Homemade skid plates?

That’s awesome. Hardest part for me what getting the center mounting points located properly since they had to have the 3 inch tall standoffs to clear the differential. Lots of trial and error since they are offset from the centerline of the truck.

 

So is the consensus to 'whiskey' bend or BFH and a vise of some kind.

 

Whiskey bend is how I did it. Surprised how well it turned out to be perfectly honest. BFH on 3/16 steel doesn’t turn out too well over a large surface area from what I’ve found.

 

Well I was thinking either BFH with some kind of jig or building a DIY metal brake.
https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Small-Sheet-Metal-Brake

 

If you plan to use a metal brake for 3/16 steel, it’s going to have to be a hydraulic press brake. Doable, but expensive. In the past, I’ve broken a vice trying to beat some steel in to submission. It was a cheaper vice but nonetheless, I’m still wary about using kinetic energy to shape thick steel. All these are reasons I opted for the whiskey bend method. It is much more accurate and can be done without buying anything additional except more cutting wheels.

One day I plan to build a dedicated 40 ton, 60” wide hydraulic press brake however I don’t have any room at the moment nor the money to put toward building such a rig. Can’t wait until I do though.

 

Maybe I'll see if my friend will let me use his actual press brake.

 

Built this a few years back and it is awsome. Used it many more times than I ever thought I would. Only wish my press was bigger so I could have built a wider break. Will probably use whiskey break method and weld due to length of bends.

 

I was actually looking at the SWAG Off-road kit for the 20 ton press I have. Came to the conclusion I need a bigger one so that’s why I’ll build the 60” inch version in the future. Or it may be 52”, I’m not sure. Either way, I need a bigger one if I’m building truck parts.

 

I've been doing some drawing tonight.
I think this is close on most of the measurements (definitely not to scale did it on my tablet).
If anyone has adjustments to this if I am off please let me know I will update it. Hoping to get a CAD rendering to scale soon and start cutting some steel too.

***EDIT***

PICTURE REMOVED

Going to adjust the measurements, after investigation some of the measurements that were used from multiple sources some were way wrong. I was redrawing in CAD when I realized the issues. Hopefully I can repost it soon. With CAD file.

 

Is that a flat plan?

 

Yes flat with no bends yet.

Should have some time on Saturday to lay it out on cardboard and check it again.

 

Cool. A sheet of 3/16 for 30x41 is $90 here. Now to talk my friend into letting me borrow his Waterjet....hmmm. Wish I had a CNC Plasma Table. Maybe one day.

 

Progress

Printing real size and double checking hole alignments

This is a flat sheet "cutting template" no bends yet.

 

Is the rear portion also a 145 deg bend?

 

Got my transfer case skid bolted up for the final test fit before paint. Everything looks solid.


This is a few days before completion.

 

You guys are making me really jealous I don't have a garage or a welder yet.

 

Not sure yet going to test fit first and see what that angle needs to be.
I am hopeful I can tomorrow if weather and work cooperate.

Mock corrugated plastic sign skid assembled. Might be better than stock skids that are beat to crap.

 

Test fit looks like the angled piece at the front of the truck needs to be closer to 11" long not the 9" in my original plan. Bolt holes seem to match up good. Not sure if I will have to adjust bolt holes any after changing the front angle. Probably won't have time to work on it anymore this week work just got real....

 

Subbed for revision 3.

 

Well got a few minutes to work on this today. Hopefully 3rd times a charm.....and hot glue guns work way better than tape...FYI.