Which skid plate should I get? Are they all about the same? Prices all about the same?

I've run a Petroworks plate for years, one of my first mods. they are bulletproof and cheap.

I like the Forrest tcase bucket. You get a tcase skid plate and a bulletproof tcase mount in one, and you dont have to remove it to mess with the tcase or fluids.

Trail tough make a similar setup also call the Mighty Kong. Not really sure about the pro's and cons of each. I know there is info here though so just search.

Originally posted by Shrock
I like the Forrest tcase bucket. You get a tcase skid plate and a bulletproof tcase mount in one, and you dont have to remove it to mess with the tcase or fluids.

Trail tough make a similar setup also call the Mighty Kong. Not really sure about the pro's and cons of each. I know there is info here though so just search.

i liked the bucket style skids at first but then i thought about it and if you are resting the whole wieght of the rif on the bucket you are actually doing it to the t-case mounts. i personally do not like that.

a buddy runs a skid plate. i am unsure of the maker but it says hardcore 4x4 on the side of it. it is flat bottomed and only hangs down about an inch lower than the frame. it came with a sucky mounting setup though. it had small flat bars that were set ontop of the frame and then a bolt was run through the skid plate and threaded into the small bars. he chuncked that setup and welded a couple of small tabs on the outside frame rails so he now bolts the thing up there and it works great.

A friend of mine has the t-case skid plate from Zuki South. Super stout and by far the cheapest I have seen, 69 bucks. I plan on putting one on my project rig.

Here is the link Zuki South (http://www.zukisouth.com/zukarmor.htm)

Originally posted by Shrock
I like the Forrest tcase bucket. You get a tcase skid plate and a bulletproof tcase mount in one, and you dont have to remove it to mess with the tcase or fluids.

Trail tough make a similar setup also call the Mighty Kong. Not really sure about the pro's and cons of each. I know there is info here though so just search.

I run a T-case bucket and a skid for the same reason high5 wrote. I did have to cut a hole in the plate to clear the bottom of my custom t-case bucket but everything is still flat.:D

I am running a semi duel setup.....Petroworks Skid plate and beefed up T-Case arm/mounts. It performs well. and the Skid keeps the larger rock from lodging in the tunle area.

Originally posted by high5
[B]a buddy runs a skid plate. i am unsure of the maker but it says hardcore 4x4 on the side of it.../B]

Those are from Tim Porter of HardCore 4X4. After a year off, he has just resumed production of his components. It is the only commercially available 'frame rail to frame rail' skid plate out there.

Originally posted by Shrock
I like the Forrest tcase bucket. You get a tcase skid plate and a bulletproof tcase mount in one, and you dont have to remove it to mess with the tcase or fluids.

Trail tough make a similar setup also call the Mighty Kong. Not really sure about the pro's and cons of each. I know there is info here though so just search.

Only two differences I see.
1st Mine bolts to the back using three of the four bolt holes, some would say it is a pro and some would say it is a con. Depending if they run a drive shaft e-break or not, even though I make them with out the back sometimes for people with them already and they are a little less $$$
2nd Brent’s is a one piece, Mine you bolt the short arm in-between the bucket and the t-case surface using the four normal bolts.



i liked the bucket style skids at first but then i thought about it and if you are resting the whole wieght of the rif on the bucket you are actually doing it to the t-case mounts. i personally do not like that.

Well theses style skids are not for everyone. This is one reason I recommend use *new* rubber mounts, they are very flexible when new. Of coarse they will break under hard use, but better tweaking the frame mounts. Just ask Jeff beasley did to his mounts after running the Polly style.
I like them because of the added ground clerance:)

Originally posted by NC ZUK GUY
A friend of mine has the t-case skid plate from Zuki South. Super stout and by far the cheapest I have seen, 69 bucks. I plan on putting one on my project rig.

Here is the link Zuki South (http://www.zukisouth.com/zukarmor.htm)

I ran a Con-Fer plate for a few years - I think the P-works one is similar. I could teeter-totter on it, it was so strong. I eventually raised my drivetrain for clearance & made a custom one. :grinpimp:

CSR on this board has run a ZukiSouth skid for years & hasn't had any damage that I know of.

I've run the Zuki-South skid plate for a few years now. It works great and IMO is the best "bang" for your buck, especially if you have some expensive gears in your t-case you need to protect.

That said, there are a couple of things to consider. The "bucket" and Zuki-south style do leave the potential of getting logs, rocks etc. caught up underneath the rig which could lead to something going:nuke: BUT... the Zuki-South plate does have an advantage over the "bucket" style in that it attaches to the frame and not with the stock rubber t-case mounts. You can land full weight on a rock and not worry about tearing the t-case out.

IMO, The con-ferr/calmini/petroworks/hardcore4x4 style with the wide flat surface, do offer the best protection and "skidability".
However, there are some different mounting methods that are a hassle.

OK, thanks for all the input or output I should say. Gonna put a t-case bucket on my other Zook but I just built my own BEEFY mount for this one so it shouldn't crack the t-case from torque again:rolleyes: . No offense but the Zuki south one in the picture on the website looks like a piece of cardboard. I like the Hardcore 4x4 one but are they available yet? and how much? Also what do you mean by "only frame rail to frame rail, skidplate"? I thought most all are. I've got my own plans for mounting one once I get one so don't care about the cheesey J-bolts or whatever comes with one.

Here is a link to an install of the Tim Porter Skid Plate.

Porter Skid Plate (http://www.izook.com/tech/skidplate/skidplate.htm)

Originally posted by Wyld Bill
OK, thanks for all the input or output I should say. Gonna put a t-case bucket on my other Zook but I just built my own BEEFY mount for this one so it shouldn't crack the t-case from torque again:rolleyes: . No offense but the Zuki south one in the picture on the website looks like a piece of cardboard. I like the Hardcore 4x4 one but are they available yet? and how much? Also what do you mean by "only frame rail to frame rail, skidplate"? I thought most all are. I've got my own plans for mounting one once I get one so don't care about the cheesey J-bolts or whatever comes with one.

I ran a Zukisouth looking skid for several years. They don't look like much but they do work quite well and I'd buy one again if I had to do it over (they don't weigh much). The two problems I had that can be fixed easily. 1 is the front mounting slots are a bad idea. They need to be holes. What happens is if you slide over a rock with enough downforce the skid will bend at the little mounting strap in the back and pull itself out from under the the two mounting bolts in front. To fix this I welded two small plates to the front so the bolts up front are now captured, I also welded a small gusset to the mounting strap along the back edge of the skid plate to fight any twisting at this point. The 2nd problem involves the rear mounting bolts. The instructions have you drill two holes in the frame and then run two self tapping screws into the frame. This works fine if you never take the skidplate off, but after a few removals the threads are pretty much gone. I welded a .25" block to the frame and drilled and tapped some holes into the block.

Originally posted by Wyld Bill
I like the Hardcore 4x4 one but are they available yet? and how much? Also what do you mean by "only frame rail to frame rail, skidplate"? I thought most all are. I've got my own plans for mounting one once I get one so don't care about the cheesey J-bolts or whatever comes with one.

I guess I should have said "THE ONLY frame rail to frame rail skidplate". This means that it totally covers the bottom from one side of the vehicle to the other. No spaces for sticks, rocks, etc.. to get into. I have no problem high centering on a rock just to pivot the vehicle on the skidplate without sticking on something...
I wrote the article at iZook for the skidplate, so if there is anything I didn't cover about it - just ask.:D

when will they be readily available again? how much and what is the contact information?

HardCore4X4 will officially open it's 'doors' around Thanksgiving. I just got the word from Tim this morning. I think they ran about $100 each, but all you have to do is lift one of these up to realize they are worth every penny. Keep an eye on iZook for vendor updates.

Originally posted by billjohn


I guess I should have said "THE ONLY frame rail to frame rail skidplate". This means that it totally covers the bottom from one side of the vehicle to the other. No spaces for sticks, rocks, etc.. to get into. I have no problem high centering on a rock just to pivot the vehicle on the skidplate without sticking on something...
I wrote the article at iZook for the skidplate, so if there is anything I didn't cover about it - just ask.:D

Yeah I understood the "frame rail to frame rail statement" I just thought that the Calmini & Petroworks ones also went from frame rail to frame rail. What am I missing?

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER
CSR on this board has run a ZukiSouth skid for years & hasn't had any damage that I know of.

The only problems I've had are the two that AZ mentioned.
The slotted holes- I told Mike about this a while back and he has fixed that. It's a simple fix, just weld up the open end of slots.
The two holes in the frame- On my to-do list, only one of mine is holding.
I beat the crap out of my Zuk on the rocks, running with OILBURNER and his 36's, and my ZukiSouth plate is still hanging on. I like it, light and easy to remove/reinstall.
The full frame rail to frame rail skids are HEAVY!
I think the t-case buckets are a great way to go. Both designs, Bills and Brents, are great- lightweight, clearance, plus they strengthen the case.

Hey!

I got a Zuki South skid plate (uninstalled) with a Sami I bought, and I'm wondering if anyone has a pic of one installed or can at least describe to me how I should install it. I can see where it goes, I just want to make sure before I start drilling holes in the crossmember and frame.

Should I have gotten bolts with this?

Thanks!
Richard

Originally posted by thecarman
Hey!

I got a Zuki South skid plate (uninstalled) with a Sami I bought, and I'm wondering if anyone has a pic of one installed or can at least describe to me how I should install it. I can see where it goes, I just want to make sure before I start drilling holes in the crossmember and frame.

Should I have gotten bolts with this?

Thanks!
Richard

Just have someone hold it up while you mark where you need to drill. Not much room for error, try and get the front flush with the crosssmember, you want the rear mouning strap to be flat against the frame. Once you hold it up there you'll see you can't get it wrong.

Originally posted by billjohn


I guess I should have said "THE ONLY frame rail to frame rail skidplate". This means that it totally covers the bottom from one side of the vehicle to the other. No spaces for sticks, rocks, etc.. to get into.

This is a bit confusing to me also. I've got the Petroworks skid and it goes from frame rail to frame rail just like the Hardcore skid. The only difference that I saw was that there is an extra lip around the outer edges of the frame on the Hardcore skid.

I prefer these types over the bucket since you can better support the vehicle with nothing to get hung up on.

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


Just have someone hold it up while you mark where you need to drill. Not much room for error, try and get the front flush with the crosssmember, you want the rear mouning strap to be flat against the frame. Once you hold it up there you'll see you can't get it wrong.

Thanks Chris! I checked out your website and found one pic where it looks like the vertical mount off the skidplate goes to the OUTSIDE of the frame rail. Is this correct? Then do I just drill holes all the way through the frame rail and install long bolts?

(I was holding the plate up there last night and trying to figure this out.)

Also, for the crossmember mount - does the front of the skid plate sit even with the front edge of the crossmember, or does the front of the plate actually go up into the depression in the crossmember?

Thanks!
Richard

Originally posted by thecarman
Then do I just drill holes all the way through the frame rail and install long bolts?

The skidplate came with a couple of short self-tapping bolts. You've got brake and fuel lines on the inside of that frame rail, not cool to drill through it.:D

Also, for the crossmember mount - does the front of the skid plate sit even with the front edge of the crossmember

Yes.