Alternative trail armor

I would assume it would depend on the material, some materials crack others bend. Nylon is really good about having a high tensile strength while retaining high ductility. I would be more concerned about repairs as stated earlier. Then again using the right resin/epoxy might do the trick. However if these rigs are using alternate materials there must be something to it.

 

Typically when people talk about composites, they mean carbon fiber or aramid fiber (kevlar). The latter is very tough and resistant against puncture, typically used for bulletproof cockpit doors on modern airliners. Cost is quite high. However, in airplanes, it is often justifiable to double the cost to save 10% weight.

HDPE, delrin, bakelite, G10, etc. are just "ordinary" plastics. They are all pretty weak compared to steel. In both pictures above, the panel is well supported by a tubular frame. With that frame in place, you can use a 2mm-thick steel sheet in lieu of the plastic and get equal protection.

 

I don't know... 2mm is a pretty thin sheet of steel... The orange HDPE is 3/4" thick. They said a rig about 2000lbs less than them has beat the crap out of a 1/2" sheet that has held up just fine.

 

cool pic. and i have thought about this stuff for skids. most side by sides and new ATV’s come with this stuff for skids and it works very well. tomorrow i can tack some pic of the stock skids on our rhino. i have hit sooo many things sooo hard with them and you can’t hardly tell.(than agin the rhino is only 1250 pounds plus 2 people, +cooler,+5 extra gallons of gas, plus a box with odd stuff in it tow rope, maybe some food. so maybe close to 1800 or 1900 pounds when on the trail.

 

One very important thing to notice about this rig and the other one is that the HDPE is backed with tube steel. The HDPE is just being used as a sliding surface only, probably because it is slippery. I don't think that stuff is strong enough to be used as a weight bearing skid plate.

 

^This.

 

True. It's too flexible. Would just flex into whatever you are trying to protect.

 

Plus it sounds better when you land on steel. You know what your landing on it protected.

Pretty gross example. Would you wanna wear a condom or grocery bag. Haha a teacher asked us this in auto. NOT MY MIND

 

the thicker this stuff is the less it’s going to flex. i really don’t think this stuff will flex enough to hurt what part is on the other side of it.

will try and get a pic maybe video of the skids on our rhino tomorrow.

 

Kinda surprised he has a muffler skid. A punctured muffler won't leave you stranded on the trail.

 

Yeah would just depend on how spread out the bracing is behind it.

He did it just to balance things out and cuz they had some extra laying around still. haha

 

Composite skids at work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEHQJn_hxo

 

All those $5 cans of Red Bull paid for something all right... Apparently we've been doing it wrong all this time and should be running slick tires off road.

 

Perhaps this is more palatable for you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-pzol0sxro

 

This^^ Didn't the discovery channel pick it up though?