Aluminum or Steel Gas Tank Skid??

[Riflman]

What seems to be the consensus here? Should I run RTE steel or anodized black aluminum. I need to order one ASAP and it has to work with my Greg Davis bumper with integrated two hitch. It also has to be black because everything else is. I'm wondering about strength and durability more than anything. I hear weight is a factor but I doubt I'll be saving much in this area with all the other armor on the truck so I don't really care. This is a 2002 D2.

 

[SeaRubi]

aluminum or none. most people aren't going to wheel their rigs hard enough in the rocks to really warrant a tank skid. how much is a used gas tank? i hate the approach of sagging down an already heavy vehicle with so much more metal. just turns them into a huge pig that can't get out of it's own way and the fuel mileage - ohh the horrors! In my opinion you shouldn't buy *any* kind of armor until you've had to repair something at least twice.

fwiw.

 

[Antichrist]

FWIW I have a pretty significant dent in my Disco fuel tank. It's been there about 7 years. If I ever get around replacing the tank as part of the recall, I'll protect it with a skidplate. Probably aluminum.

 

[yubert]

Aluminum

For my D2, I went with aluminum because it's lighter and won't rust like steel. I got mine from Columbia Overland which uses the factory bolts. So if the Greg Davis rear bumper left those intact, it should work. It also comes in black for an additional $25. See link below for more details.

http://www.columbiaoverland.com/shop/category/columbia-rovers/skid-plates/

As for the need of a gas tank skid plate, I haven't hit mine but the Columbia Overland skid plate lifts the gas tank up by about 1/2". A friend of mine has a D1 and banged up his gas tank in Death Valley. Fortunately he got a new gas tank under the recall and now sports a gas tank skid plate.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

In my experience with dirtbike skids, aluminum is "stickier" on the rocks? It's softer, so rocks dig in more, and you get more resistance. Ever been an issue on a truck? Aluminum has an advantage because the scratches won't rust like painted steel will.

As far as weight... aluminum isn't necessarily an advantage. It depends on how it's made too. You wouldn't need 1/4" of steel, so you could save weight that way.

 

[muskyman]

FWIW I have a pretty significant dent in my Disco fuel tank. It's been there about 7 years. If I ever get around replacing the tank as part of the recall, I'll protect it with a skidplate. Probably aluminum.

mine is dented so bad it only holds about 17 gallons.

to say people dont wheel them hard enough to damage the tanks is pretty short sighted and to simple say a used tank is cheap is really short sighted...what happens when it pouring out fuel on the trail from being punctured?

 

[RonL]

My old factory "steel band" that hold my it in place was dented and pushed up three inches. I replaced it with a LG industies brand Alum skid plate, which I think makes the Columbia's skid plate. I am very happy with it, I have not dented it yet.
When I was looking, a steel powder coated was more then a Alum. I thought cheaper and rust-proof was the way to go.

 

[LandyAndy]

Just took delivery of a Columbia Overland tank guard to go with my GD rear bumper too. For general wheel'in & expo duty I don't think that steel is really required.... however, my D90 has heavy duty Southdown guards on both the aluminium saddle tanks..... cause that does get hammered

Andy

 

[strange]

In my opinion you shouldn't buy *any* kind of armor until you've had to repair something at least twice.

but it only takes once to leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere

 

[Brian McVickers]

I have the aluminum skid from Columbia Overland on my 2001 DII. It's beefy 1/4 inch plate and installs easily.

Brian

 

[lwg]

My old factory "steel band" that hold my it in place was dented and pushed up three inches. I replaced it with a LG industies brand Alum skid plate, which I think makes the Columbia's skid plate. I am very happy with it, I have not dented it yet.
When I was looking, a steel powder coated was more then a Alum. I thought cheaper and rust-proof was the way to go.

We are one in the same. I designed the LGI skidplate and now run Columbia Overland.

My thoughts my seem kind of biased. The whole reason I started LGI was to build an AL Fuel Tank Skidplate. I've had quite a bit of experience beating up trucks through the years as many know. With that I've had tons of skidplates, both steel and AL. I think unless your outfitting your truck for Iraq, steel skidplates are just plain silly. They have virtually no advantage over AL. They are about 2+ times heavier (In our case 37lbs versus 17lbs, same skidplate) and tend to rust. AL has become very predominant in the market, just check out the buggies and rockracing rigs, they have no steel skids except welded to the axles.

 

[jrose609]

I bought a Safari Gard rear bumper for my D1. Came with a steel skid plate which is HUGE. I had already bought an aluminum one from Larry.

I kept the AL one on because of weight and design. I like it. So the $G just sits in the shop.......

 

[LandyAndy]

mine is dented so bad it only holds about 17 gallons.

to say people dont wheel them hard enough to damage the tanks is pretty short sighted and to simple say a used tank is cheap is really short sighted...what happens when it pouring out fuel on the trail from being punctured?

Let alone the damage it could cause to the local environment.... get/make a guard & fit it.... the plants & fish will thank you :elkgrin:

 

[michaels]

i have an aluminum one from columbia rovers.i landed hard on it a few weeks ago for the first time. lide right off with just a few scratches. i didn't have any problems with it "sticking". $.02

 

[SeaRubi]

FWIW I have a pretty significant dent in my Disco fuel tank. It's been there about 7 years. If I ever get around replacing the tank as part of the recall, I'll protect it with a skidplate. Probably aluminum.

1 dent in 7 years? I rest my case :snorkel: