Trail Toys UHMW Gas Tank Skid

Now you'll have something to install at that mod party of yours.

 

Oh i have to many things to install :/ right now. Damn MOAB has got me Paranoid. So i have diff fluids, brake pads/ rotors, Wheel bearing assembly , bump stops and new springs on the shocks. Just want to make sure everything is in tip shape.


You headed to moab?

 

No MOAB for me

But I understand that healthy paranoia you have. At least you won't be SOL if something does happen out there.

 

Damn

 

I am just surprised not more people are not getting on this.

 

I'd be all over it if finances allowed. I'm doing a lot of reno's at home that have to be finished in a month and I've been buying things for Moab... it's really killing the cash flow. On the up side, once the basement is finished the rental income will mean MOAR truck parts

 

i hear ya. I am glad have spaced it out with parts.

 

Well maybe if it was proven at say..Moab, then more people would be diving in.

 

any protection is better than none.

 

I don't know if I missed it, but dclb skids are still in the works?

Also, regarding the strap, are they a woven material similar to a tie down strap? If so how will they hold up to the elements over time. They do look easy to replace however, is it hard to find replacement lengths, or any strap size will do?

 

The current skid does not fit the DCLB, as the cross member is further away from the tank that the short bed.

I will modify my current cut file to accommodate the extra length, so yes, there will be long bed skids. Send me a PM and I'll out your name on the list.

The strap material is similar to seat belt webbing, but any 2" nylon webbing will suffice if you somehow cut a strap. The 2" webbing won't be hard to find if you need it. I am also planning on stocking extra straps just in case someone needs a spare.

 

Correct. For the most part the gas tank needs to be protected from abrasion and puncture.

 

Okay no worries, been trying to follow the thread and wasn't sure if I missed it. Good news on the strap. Really anything to add protection but not a significant amount of weight is fantastic, look forward to seeing some of your other products.

 

Well, frankly, it's the price point.
For only a few bucks more, a 1/4" plate aluminum skid can be had that provides superior protection at not too much more weight.
I don't argue that UHMW is really durable and damn-near bulletproof. But it is plastic, and as such doesn't match the longevity (environmental elements) or durability (trail damage) of metal.
If this was substantially cheaper than an aluminum skid (>$100 difference), I'd be one of the first ones throwing money at him.

 

Pelfreybilt aluminum skid:

Cost - $225
Offroad gas tank straps - $80 plus shipping
Shipping - not included

* $125 difference before adding shipping

RCI aluminum gas tank skid:

Cost - $260
Offroad gas tank straps - $80 plus shipping
Shipping - not included

* $160 difference before adding shipping

Bud Built aluminum gas tank skid:

Cost - $414
Offroad gas tank straps - $80 plus shipping
Shipping - not included

* $314 difference before shipping


If I missed a manufacturer that's making an aluminum skid let me know.

 

Admittedly, I was referring specifically to the Pelfrey skid.
For me, I can get the Pelfrey skid for less than that, because I pick up in person, pay in cash, and have several of his products already. So when I say "a few bucks more," I mean literally a FEW bucks more.
You're assuming a buyer would need to buy the straps. But there are a number of ways to mount them that do not require the factory straps (your straps are but one, pretty smart, way to do it).
Not saying you have a low value at all. I recognize UHMWPE for how amazing it is. I was simply providing at least one reason there is less interest in these than one would expect.
Another is the unknown longevity and durability of them. I foresee the durability to be surprisingly good, perhaps even on par with aluminum. But I have no idea about longevity: plastic tends to degrade over time in an outdoor setting, faster when exposed to the heat and chemicals the underside of our trucks experience (you should see the air quality along freeways in SoCal).
After all, this is a new approach to something in which plastic, even UHMWPE, is typically avoided.

And I'm not saying I'm not interested in your product (there's a reason I subscribed, and am active, on this thread). I'm just saying the price point is, for me, a little bit high for me to not jump on it quickly.

 

I would have gone with the pelfreybilt but he doesn't make the setup for Sports only Off roads. This will serve it purpose.

 

Yup, in your specific case the pelfry aluminum skid is an option that costs a few bucks more, but that's not the case for the majority of folks that are looking at this options.

You're also right about the gas tank straps. You can pull the straps, drill the holes and tack weld in studs. That's doable for some, but the welding aspect rules out a lot. It can be done, but in terms of time spent you'd be better off just buying the straps.

The company I source my UHMW from uses the product to line dump truck beds. The red material is even used in trucks that haul hot asphalt. For the abuse our tanks see, normally bumps and scrapes, the UHMW will hold up just fine.

Here's a chemical compatibility chart. It looks like if you keep acetone off of it and don't heat it past 300 degrees you're good to go.

http://www.mossrubber.com/pdfs/chem_res.pdf

I do appreciate your interest, and your concerns. Keep the questions and comments coming.

 

Headed out to pick up the blanks for the DCLB skids.