DSP

So I had posted in the off topic section about running down the poor deer that had jumped in front of my rig...
initially, I had thought there was no damage to the vehicle...

well today i realized that the impact on AZRain's skid did inflict some damage to the crossbar that the skid attaches to, which is tack welded to the frame.

It belowed slightly on the passenger side door side closest to the frame...not much, just enough to notice that the skid hangs down a little to the drivers side maybe an inch...

i was wondering if anyone has ever replaced this item...
not sure if i can hammer it out due to the tack weld to the frame...
anyone ever encountered this?

what should i do...

by the way, the skid destroyed the animal, thanks AZ

azrain

The rear mount? Hammer that bad boy, drill it out and run some 5/16" hardware in there! The front crossmember can actually be bent and twisted back into shape if need be as well... I'm also working on a rear mount that has no bolt heads exposed on the bottom of the skid. I'll be testing it at Moab, if it works out, I'll be shipping it to all the original customers (free of course) as a retrofit.

I don't get around these parts much, email me if you have any questions: azrain@cox.net

Mike

DSP

Word.

You the man Mike. It was the front crossbar that bent where the front of the skid attaches. I'll just try and hammer it, or bend it back into place. I am using schaefer's bump stops in the rear, haven't had a problem with the rear bolts due to the recessed circle, but haven't pounded rocks to much either lately, just animals.

Interested to see what you come up with for a retro fix...Moab is brutal right now...enjoy. Probably won't be down there until climbing season starts up again in late september.

-thanks
dave

azrain

You may need someone to throw a fresh bead of weld on that crossmember if the weld cracks... I've often looked at that crossmember and wondered if there is a way to strengthen it, I'm not sure, replacing it with true box tubing looks like the way to go.

Mike

DSP

Is that custom or is someone manufacturing that piece as a straight weld-on application...

curious, because as beefy as your skid is, that crossbar is just a weak link.

azrain

Well, apparently it's not meant for running down Bambi...

A new crossmember would have to be custom made, but that's kind of a misnomer as it could be as simple as a piece of flanged box tubing and welded in place. I never took the time to really look at it to be honest.

Mike

DSP

what about :beaver: , :chicken: , or :xmas3: ?

sorry kids, bambi didn't make it.

thanks Mike, look forward to the moab reports

peace

-dsp

azrain

I thought about this a little more this afternoon, maybe wailing on it with a BFH is a last resort type thing. Try renting a porta power or borrowing one if you can and ease it back. No sense stressing it anymore than it has. Possibly you can find someone who can form and weld a piece of strap stock across the top of that crossmember...

Animals, beaver tends to ignore me (lately), why did the chicken cross the mobius strip, he crossed it because, well, ummmm and there is no Santa. Deer is fer eatin,.

Mike

DSP

you just broke my heart...