't stop me from wishing ...would be mobetta to have the belly pan (me = Slee) even with the bottom of the frame rail. Dang it...I forgot to ask Santa for this...now I have to wait another year

 

[jemsec]

What's wrong with wanting skid plates to be extremely functional and add to the appearance. It's OK if you want a mud slinging four wheel drive red neck vehicle built for extreme abuse but Land Cruisers are special and way above most other vehicles.

I prefer function first and then great appearance. That may explain why most don't' want to cut, drill or modify an original resulting in destroying a classic Land Cruiser.

I think many will agree. Tell me if I'm wrong!

 

[r2m]

^An engineers favorite phrase, "Function over form."
Make sure it don't get you stuck some place, then you can worry about pretty.

 

[TheForger]

And there I thought our skid plates were pretty

If your skid plate came with "SLEE" or "SLEE Offroad" cut out of it in place of those 7 oblong ovals I'm assuming are for air circulation I wouldn't hesitate to make a purchase. I believe people who are truly proud of their products will make it obvious as to who manufactured it so it will stick out from the rest. Also, it appears from the photos on your site that the oil filter is not so easy to access, I could be wrong though - that's just my 2 cents and the only things holding me back from buying. Much love for Slee though

What's wrong with wanting skid plates to be extremely functional and add to the appearance. It's OK if you want a mud slinging four wheel drive red neck vehicle built for extreme abuse but Land Cruisers are special and way above most other vehicles.

I prefer function first and then great appearance. That may explain why most don't' want to cut, drill or modify an original resulting in destroying a classic Land Cruiser.

I think many will agree. Tell me if I'm wrong!

Well of course I also prefer function first and then great appearance. But if it doesn't look good I'm not going to buy it - whether it's visible to everyone or not. I've just always liked the look of a bare steel skid plate over the black ones on almost any vehicle, but thats just my personal preference!

 

[hoser]

I guess I'm the opposite, I prefer subtle branding. As for the oil filter access hole. I've had no problems changing the oil filter.

 

[Hayes]

If your skid plate came with "SLEE" or "SLEE Offroad" cut out of it in place of those 7 oblong ovals I'm assuming are for air circulation I wouldn't hesitate to make a purchase. I believe people who are truly proud of their products will make it obvious as to who manufactured it so it will stick out from the rest.

The current production version does have a "Slee" cutout, and looks a little different than the photos on the website.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachments/bumper03-jpg.914843/

Also, it appears from the photos on your site that the oil filter is not so easy to access, I could be wrong though - that's just my 2 cents and the only things holding me back from buying. Much love for Slee though

Oil filter is easy to change.

 

[sleeoffroad]

This is the current version installed with a Blueberry Bumper.

 

[mcgaskins]

This is the current version installed with a Blueberry Bumper. View attachment 1014781

To the OP - if you can find a sexier looking skid plate setup than this one, by all means go for it! I have the Slee belly plate and sliders, and they're some of the nicest looking protection you can buy. When funds allow, I'll be completing the rest of the skid package with the intermediate and front skids from Slee!

 

[Hayes]

Sexy.