How would one go about figuring out what kind of aluminum to use for skids? I got a set of plans for some home made rocker kids out of 2x2 .125" square tubing. I was also thinking of making these to attach to some frame rails skids which would bolt to the frame rails. The rocker skids would be welded to the frame rails. I was wondering if there are any good way to figure out what thickness of alumnium, etc to use. The only major problem I can foresee is getting the aluminum welded but I could probably get that done at school. Thoughts?

Aluminum is soft compared to steel. You will have some serious gouges from rock contact. Better make it thick.

I have thought about building a flat skid out of aluminum and bolting some thin steel to it for abrasion resistance.

This is suppost to be the form of build it yourself fabricators????? :confused: :confused:

Or is that only if it's 1/2 plate tractor factor equip???? Comn' guys.

As for the gouging, I have thought about it and heard others say it but I'm not certain it would be a problem. Steve N said he was working with someone that had alum. skids and they did just fine. I have M/T alum. wheels and the edges to get scraped up but I have never had that stop or get hung up on them...

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when working with aluminum. It is difficult to weld, as you stated. It is, also, softer than steel, and will gouge pretty bad when used as a skid plate, you will need to run it thicker than a steel skid, I'd say 3/8 or so for a skid plate. It is lighter so the extra thickness is not much of a problem. My main concern is galvanic response. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with each other, they exchange ions, and basically corrode one another. You will need to keep the aluminum and your steel frame / body from coming in contact with each other, or the steel will rot away at the connection quickly. IMHO steel skids are not worth it. Make a tube frame for a skid, and weld 1/8 steel to it. It will be light and strong.

Ben

I like the idea of aluminum skids....I don't think they will last as long as a steel skid, but who cares. We all change stuff so often I don't think the it will be a problem. I like the fact that it is about a third the weight as steel....light is good! I think t-6 alum is a little stronger and has a little more memory too. I plan on getting my alum skids hard coated....

my aluminum body is fairing fine and is in contact with steel at numerous points. The steel seems fine too. (they say its "marine grade" aluminum, whatever that is)

I need to make a belly skid for my rig, and Im going to go with steel. my 2c. its just easier to work with. go thin and replace it every couple years. we rebuild before a skids gonna wear out.

Originally posted by jeepboyben
My main concern is galvanic response. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with each other, they exchange ions, and basically corrode one another. You will need to keep the aluminum and your steel frame / body from coming in contact with each other, or the steel will rot away at the connection quickly.

Painting the contact surfaces of the steel frame and aluminum skid would accomplish the "separation of dis-similar metals". They will not exchange electrons through the paint, and so will not corrode.

Originally posted by jeepboyben
My main concern is galvanic response. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with each other, they exchange ions, and basically corrode one another. You will need to keep the aluminum and your steel frame / body from coming in contact with each other, or the steel will rot away at the connection quickly. IMHO steel skids are not worth it. Make a tube frame for a skid, and weld 1/8 steel to it. It will be light and strong.

Ben

Looking into it a bit much don't you think. I better make sure my aluminum wheels aren't make my axles corrode.:rolleyes:

Originally posted by KYODER


Looking into it a bit much don't you think. I better make sure my aluminum wheels aren't make my axles corrode.:rolleyes:

thats what i was thinking too... all you people with aluminum bodys,, do you use aluminum bolts to put it together???

First off, what frame are you going to attach it to on a unibody? Second, Mark has some Al sheets at the shop that you might be able to talk him out of. Or at least a piece or two. It is some thicker stuff, not sure what thickness though. I personally am going to make mine out of steel, that will sit on top of tube frame. I can work with steel a lot easier than Al. That is until we get a spool gun in a couple of years. Ask Mark about it too. He had a skid plate made out of Al on the front of his old bronco. Worked pretty good.

Erin

On the XJ they have these frame rails that are basicly sheetmetal rails attached to the unibody. The current trend has been to put some sort of slider or plating on these "frame rails" to keep them from caving in on hard hits.
That's problem 1.

The second part is that I need rocker skids to keep the rockers looking nice. You can either bolt or weld rocker skids to the frame rails. I want good rails that will hold up but don't want lots of extra weight.
That's problem 2.

So I can bolt or weld the rocker skids on the bolt or weld the frame rails skids on. That is quite a bit of clutter and would probably look stupid with welds or bolts all over the place.

So my idea was to cobine the two gaurds into one. I was thinking at first of using 1/8 Channel for the frame skids. Then make up the rocker skids and weld them to the C channel frame skids. Then you could bolt the C channel and skids into place. I think bolting to the frame rails would be better since the frame rails are pretty thing amd could be screwed up easily by welding.

Then I got the idea of making this entire thing out of aluminum for light weight. I would paint the entire setup so the sepration of metals would be taken care of. Erin, I check out Mark after I figure more of what I'm doing out.