Installing a heavy skid plate by yourself?

I have one of those thick gauge skidplates that mounts under the truck and covers the transmission and cats.

Twice a year I remove it so I can grease the ujoints on the 4wd driveshaft, and each time it is an absolute PITA to install it.

- It is heavy and oddly shaped
- The mounting holes/bolts are in very precise spots
- When I lift the truck up on jackstands to get clearance to do the work, I am also increasing the distance I have to lift the skid plate up by myself to install it


I can usually manage by putting half the skidplate on top of wood blocks and then I just have to lever the other side up and pray the bolts can thread into the mounts to hold that side up, then I do the other side.


I may end up buying something like this to help, but curious if anyone here has any better tips before I spend the money.

 

I just lay it on top of my body and struggle

Build a cradle to attach to your floor jack and use that to lift it

 

I use a rolling floor jack. Balance the skid plate on the jack next to the truck. roll it under and jack it up until there is a 1/4" gap. crawl under and line up the bolt holes and thread the bolts in. finish jacking it up tight to the truck and tighten the bolts. I struggled with my skid plate many times until I figured out this technique.

 

Reminds me of installing rock sliders solo... ouch.

 

I used a floor jack as well, and rolled it under then gradually jacked it into place. Just seemed like the easiest way to do it, and it was.

 

I've done a floor jack. I've also used a jacking table cart like this with the push bar removed.... It's much more stable that way and HF carries them for around $200... Also used it to wall mount heavy TVs

 

I feel ya OP
I have to do the same for oil changes and trans drain and fill

such a pain…

i usually just lay on some cardboard (dirt driveway for added fun) and put the plate on my chest, line up one side and pray i can get a bolt through

i havent had much luck putting it on a floor jack and getting things to line up

If there was a bay rental place in the area I’d go for the twin post lift and yse an under hoist jack to lift the plate

the skids are such a pain that mechanics have tried to charge me extra to remove them

 

You could get it close and if you had longer bolts, jack it up to get it attached, put long bolts in, sinch it up with the jack. Pull the bolts and replace with proper bolts.
Working solo ain't easy. Plus nobody to commiserate with and come up with solutions.

 

I bought a cross beam attachment for my jack, its come in handy around the garage. The wing lengths are adjustable as well the pad heights in case you are using it on something uneven.
Just recently used it to help install my front bumper.

 

Floor jack to get it snug against truck, wiggle into place, bolts in but not tight, remove jack, tighten bokts.


I also modified a funnel so i can jam ir in there and not drop the plate for oil changes.

 

Same with a floor jack i use a piece of plywood to balance the skid.
Works well.

 

That's a game changer right there. I love me some Harbor Freight too!

 

Yep. I do the same. It’s a good core workout. I installed the leaf springs in my 1st and 2nd gen this way as well lifting both my feet at one end of the leaf pack and my hands at the other end. That was “fun”.

 

Get some hard knee-pads,like floor installers use. Balance heavy things on those, moving legs up and down as needed. At least some of the work can be done, and makes rolling over on the hard floor easier when maneuvering.

 

Yep, I usually just lay mine on my stomach and scoot my way along on the floor until I'm where I need to be at.

It's annoying and it gets in the way but it works for it's intended purpose, that much is for sure. When I have the resources available but the truck is still on the ground I lay it down on a jack right in the dead center lift and do it that way. I finally caved and bought myself one of those fancy 4 ton low pro jacks sold by harbor freight so the days of putting it on me and scooting along until I'm where I need to be then lifting and holding while I thread are done and over with.

 

I put the skid plate on my motorcycle jack and put myself on a creeper

 

A cheap way that would help with alignment would be to buy a few long studs, then thread the studs into a few of the mounting points. Lift the plate, thread nuts onto the studs, then use the nuts to lift the plate until it's close enough to replace the studs with the correct bolts one at a time.

 

^^ This ^^ I’ve got a Craftsman model that I use to work on my vintage H-D. Large work area is handy for bulky pieces.

 

No need for anything fancy.. Just find the skid's center of gravity and put that point on the top of your floor jack. Slowly roll it into place. Jack it up till it just touches. Line up the bolts holes and tighten. Done

 

This is the way for fitment. The jack should do all the lifting.


I would consider cutting a hole in the skid to access the oil drain...