How difficult is it to fab skids?

I am in need of some skids for my 2016 OR. The cost of skids doesn't seem worth it to me so I'd like to fab my own. I haven't fabbed before but have access to all the tools needed, except for something that can bend plate steel.

I plan on mocking up a set from poster board and doing the whiskey bend method. As far as design, I am going to copy my favorite designs (shape and ribs) from different manufactures.

Am I being overzealous or is this a reasonable project to tackle? I'd like to hear others experiences fabbing their skids, such as unexpected issues they ran into.

 

I haven’t fabbed my own skids, but I do own some and do some hobby fab stuff for my truck. It would be a very doable project. For bends (if it were me) I’d just notch with an angle grinder, bend and weld. Or you could take it to a local fabrication shop and have them make bends for you. I say go for it.

 

I agree with EST (especially the eat) but that’s another forum.

Many of the things I do on my truck, house or in the community I’ve never done before. If you have the tools you can learn and fix as you go. It may not cost less eventually but you will get what you want and be proud of it.

 

Thanks guys. I am going to start at this as soon as things slow up at work (if they ever do). I just tend to find a lot of unexpected issues whenever I do stuff like this. I don't know if it's me, my truck, or things that people expect you to know.

I like the idea of bringing it to a shop for bends. I know it's stronger this way, I'm just afraid to pay for that and then find out I was a 1/8" short in a measurement. I prefer to be mad at myself than others haha.

 

Make the entire skid out of corrugated cardboard using hot melt glue and tape. Make sure it fits. Then use that as a template and take it to a metal shop. Ask them to cut it out and make the bends. They you weld it up wherever needed.

 

I built a skid for a guy that brought me his budbuilt skid to mimic.... it wasn't all that hard, just a lot of work. I did it (material wise) cheaper than what it would have cost him to buy another one from budbuilt, but in my situation, I charged him almost as much as it would have cost him to buy new. I still saved him money, and since you are doing this for yourself, you will be money ahead doing it yourself. I mostly just cut and bent, then welded back.