Homemade skid plates?

Hey JDUB
what did you use for finishing your skid plate? I just received a set of bare metal skid plates. I'm starting to look at the numerous possibilities for finishing: Sandblasting & paint, Sandblasting & powder coat, Just paint, or other.

Curious as to what you chose and why?

thanks
AB_Taco

 

Hey BoostGravy, what did you use for finishing your skid plate? I just received a set of bare metal skid plates. I'm starting to look at the numerous possibilities for finishing: Sandblasting & paint, Sandblasting & powder coat, Just paint, or other.

Curious as to what you chose and why?

thanks
AB_Taco

 

Good old rattle can. The better you prep the better the paint will come out. Sand blast if you can and sand the primer a little before top coat!

 

appreciate the info JDUB. rattle can is where I think I'm headed too. for simplicity since I know they'll just continue to be abused below deck.

 

Someone have a rough estimate on how many square feet a full set of skids cost? 1st gen double cab auto
away from the truck for the holidays so debating this method vs ordering some Black Friday sale skids.

material quote I got in the Bay Area seems a bit high so if the math works out I’ll order some bud builts and gusset those.

 

>.> https://www.coastaloffroad.com/product-page/1st-gen-tacoma-skid-plate-set/

 

yea I’m either going to make my own or order bud built.
guess I’ll just wait until post thanksgiving and crawl under my truck with a tape.

 

If you don't mind me asking, why Bud? Those coastal are cheaper and already have the gussets you were going to add anyway. $395 for all three + shipping isn't a bad deal, especially if you're handy with a welder.

but you're free to do whatever you like, not trying to push you one way or the other. I really want to make my own, but I won't have the plasma table for probably 6 months and I need skids sooner than that, so coastal is what I'm doing for my gen 2.

 

Man, that excellently made! My buddy got this Tacoma project we'll work on after we finished installing the parts from 4Wheelonline onto the Superduty. We'll definitely take a look at your design and process.

 

Yea, definitely happy to explain my reasoning.
price wise bud built skids are only 60 bucks more with their current sale (Coastal Off-road shipping is a lot).
Bud built come with the rear cross brace (1st gen tacoma) making them stronger too.

Looking to make my own though.. just need to price out steel to see if it’s worth starting from scratch or modifying a shops skids.

 

Onlinemetals if you sign up for their emails sends out 20% off coupons twice a year, and 10% and 15% the rest of the time usually.

 

I think you could make all three from a 4x8 sheet and have a bit leftover.
Those coastal’s look cool. I wonder how that style crossmember holds up to abuse.

 

rad thanks! hopefully the local place isn’t too bad.
there’s another place with way better pricing but they’ve been closed the whole year because Covid

 

I would check Craigslist or marketplace for steel plate as well. Found this in the spring and I think I figured it was enough for me to build a gas tank skid and two rear skids (first gen) as I already have a IFS skid, but I decided I didn’t want to mess with it.

 

@JDUB-Fabrication For some reason the cad file you have posted isn't updating/downloading properly. would you mind re-posting it or even messaging or emailing it to me?

 

Absolutely!
If you message me your email I can send other file types.

 

Sub’d for future me.

 

I got a free skid plate, then I stack two plated and installed. If you get longer bolt and free skid plate. 4 layers should be strong as pro plate. Lol

 

Thought about this years ago, but didn't want to add any extra weight to the left side for gas tank protection. Tacomas are already lopsided.
Also would reduce payload capacity.. I need all that's available, and then some. So I just watch where I'm going, being aware of the low hanging fruit.

 

JDUB-Fabrication helped me out with this thing. Kudos to whoever posted the original file and to JDUB for his skill and effort. Now I’m ready for the mall.