Austin's Supercharged Mid Travel Build

I recently made the decision to join in on a group Rubicon Trail trip and had a few things to get in order.

First thing was to replace my steering rack that I broke on the Mcgrew Trail.



Next up was some belly protection. My old belly skid setup bolted into my old rock sliders, so when I swapped out my rock sliders to my new ones I lost the ability to use my belly skid. Instead of adapting that skid to work, which I was never really happy with in the first place, I just decided to build a new 2 piece skid setup that protects way more and has better ground clearance than my old one did.

To run the new skid plate as far back down the belly of the truck as I wanted it, I had to build a cross member to tie the plate into.











My work gave me a sheet of 3/16'' steel, so I decided to use that instead the 1/4'' I was originally thinking of going with. To compensate for the slightly thinner material, I added some bracing.

Mock up of the 1st section of the 2.



Mock up of the second section.



Bracing added. Later on the tall part of the vertical support got cut down to be an inch tall to match the vertical supports on the other section of skid plate.



Bracing added to the other section.


I realized I had a little room above the front section of plate so I added this X bracing.



The final product all bolted up. I couldn't be happier with how it came out.



I also added a Low Range gas skid as well for good measure. For how little these things cost I just couldn't justify building one myself. I have to say I'm very disappointed that it's only 12 gauge steel, I was expecting it to be at lease 3/16''. I may have to steal the measurements off of it and build a beefier one someday.

 

Update on the gas tank skid. From LRO website "This skid plate is formed from solid 3/16” plate steel, CNC laser cut and CNC press bent for amazing accuracy".

https://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/199...-for-xtra-cab-double-cab-models-tar-tgts.html

Going to give them a call tomorrow to see whats up.

 

Interested in what they say, was going to get this as well.

 

Nice work on those bell skids!

I have a LROR gas tank skid and nearly certain it's 3/16". I'll measure tonight. It was made before Trail Gear times though, so maybe that explains the discrepancy.

 

How did you get those bends in there? I was looking at “whiskey bends”. I’m going to make some skids for a buddy soon.

 

Press brake!

https://www.baileigh.com/metalworking/press-brakes/vertical-press-brakes

 

If only I had 10k to buy one haha or access to one.

 

I just talked with LRO and they said to send some pictures to them. I’ll post an update about what they say later.

 

This old gal out of the Folsom Prison.

 

Yo this is cool!

 

when you planning on doing the Rubicon?

 

Going to hit trail on the 24th of this month. Doing an out and back from the Tahoe side.

 

Damn. Ill be out the 22nd. Cant do the 24th

 

Like i invited myself. Lol

 

That's a bummer. Hitting it during the week made it so a bunch of people couldn't join which sucks but that's the only time we could make it happen.

 

I mean the more trucks the more fun right?

 

Damn right!

 

Well the response I got from low range off-road / trail gear was pretty fucking lame. In other words, we decided to cheap out and make our products thinner and you’re SOL.



Anyone have an older LRO skid plate that’s made out of 3/16” they’d want to sell me?

 

Id be going full Karen there