My center skid does not bolt to the front skid. It is totally flat the entire way. That way I can take the front skid off and not the center.

Obviously if you think about it, mine vibrated because it was not bolted to the front plate, adding the extra crossmember solved that. The 2 overlap a bit. and more of the center plate is up higher and it's once again a very simple design. On Chinamans the vehicle will/would place it's entire weight on the center section. If it's not braced or re-inforced it'll fold like aluminum foil. You guys need to get more seat time testing this stuff.

Raising the crossmembers is pointless, your still going to have the t-case hanging down. I would rather have a smooth bottom than a point or low area hanging down.

But then again with 35's it really does not matter anyway. Nothing hits.

 

Let us know if this holds true on Aftershock

 

I've had a 6,000 lb vehicle resting on an un-reinforced 1/4" plate and it didn't bend. Problem is 1/4" for the runner would get way too heavy. The 27x28 3/16" plate already weighs 40 lbs. We'll see how it holds up in Moab at the end of the month and it'll get reinforced if necessary. I doubt it'll fold up like aluminum . . .

 

I don't think raising the crossmembers is pointless at all, but I guess that's just a difference in opinions. We'll see!

Chris

 

What is the point of raiseing the 2 crossmember when the forward section of the transfer case still hangs down just as low as it always has.

?????

What do you gain? Nothing, you'r lowest point is still just as low.

But I think you should raise yours. You could use the extra work.

 

You have not humped the double bump on Chinamans either. Add that trail to your list of "must runs".

 

It's on the list! I may be in Deming, NM this summer so I just need an excuse to abandon the wife, kids, grandparents, and dog for a couple days . . .

 

Deming, that's close to my neck of the woods! Let me know, we could meet part way and run some trails in T or C or Los Lunas or something.

But, what would you be doing in Deming? There's nothing there.

 

Ahh, Deming. Home of the famous duck races. Gateway to Copper Canyon. What do you mean there's nothing there? OK, I admit it. The place is a hole. But it's the hole where my grandparents chose to retire. We go down there every two years and can only stomach 4 days or so in that wretched town. We generally take 2 weeks off and bag some passes in CO and hit the backroads of NM on the way down.

I will definitely give you a ring if we have time to play. I love northern NM and keep telling my grandparents to move north.

 

I really like the idea of such a cheap skid plate. Do you know if it will work on late model tacoma's too (2000)? I looked at skidplate.com and their t-case skids are $200+ I think. Also, I don't think it would matter, but this same concept would work with a diff drop installed on my truck right?

 

To me, the cool thing about a cheap skid plate is that if it does get hacked up, bent up, etc, then $17 will buy me a replacement - or I can just drop it, bang the bejezus back into it, and put it back on.

I don't think a skid plate needs to be bulletproof. It's there to absorb the impact and scratches that would normally affect your transfer case, cross members, gas tank, etc.

It _does_ have to be strong enough to absorb the impact such that it doesn't _transfer_ the hit to things in your undercarriage, and I imagine that 40lbs of 3/16" steel plate will serve that purpose well.

Smoothing off some of Jay's work to avoid creating places for snags to occur is probably a good idea, but in general.. a simple flat plate sounds like a great plan.

 

Well, Steve, in references to your comment on the transfer case still being the lowest point is true. But, do you think all rocks are large flat pieces of rock that encompass the entire undercarriage of our vehicles, or do you think it's possible that a lot of them are jagged and could hit in any number of places of the undercarriage of our vehicles? I think the latter is true, so tucking everything up as high as I can will only help. Another good example of this is stock gas tank location. It's in a terrible location, and you've mentioned that you don't want to move it for the type of wheeling you do. I'm definitely relocating it, because just a couple of nights ago, I had go bang off it pretty good to make it up a really steep climb. It was either that or flip the truck, but it would have made it a lot easier if the tank was in the back, because I would have never hit at all, and I could have taken it at a much safer slower speed.

Chris

 

Update: I put in a 1/4" spacer between the plate and the rear cross-member and the plate does not rub against the OEM t-case "gaurd" any more. Removing the gaurd would have done the same thing, but the gas tank is still lower than the t-case plate so lowering the plate 1/4" won't make any difference . . .

 

But moving the tank will prove to make a huge difference in my opinion. That's my 2 cents!

Chris

 

I've pivoted on my crossmember more than once and haven't had any problems at all. My t-case is above the frame rails, so I can relocate the crossmembers, then run a full skid from rail to rail. Eventually, I'll have everything above the rails, including the links for the rear suspension.

 

I want my transfer case above the frame rails too, please tell! Man we think just alike! I'm wanting to do the same exact stuff.

Chris

 

Hey Bruce, this pic is before you raised everything up above the frame rails, right?



Have you re done the skid plate after you raised everything up above the frame rails?

Chris

 

That's for sure. I was just talking about adjusting the plate with the stock configuration.

 

yea, that's before I raised everything and just before I blew my motor.

No I haven't had a chance to fabricate another plate yet and just reinstalled the old one to go wheelin this weekend.......

 

Details man????? I would love to find out how you raised everything! Please tell!!!!

Chris