Homemade skid plates?

UPDATE 11/16/20
After putting this thing through the ringer, I decided to change it up a little. I made the rear mounts shorter and cut out a diff bump out. I did this for a couple reasons.
1) I did not like the slope of the skid plate. With 2.5 and 1.25 offsets for the risers you clear the diff well but end up with 9.75” of ground clearance in the front and 8.3” of clearance in the back. I was not a fan of the skid sloping.
2) increased clearance, while yes the bump out will be lower, I decided I’d rather have more clearance in more area with one small drop than the whole skid be 1.5 inches lower all around.

I think the thing to do would be to increase the front riser heigh to match the angle and make the whole skid level, but then you would have less clearance all around. Or cut out a drop under the diff, which is what I decided on.

New Standoff measurement: front 2.5 rear .5. Now I have 9.75 of clearance in the front and 9.25 in the back of the skid, much better than before.

I will update the CAD file when I get a chance with the trap door cut out. Also had to cut the bent up sides slightly under the LCA to fit.

 

Selling some work this week to fund one of these from you! Can we hook up this weekend and talk details?

 

Cut the sides and top plate for the diff drop section. Updated the dwg file.



Mock up is upside down to see if it fit.

 

I could be interested in a kit or fully fabbed......aww local pickup only.......

 

If you are willing to pay shipping...

 

Here are my basic skids. Pretty much just stared at the all pro until my hands made it. First time making something with bends like this. Need to make the rest of the skids.

 

When I get up the courage to finally hit the trails and get my truck dirty, I will be messaging you for sure. I’m in the jersey shore area and wouldn’t mind making the drive to save some coin on shipping. Plus supporting some one solo instead of a company is better IMO

 

@Canoehead
I've got the "old" file into the plasma cutter for a quote to see how much its going to be for us,
Want me to send him the updated file instead, or do you think we can manage on our own?

PS:
thanks @jahulgan & @JDUB-Fabrication ( and everyone else!), you hard work is making it possible for us Canucks to have affordable skids !

 

I cut the diff drop location by hand. Also if you don’t want the diff drop at all it’s the only thing I changed on the file.
Please post pictures when you make it!!

 

Honestly cannot thank JDUB enough for his work on these! Was able to easily fab one up out of 3/16" Aluminum and couldn't be happier!

 

YESSSSSSSSSSS the first confirmed build from my file!!!
Looks awesome, interested to see how the 3/16 aluminum holds up.
no logo? just messing with ya!

 

Mannnn I'm in Livingston and I've been drooling over the BAMF skid for a while. Ended up going with a regular TRD skid plate not too long ago. Wish I had seen this earlier. Nice work with the design, JDUB!

 

Let's just say my plasma didn't cut it out nice

 

Those cuts look clean, what settings on the plasma table: amperage and rate? I can't seem to cut aluminum as nice as steel, got to dial in the feeds and speeds I guess. Aluminum seems to gum up, also throws the torch height control off for some reason.

 

I usually cut 3/16" Aluminum on 80 Amp Air/Air and also have Nitrgoen/Nitrogen using a Hypertherm HPR170 on a 24'x7' Table. She runs about 100ipm for straight cuts and down to 50ipm for holes. My problem is the heat warp I get causing a bad cut(why the lettering ended up wonky).

 

I will hit you up after the holidays for sure. I was about to get a coastal offroad weld it yourself skidplate kit but I like how this version is wider. Did you make the entire 3 piece skid plate set? worse comes to worse I can probably get someone local to plasma cut the stuff for me and I can burn it together.

 

I think we can carry on the the "old" file. This is awesome!

 

Dang never cut with nitrogen, sounds cool. Thanks for the information. I’ll have to see what the CAM software has for amps and speed on the aluminum setting. I got some scrap .25” around I can play with.

 

Finally created a Tacomaworld account just so i could ask you a few questions @JDUB-Fabrication
the design is awesome. I've got a local shop lined up to cut the steel out for me.
what diameter, lengths and thickness pipes did you use for your most recent iteration of it with the higher clearance?
do you have the updated file somewhere? (I haven't seen it here yet)

Hoping to get my garage organized and my welder up and running after my move so i can get the steel ordered and weld one of these up for myself before christmas break. I'll definitely post up photos!

 

Nice dude! So the file that is posted is the most recent updated version with the diff drop window. But, I think it may change the angles to have it closer to the bottom of the truck. I am planning on doing some work to it on Sunday and report back.
I used 1.5 OD pipe, I think it’s .125 wall. Front 2.5 and back 1.25 that clears the diff just barley. At the moment I have the back at .5 but it’s fitting weird so I need to do some head scratching and cutting this weekend. You may want to make the pipe 3/16 longer and then just slide them in the holes. Instead of on top of the holes.