Custom Skid Plate I made up.

[euro.love]

Here is a custom skid plate I made up for my 96 Tacoma. A friend in town bent it, (Because I dont have a break) It is 1/4" Aluminum and super light. I have hit it super hard, got hung up on it, etc. and it has taken the abuse no problem.

What do you all think? Sorry about the crappy picture it was taken with my old phone.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a145/Avus325/Picture1529.jpg?t=1204077310

 

[corax]

good job, it looks clean. how much would you guess it weighs? would you be able to do skids for an '88 4runner or just Taco's?

 

[slooowr6]

what type of aluminum are you using? how thick is it?

 

[Cackalak Han]

I wouldn't put anything aluminum as a skid plate on my rig. Banging out steel > cracked aluminum. (not trying to be negative. Just posting my opinion ).

 

[slooowr6]

aluminum becomes very attractive when a truck is on weight watcher. :coffeedrink:

 

[SOAZ]

aluminum becomes very attractive when a truck is on weight watcher. :coffeedrink:

I agree. and if its heavy duty enough it won't need to be pounded out ever or for a long time.
We've had the same skid plate on this for 4 years.

It is one beat up piece of junk now, but it has taken massive abuse.
If I do one on the 4runner I think it will be aluminum or a combo of aluminum and some new hi tech plastic.

Good looking skid plate by the way!!!!! Nice job!

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Your 1/4" aluminum should be just fine. Peter Parks used this kind of set up on his truck and it held up great (and he wasn't on the bunny trails). So props to you, now lets see some in action photos

 

[teotwaki]

I wouldn't put anything aluminum as a skid plate on my rig. Banging out steel > cracked aluminum. (not trying to be negative. Just posting my opinion ).

Opinions are OK but Google will help to get facts. Lots of different types of Aluminum are available for great skids.


5052 is one of the higher strength non-heat-treatable alloys. It has a high fatigue strength and is a good choice for structures subjected to excessive vibration. The alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in marine atmospheres. The formability of the grade is excellent and in the annealed condition it offers higher strengths than 1100 or 3003 grades.

Typical Applications
5052 is often used in high strength sheet metal work, marine components, appliances, fuel and oil tubing.

Comparison to 6061

5052 – An Aluminum / Manganese alloy, strain hardened and stabilized. It has moderate to high strength, and is non-heat treatable. Good welding characteristics and high resistance to corrosion in marine environments. A common sheet metal.

6061 – This Aluminum / Silicon / Magnesium alloy has been solution heat treated and artificially aged. Machines well with excellent welding qualities. Resists stress cracking. Good formability with medium strength and high corrosion resistance. Used in many heavy–duty structures, particularly for transportation and marine applications.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Thanks for the info. But I guess I'm kind of old-school (as well as stubborn and hard-headed ) and will continue to stick to steel.

 

[spressomon]

FWIW I made a 1/4" 6061T6 t-case skid plate for my LC almost 3-years ago. It has a number of scrape scars but has performed perfectly. I think I'll be going the same route for front skid and belly pan plates...the darn rig is heavy enough as it is!

Great post! Thanks!

 

[DaveInDenver]

Aluminum skid plates make lots of sense. There is a weight benefit to be had, but there are a couple of issues you need to address (galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals primarily). Usually have to make them a little thicker than a similar steel plate to achieve the same rigidity. But there's definitely upsides that make them attractive. These skids with a single bend, good support and minimal complications, at $120 that's a great lower weight option. I'm honestly surprised that there aren't more aluminum skid plate options.

 

[spressomon]

Aluminum skid plates make lots of sense. There is a weight benefit to be had, but there are a couple of issues you need to address (galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals primarily). Usually have to make them a little thicker than a similar steel plate to achieve the same rigidity. But there's definitely upsides that make them attractive. These skids with a single bend, good support and minimal complications, at $120 that's a great lower weight option. I'm honestly surprised that there aren't more aluminum skid plate options.

As you said it makes more sense with minimal bends. Things get more complicated in a hurry when welding is necessary. So far I have not had any galvanic issues. The aluminum plate was primered and painted then attached to the stamped steel t-case/tranny support and then to a steel box tube strut support on the backside.

 

[ntsqd]

In a pure crawling application where they tend to grind on the skids the embedability (or fear of it) of aluminum is probably what keeps it from being used more often.

If you insist on steel for skids, look into the HSLA (High Strength, Low Alloy) steels like Core-10, Ten-X, AR, T-1, etc. Some are superb for abrasion, but don't like impact. Others are good for both. I have a piece of 10 gauge (~.134") Core-10 that is the trimming from a gravel dump truck bed re-lining job that I've used for similar small projects.

 

[tacollie]

That sounds super cool to me. If it was a rock crawler maybe not, but on an expedition rig that makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[euro.love]

Thanks for all the compliments! The aluminum is 5052. I talked to the guy I get my stock from and for five bucks that the 5052 cost its worth using it over anything else. He said it will bend before it brakes. Which means if I crack this thing I dont want to even know what the rest of the truck would look like. I dont do any rock crawling however which made me go aluminum. Plus I didnt have to paint it. I am mostly in the woods, and in a few months the desert. So it fits my use perfectly. I got it hung up on a downed tree dead center on the plate and both my front wheels were off the ground, worked perfectly and only added some scratches I will weigh it the next time I change my oil but I would say its about 17 lbs or less :beer: As for now I only have it for my Tacoma, but would definately work out a prototype for other applications if I had a guinea pig truck. I am going to post my bed monuted expedition rack this week sometime too, its still in the works but it is coming out real sweet.