SMKYTXN's Build

Getting closer to getting this skid put together. I still need to cope the UHMW, cut the channel that the UHMW will bolt too, and drill the holes for the mounting points. After that I'll get it all welded up.

I did find a really cool COOP today. They're called Houston Makers Space and they have some really nice Lincoln welders. I have to take their equipment certification courses before they'll let me play, but paying $35 for a day of welding makes more sense than buying a rig of my own.

I got all of the infill plates cut for the cross member support today.

 

I like where this is going but I haven't fully figured it out

 

This is a transmission and transfer case skid. The areas that I plated in today sits against the middle cross member. The angled plate in the front will bolt up to my AllPro IFS skid and the rear angles bolt up to the frame rails.

The UHMW will stick out from the bottom of the pipes by about a quarter inch. When I slide over something I'll contact the UHMW first, which should let me slide over the obstacle.

The idea is to make a skid that's stronger than the typical fully plated skid and one that's lighter.

 

The UHMW sits nice and flush with the bottom rails.

This is the side that faces the truck. I'm working on the supports for the UHMW now.

 

Today I cut the UHMW to fit and cut all of the support brackets. Next on the list is to put it back under the truck and drill the holes. Not looking forward to that part.

 

I'm trying to find a sheet of UHMW to make a skid for my Grizzly. Stock ones are getting chewed to shit. Do you have a good source for getting some?

 

I bought new "recycled" UHMW from professionalplastics. They cut it to size for you. The one inch pieces I bought were $40 a piece.

 

Thanks for the link. How bad did they nail you on shipping? I think I need a 1/4"x3'x8' sheet to do the whole underside in a continuous plate

 

Looking at their site, it'd be cheaper for me to get a full 48x120 sheet of 1/4" than the 3'x8'. Might have to call and see how bad shipping would be on that

 

I haven't ever ordered UHMW through them, but i've ordered acrylic and poly-carbonate from these guys. worth at least checking to compare prices.
http://www.usplastic.com/

 

Shipping was $25, but I'm an idiot and didn't look at their locations. They shipped it from their warehouse that's 7 miles from my office. Doh!

 

Lol well it could have been 100 bucks so you can be thankful for that!

 

They're about 20 bucks cheaper. Now I have a real reason to make my grizzly skid

 

Yup, they do seem to be cheaper. I wonder how the shipping charges will work out. My next project will involve heating and forming the UHMW. The neat thing about it is that it doesn't melt when it reaches it's crystalline temperature.

 

Hybrid transmission and transfer case skid

This post will hold all of the pictures of the skid build in this post.

This was what we were able to accomplish on the first day of the build. The front of the skid will mount to the Allpro IFS skid, the transmission cross member, and the frame rails.



This is 1" thick UHMW Polyethylene. I'm calling this a hybrid due to the use of pipe and plastic. The pipe is 1.5" sch 40.



Here's what the skid will look like once it's skinned with the UHMW.



I cut all of the infill pieces for the cross member mount. Yeah, they might be a little thick, but it's what I had.



You can't really tell it, but the UHMW is in place in this picture. I used 2" wide channel to support the plastic.



Here's the skid in place without the plastic.







I drilled all of the holes in the frame, skid, and cross member today.





I used rivnuts to hold the skid to the cross member.







The next step is to get it all welded up. Hope to have this thing finished by next weekend.

6/19

Well, the skid is all welded up as of last night. This was my second time welding so the welds aren't perfect, but they're plenty strong. I did manage to put a little too much heat into the in-fill pieces that fit around the cross member though. That resulted in a little bow in the middle. I think I'll be able to get most of it out when I put the skid on the truck. I did try using the truck to flatten it out though. The skid didn't budge at all. I guess it's strong enough.





All of the holes are drilled, the UHMW is shaped and drilled, and the paint is drying. I should be able to bolt it to the truck tomorrow.





And finally done!

 

Sub for the skid.

 

Let's weld it up Saturday

 

I'd love too, but Tucson might be a little far for you to drive and I don't think I want to take the skid on the plane. I'll be at a friends wedding.

 

well poo. guess we'll do it the next weekend lol.

 

Nathan, Colin isn't your +1 for the wedding?