Skid plates

[fos373]

Has anyone purchased raw steel, sanded and painted it themselves? Looking to save a few bucks and wondering if I am going to immediately regret it or not.

I purchased the raw steel. Did a VERY quick prep and primer. My neighbor at the shop was painting his trailer frame and offered to paint the skids - basically 10 minutes of prep time.......

For what we did, I’m happy.

 

[ChowChilla]

just bought the stainless steel rock crawler package and sliders, can't wait for them to be shipped and installed! Thanks to everyone who posted and help me make my decision

 

[RET2]

just bought the stainless steel rock crawler package and sliders, can't wait for them to be shipped and installed! Thanks to everyone who posted and help me make my decision

Use Never Seize or similar on your fasteners to prevent galling, I'm assuming you went with SS fasteners?

 

[CharlieS]

I got the stainless fasteners and used antiseize!

 

[ChowChilla]

Use Never Seize or similar on your fasteners to prevent galling, I'm assuming you went with SS fasteners?

I did 5 years in the Marines as a diesel mech, worked on the AAV's (you might of seen how one sank 2 weeks ago off the cost of California) and anti-seize is what we used on everything... I still to this day, dap a bit on the lug nuts and will do the armor when it comes in! Thanks

 

[RET2]

I did 5 years in the Marines as a diesel mech, worked on the AAV's (you might of seen how one sank 2 weeks ago off the cost of California) and anti-seize is what we used on everything... I still to this day, dap a bit on the lug nuts and will do the armor when it comes in! Thanks

Lug nuts I'm not so sure about that but each to his own.

 

[bemerritt]

Thanks for all of the input. One more question that i emailed Budbuilt about, but figured I’d ask here as well, as it seems like a question others might have.

I’ve seen stage 4 mentioned several times throughout this thread, but only see stage 3 on the website. Does stage 4 still exist or did stage 3 become stage 4?

 

[grinchy]

Stage four is adding the fuel skid.
Edit no, it isn’t.

 

[bemerritt]

Well ill wait for Budbuilt to confirm, but it looks like that’s in stage 3 now. Unless I’m looking at it wrong.

 

[grinchy]

I stand corrected! No idea then.

 

[CharlieS]

I don't see a stage 4 listed... I wonder if they changed their nomenclature. The annotation on at least one of the stage 2 pictures says stage 3.

I don't even think they still sell the three piece expedition one I bought without the transfer case skid. It'd be like a stage 1.5...

Metal tech 4x4 calls the budbuilt stage 4 what the budbuilt website calls stage 3 - adding the fuel skid as mentioned above.

BudBuilt 2008-2018 LAND CRUISER (ROCK ARMOR) - STAGE 4

Check out Metal Tech 4x4—your home for high end off road parts and accessories, specializing in Toyota. Browse our selection of off road products today.

www.metaltech4x4.com

 

[afgman786]

Thanks for all of the input. One more question that i emailed Budbuilt about, but figured I’d ask here as well, as it seems like a question others might have.

I’ve seen stage 4 mentioned several times throughout this thread, but only see stage 3 on the website. Does stage 4 still exist or did stage 3 become stage 4?

There used to be a stage 4, now there are 3 and what used to be 4 is now the equivalent of 3.

 

[bemerritt]

Got confirmation that stage 3 is the same as what stage 4 used to be. Ordering the stainless, thanks for all of the help.

 

[Lexmar]

When mine come off I'll weigh them...

By the way... **My ARB skids are for sale to a good home.**

Hi. Any chance you still have skids for sale? Thx

 

[Markuson]

Hi. Any chance you still have skids for sale? Thx

No. Passed those on to a local mud guy. ...

 

[Lexmar]

No. Passed those on to a local mud guy. ...

Thanks

 

[wiseinvestor]

Install question. Can the factory fuel skid come out after the BB front, engine, transmission, and transfer case skids / cross member are installed? ... or is the crossmember/trans skid in the way?

 

[CharlieS]

The mounting points for the factory fuel skid are not obstructed by the Budbuilt transfer skid.

 

[wiseinvestor]

The mounting points for the factory fuel skid are not obstructed by the Budbuilt transfer skid.

Thank you. Yeah I just wasn't sure if the transfer skid complicated removal. I removed the factory fuel skid when I did my sliders. It came out a little wonky if I recall.

 

[CharlieS]

I believe there are three bolts along the frame rail (two in the underside of the frame rail itself and a third in a bracket on the frame toward the rear tire), then the two that mount to “straps” on the inboard side.

I seem to recall the fiddly part for me may have been getting the straps around the driveshaft area? I don’t recall exactly - I have an aftermarket aluminum skid now.