[Dustin]

ya know whats fun

cutting 1/4 plate with a sawsal! wishing I had a plaz right about now.:banghead

Im working on my skid for the bronco and am torn on my design now. my original plan was to do it like this |_____| and just tonight after I cut the plate Im thought about this idea \_____/. my only issue is working around the crossmember on the pass. side. there will be a little more portection for it with the first design but the corner will still stick out a bit. but with the second design I could build a box around the corner it sticks out of.

opinons from potential customers?

 

[Davids78Bronco]

i found the slanted really helps you slide over the big rocks when hung up....

 

[Dustin]

I guess I need to specify after reading that again....the slants in question are on the sides not the front and back.

my theroy behind this is with it slanted there will be less skid to get hung up on, also it will shorten the width of it thus making it stronger in the middle.

 

[Andy351]

slant it and then gusset it at the bottoms

 

[Dustin]

slant it and then gusset it at the bottoms

yeah gussets are planned on either design....I dont want this going anywhere! its got to be able to take a beating

 

[axaviere]

man that would suck. try a ox/ac torch if you have access to one. i use a straight edge and a grinder and they come out ok. good luck man. by the way is this a T-case skid plate or front skid plate.

 

[Dustin]

yeah this is a t-case/crossmember skid

I know people with plasmas but trying to hook up with them to let me use them is a differnt story. It was dumping rain today and I finally found some plate and I just decided to start cutting.

Ill tell you what Im so close to getting fed up and just buying one, but them I need to get a good compressor too so thats probaly what has been keeping me from doing it.

I know when I build these for resale I will get do a couple at a time and take everything down to someone with a plaz and cut everything at once.

 

[Blaze]

I guess I need to specify after reading that again....the slants in question are on the sides not the front and back.

I understood what ya meant but won't there need to be a little bit of a slope to the front to help you "slide" over the obsticles??:shrug

 

[Dustin]

I understood what ya meant but won't there need to be a little bit of a slope to the front to help you "slide" over the obsticles??:shrug

working on that too....think I will just add a little kick up to the front of the plate

 

[SquattyD]

in the mean time, since you have to use the sawzall, get the Skil Ugly blades. Those things rock. Last longer than Mil blades, and cut faster too.

 

[TTBlows]

If you're building it from scratch..........you're building it from scratch.

Make it the best you can from the start, that's the point. The less skidplate under there to catch things, the better. Don't think that extra 1" or 1/2" or 1/4" won't matter - 'cause it will. The first time you go out you'll get hung up on that corner or side you *could have* designed around with a bit more work.

 

[Broncokid]

how much to make me that bumper for my 87?

 

[Blaze]

working on that too....think I will just add a little kick up to the front of the plate

Thats kinda what I was thinking too....:thumbup

 

[Dustin]

got it mostly done today, have to finish the front and mount it. This will give you a good idea of what I came up with. I was going to angle the pass side too but that will leave the crossmember hanging out in the breeze, well Ive got hung up on that before so I wanted ti protected. I got it up as high as I could without it hitting the t-case, I think it came out pretty good and will defently do its job. so lets here the critizim!!

 

[Dustin]

how much to make me that bumper for my 87?

huh? which one? I remember a pm from ya for some sliders but not a bumper

 

[dogonmut]

Looks good D!

BTW-I haven't had any problems snagging my square cornered plate.

 

[broncofreak2000]

That looks real good Dustin, I am concerned about the gussets on the outside of the skidplate(in the last pic.) getting hung up on something and getting bent or ripped off. Just my opinion!

 

[Dustin]

yeah that crossed my mind after I welded it up and had it mocked up to the truck. it was kinda of a pita trying to figure out a good gusset for that weird angle.

 

[broncofreak2000]

yeah that crossed my mind after I welded it up and had it mocked up to the truck. it was kinda of a pita trying to figure out a good gusset for that weird angle.

Hereis an option, take a piece of 2" or 3" angle and lay it with the opening facing the weld sort of like making a diamond with it, don't know if you see where I am going with this!

 

[Dustin]

I see what your saying but I remember the bolts have to go through there too.