What belly-up skidplate are you YJ's running? I'm getting ready to do an axle swap (soa dana 44 & 60), so I figured that now is the best time to install one. If I end up needing to adjust my pinion angle, it won't be any extra work.

The Tereaflex looks good...the Bayau Jeep plate looks almost like stock height, but much stronger. Go-fer-it is redesigning theirs...any one else?

I can't weld yet so building one is out.

Originally posted by RSQJEEP
What belly-up skidplate are you YJ's running? I'm getting ready to do an axle swap (soa dana 44 & 60), so I figured that now is the best time to install one. If I end up needing to adjust my pinion angle, it won't be any extra work.

The Tereaflex looks good...the Bayau Jeep plate looks almost like stock height, but much stronger. Go-fer-it is redesigning theirs...any one else?

I can't weld yet so building one is out.

Depending on how high you go with the SOA you might not be able to make it work w/o a HP rear axle. I had one completely flat out of 1/4" steel and had to lose it. I just couldn't make the rear driveline angle work no matter how I reworked the tranny mount. And I wasn't going to spend the $$$ for a high angle shaft. I have a stock skid now and have 26" at the belly. If that's not enough I have a winch:D

Personaly I would just run the stock one untill you can spend some time learning how to weld, and fab your own.
I just cant see spending $300 for a hunk of metal that you drag across rocks.
I made my own and its a better set up, and stronger than anything you will buy from an aftermarket company.
I think I spent about $75 in material and took about 5 hours to fab.
Dont get me wrong, I dont have anything against good aftermarket products,...but to spend big bucks for a skid plate, seems just frivolous to me.

All good points to consider. Well, I luckily have four things in my favor. SYE, 1" body lift, high pinion rear and I need to have my CV driveshaft changed anyway due to the dana 60 install.

Big Dude- Still have the plate? Want to sell it?

Originally posted by RSQJEEP

Big Dude- Still have the plate? Want to sell it?

You can have the plate if you want it.

You'll have to pretty it up though. I started to slot the holes to fit the YJ factory skid bolts a little better (original holes were about 1/4" off) and quit once it fit. It'll work as is but it wouldn't take much work with a drill to make it look better and slide on easier. No dents or anything. You may not have te room for a totally flat skid w/o a BL. I had a 2" BL on mine when I ran it (glad to say that's gone also).

F@ckers heavy though, I wouldn't want to know how much shipping would be. I'll be in TN in 3 weeks for an ERocC event, you could pick it up if you come to spectate or drive. Really I'd use your stock skid and see how much shit you get hung up on first. I had 22" with my flat skid and never touched a thing, now with 26" I'm not worried.

Originally posted by H8monday
Personaly I would just run the stock one untill you can spend some time learning how to weld, and fab your own.
I just cant see spending $300 for a hunk of metal that you drag across rocks.
I made my own and its a better set up, and stronger than anything you will buy from an aftermarket company.
I think I spent about $75 in material and took about 5 hours to fab.
Dont get me wrong, I dont have anything against good aftermarket products,...but to spend big bucks for a skid plate, seems just frivolous to me.

I can't agree with you more H8monday!!!! I hate having to buy fabbed stuff that if I could weld I could build myself for 1/4 of the price and it would be unique!

My one problem with having to wait is that I don't want to have to change my pinion angle twice and I don't want to have to re-build my DS twice. Might as well do it all now while I'm doing the axle swap.

BigDude- That would be awesome! I really appreciate your offer. The one problem is that I'm doing the axle swap on June 15th so I'm grounded for a while. How much do you think it weighs? If it's under 100 lbs I hear UPS will ship it.

Don't care what it looks like as long as it will fit. I'm hoping to http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/bangin.gif out of it anyway!

What is it made out of? 1/4"? Are the tranny bolts recessed? Any pics of it installed? Sounds like it was pretty easy for you to build. I guess my next investment will have to be a welder. Can't get serious without one.

Jeep people are the best; always looking out for others! http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/jump.gif

It's made out of 1/4" diamond plate steel. The diamond side is up. The tranny and side bolts are not recessed, but like I said I never hit them on anything. The frame holes are rough and you'll probably want to clean them up, but they should work. On the stock YJ skidplate there are two trans mounting slots, one near the front and one in the middle. This plate is only slotted for the one in the front, if yours uses the one in the middle it you would need to slot it for that.

It's heavy, I need to weigh it so I'll do the bathroom scale thing and PM you with the results and you can figure out if it'll work. I'll try to dig up a profile shot of my jeep with it on and email it to you.

i just used 1/4 inch steel and reinforced it by bolting a piece if 1x1 between the plate and the tranny mount. i am running alot of lift and actually mounted the 1/4 plate to 2x2 under the frame. it still has alot of clearance and is easy to do without the 2x2 i can take a pic if you want.

Here's a new company that's building them. There are no exposed bolts on the bottom of the skid.
T-ROX (http://www.t-rox.com/)
They seem pretty stout to me. They've got videos of a Tahoe and a YJ w/38's driving over them on their site. I think I'll be building my own though.

http://www.t-rox.com/products/skidplate/strength2.jpg

Here is a pic of mine.
It actualy hangs down about 1 1/2" below the frame rails.
It is made of 1/4" steel, with a few angles designed into it for strength. The mounting bolts are recessed.
It is very strong, I have been using it for over a year now, with no problems. With the smooth angles, even when it does make contact, it is very easy to transition off of it.
http://tellico.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/781006-P5110495.jpg

I had mine done by Advanced Frame Works as a test guinea pig.
The bonus is that the t-case is basically framed and supported in with tubing and a flat plate covers it. SO if you need to work on the tranny or t-case, all you do is pop off 4 button head bolts instead of needing to take the whole plate off and support the tranny and t-case.
There is a write up on 4x4wire.com

Originally posted by bigdude
It's made out of 1/4" diamond plate steel. The diamond side is up. The tranny and side bolts are not recessed, but like I said I never hit them on anything. The frame holes are rough and you'll probably want to clean them up, but they should work. On the stock YJ skidplate there are two trans mounting slots, one near the front and one in the middle. This plate is only slotted for the one in the front, if yours uses the one in the middle it you would need to slot it for that.

It's heavy, I need to weigh it so I'll do the bathroom scale thing and PM you with the results and you can figure out if it'll work. I'll try to dig up a profile shot of my jeep with it on and email it to you.

I just finished mine last weekend it cost me about $20 in metal from the local building yard. I also used the 1/4in diamond plate steel 25in by 25in ($12), but I had the diamond side down. Yes the Diamond bumps catch on rocks but that is good. I have no worries if I can hear the sweet clicking sound of rock on Diamond plate.

I used three 1X1 1/8in thick box tube supports acrossed the full width, then used 3in wide 1/4in plate for the mounting brackets. It bolts up using four grade 8s.

I hate cutting thick plate it takes forever?

Originally posted by bigdude
It's heavy, I need to weigh it so I'll do the bathroom scale thing and PM you with the results and you can figure out if it'll work. I'll try to dig up a profile shot of my jeep with it on and email it to you.

Any luck with the pictures? I could definitely use the skid. Let me know how much it weighs. I'm getting ready to ship out an axle and if the housing weighs 300 lbs, forward air only charges $49. So the skid should be less than that.

Thanks again BigDude!

Holly

Originally posted by RSQJEEP


Any luck with the pictures? I could definitely use the skid. Let me know how much it weighs. I'm getting ready to ship out an axle and if the housing weighs 300 lbs, forward air only charges $49. So the skid should be less than that.

Thanks again BigDude!

Holly

I'm trying. Moved girlfriend down here from 1100 miles away this past weekend. Wheeling/Competition Practice in SC this coming weekend. ERoCC competition in TN the following weekend. Just a tad busy. I have a digi-cam now though, so I'll try to snap a pic while I re-do my Tahoes brakes this evening after I lift weights and do my laundry. God damn what i wouldn't give for a week off from life:(

So what do you do in your spare time?

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/guin.gif

So you are a little busy now. Thanks for your help and time.

Originally posted by RSQJEEP
So what do you do in your spare time?

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/guin.gif

So you are a little busy now. Thanks for your help and time.

It would just be a lot easier if I didn't live in America's wnag:D