Aluminum and Steel Oil Pan Skid Plates...

[The Roadie]

In the spirit of Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock, I've got the gouges to show that Steel beats Rock which takes chunks out of Aluminum. I whacked my Aluminum one dozens of times and put the weight of the truck on it to the point it bent 1/2", but I admit I got trapped on deteriorating trails after rains that I should have just waited out. And it saved my oil pan where the OEM one would have died. But when Neil made my gas tank plate, I got steel because a local fabricator doesn't have the shipping weight to deal with.

[bartonmd]

The steel is probably only 1.5x stronger than the aluminum, but is probably 25lbs as opposed to the 10lbs of the aluminum... The aluminum will do fine most everywhere, but if you scrape on lots of sharp rocks, you will be better off with steel... You will specifically be better off with the steel because that's what I've got in stock, and I don't want to have to order (4) of the aluminum ones when I've got 2 of the steel (stronger) ones in stock...

Thanks,
Mike

[bartonmd]

Shipped Teebes' this morning... Right at 20lbs as opposed to the aluminum, which is 10lbs...

Mike

[Zero]

The steel is probably only 1.5x stronger than the aluminum, but is probably 25lbs as opposed to the 10lbs of the aluminum... The aluminum will do fine most everywhere, but if you scrape on lots of sharp rocks, you will be better off with steel... You will specifically be better off with the steel because that's what I've got in stock, and I don't want to have to order (4) of the aluminum ones when I've got 2 of the steel (stronger) ones in stock...

Thanks,
Mike

thnx for getting back to me. once i get these other goodies on order paid off, i can take a look at where i stand finance wise. i def want to upgrade the armor on my truck before my cross country trip. is there any way to beef up the aluminum one a but by welding some cross supports or something to it? also would it be possible to get bolt head protectors welded on?

[bartonmd]

I suppose I could weld supports on the aluminum one, but why? They would stick down and lower the ground clearance, so you'd hit more stuff, so you'd need the supports more... I won't do them on the upper side, because I don't want to have anything closer to the oil pan and differential... especially something with an edge or point...

For a little extra scratch, yes, I can weld bolt head protectors on... Probably $25 extra at this point, because I've got to grind off some of the powder coat, put them on, then have it coated again...

Mike

[bartonmd]

I currently have:

(1) Aluminum V8 plate

(1) Steel I6 plate

Thanks,
Mike

[teebes]

My new steelie made it to San Diego and is 'out for delivery'

[Zero]

damn it, i must find more funds !!! i dont want to have to wait for a new batch

[MrSmithsTB]

I won't ask you to reserve it, but if I sell my tires this weekend or get some lights to do I'll be messaging you. What kind of lead time if you are making to order? May throw it on the holiday wish list otherwise.

[bartonmd]

I won't ask you to reserve it, but if I sell my tires this weekend or get some lights to do I'll be messaging you. What kind of lead time if you are making to order? May throw it on the holiday wish list otherwise.

Probably, another order's lead time will be in the 4-week timeframe... Could be sooner, but I don't want to say "2 weeks", then it be 4...

Mike

[Hatchet669]

love mine... hit a few things rite there... havnt checked the damage it caused yet

[teebes]

uhm, yesh. Looks like a smurf blew it's load all over that thing. Glad it's hidden under the truck

[bgwolfpack]

uhm, yesh. Looks like a smurf blew it's load all over that thing. Glad it's hidden under the truck

That does stand out.

Is there a reason for that color?

[Hatchet669]

uhm, yesh. Looks like a smurf blew it's load all over that thing. Glad it's hidden under the truck

That does stand out.

Is there a reason for that color?

yea... i have interrior lights also thats all blue... kind of the accent color i went with for my truck...

[bgwolfpack]

Let me guess... Robbins egg Blue?

Any more pics?

[Trail X]

Man, that undercarriage looks as manicured as Disney world. Where's the rock rash?!

[HARDTRAILZ]

Man, that undercarriage looks as manicured as Disney world. Where's the rock rash?!

Has been in woods more than any rock so far(actually got a lecture about how much mud the tires leave when I come out of woods and hit the gravel this weekend), but a pressure washer and lots of .99 black spray keeps everything sealed from rust and looking better. I paint the frame monthly probably. Easier than anything and I dont like the way undercoating fades and looks nasty.

[Zero]

if i can grab a few extra days of work this week i can actualy afford this mod!

[StormTrooperTB]

Here's mine. Aluminum skid, powder coated gloss black. (Haven't tested it out yet as you can see, but I had some mean gouges in the stock plastic one, so it was time to upgrade.)

[Zero]

ahhhh man anothewr guy sporting the skid plate, u guys r killing me