08 Fuel Tank Armor Plate

I finally finished an armor plate for my fuel tank. The stock fuel "skid" plate looks like this and it's made of plastic:

The stock skid plate is supported by 4 nuts with studs that extend from the tank straps. Since the stock skid plate is offset from the fuel tank by about 3/4" I decided to make mine from 2 pieces welded together with a lot of careful measurement. I routed the sheetmetal through the fab shop at work after making them a drawing and sheetmetal flat pattern.


After everything was tacked and welded together, I prep'd and coated it with POR-15.

Here's the final install:


I'm working on a CAT armor plate next . . .

EDIT 8-18-08:
Thanks to Chris4x4 for pioneering a fuel tank plate found here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/9814-fuel-theft-gas-tank-skid-plate-build.html

 

very nice!

 

What do you mean armored? That thing can take a bullet?

Looks cool BTW

 

very nice .If you hit the rocks well worth the effort

 

... or if someone wants to steal your gas by drilling a hole in the tank...

Would there be any heat dissipation concerns with putting a skid plate under the cat?

 

awesome man!!!! that skid looks friggin sweet!!

 

I designed the cat plate to be 2.5" away from the cats as well as having louvers that point forward so they grab a little air to cool them.

 

Thats fantastic - and something I've been wanting to do!
Any chance you could post mechanical drawings?

One thing - did you leave drain holes for water?

Well done!

 

So you did precisely what Chris4x4 fabricated a few months ago when he was the first to originally design and make one here with photos a couple months ago. Yours is nice but credit where credit is due.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/9814-fuel-theft-gas-tank-skid-plate-build.html

 

You mounted yours by those four bolts while chris4x4 had to make brackets. Slight differences in the plate as well. Both are similar and both are nice designs. Good job both you and thanks for sharing with the community. I just can't believe people are that desperate for gas.

 

Yes, 11 gauge (.120")

 

Relax . . . I do appreciate Chris's design and pioneering this. There was already a plate on the truck from the factory . . . all I did was make something better than the stock one. Our plates are not identical in their mounting or construction though as we designed/built them independently of each other. I added thanks and link to original post . . . and thanks again Chris.

 

There are drain holes at the front and none req'd at the rear as there are chamfered corners without walls. Drawings attached . . . if anyone needs a flat or more details, I'll post that as well.

 

You need to fab more up and sell them on eBay.

 

Fantastic! Thanks!

 

Flat pattern would be much appreciated!
Thanks
GG