For the life of me I can't see how this product would benefit you. I emailed the guy and asked him if he was in the market to make a skid plate for it. What do you think?

EBay X-member

James

 

same as these

http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/...ber_tacoma.htm

or this

http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/crossmember.htm

 

i love how it says "modifications required"

 

Ok, so what protects the tranfer case?! Seems like a really bad idea to me.

James

 

copy of Brian's crossmember. It's the perfect unit for dual cases and custom applications. It also reduces drivetrain torque due to the weaker rubber bushings. Very quality item, at least from Brian. My 4Runner will likely be seeing one in the future.

 

I don't think anyone understands. The quality looks great, that is not the problem. What is going to protect your transfer case? At least the stock crossmember protects the t-case even though it hangs low. Why would you install this kit if only to expose your transfer case? I emailed the guy and told him to come here.

I started a thread in the general tech about getting stuck. The reason I got stuck was the crossmember got hung up and I couldn't get any traction. Now if I had this kit on my truck, I would be investing in another transfer case and possible another transmission. Do you see my logic?

James

 

you build a skid plate and weld her on to the new cross member or bolt one onto the t case it self (like stubbs skid plate)

 

You can add a Front Range skid plate:

 

nothing wrong with that crossmember... it doenst protect the tcase, it supports it though within the frame rails... thats a very common design, and the only real viable option when running a modified drivetrain..... that usually helps support the second tcase on dual case applications.....


several well respected companies have a crossmember like that... below is one of them

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/crossmember.htm

 

Is that skid plate going to absorb a mild hit with a rock and not crack the t-case? It doesn't look like much of a skid plate. Do any of you run this setup? Know of anyone on here that does?

James

 

that looks like 1/4"... thats pretty thick, i think it would be ok

 

I don't think that it would be a problem even if you hit a boulder on it, the tranny and T- case are pretty strong, plus you gain clearance

 

They bolt a thick piece of steel to the bottom of the tcase and yes, the tcase takes the brunt of the force through that piece of steel. Brian, from front range says they've never had a tcase housing fail because of an impact. There are probably thousands of these things running around on the most hardcore trails in the US. They are a proven design.

Search around on pirate as this has come up a lot over there.

 

I've had the whole truck high centered on the skid plate on mine. It runs the full length of the dual cases, attaches with 8 bolts (4 on a single case) and is bent out of one piece of steel and is very strong. Only area I would like to add some protection to is the front driveshaft/CV. It is sort of hanging down all by itself. I'd like to fab up something to give that part a little added protection. Either that or go with a clocked t-case and that would raise the front output up level with the rest of the case and eliminate that problem.

 

you cannot use that type of x-member with IFS, FYI

 

Why?

Just Curious

 

Interesting design, but I prefer the BudBuilt, and have had one on all my minitrucks.

http://www.budbuilt.com/new/single_cross_members.html

 

The crossmember mounts on the inner frame rails are right where the torsion bar adjuster hardware is located. You can use that crossmember on a SAS-ed rig is those mounts are cut off., or on IFS with dual t-case, the 2nd case pushes the mounting point far enough back so as to clean the torsion bar hardware.

One big advantage the rear mount has is that it really tightens up the drivetrain. The stock t-case mounts are basically on the centerline of the t-case and don't do a whole lot to control torque. So that function is left to the motor mounts. Run dual cases and/or crawler gears in the case and you can easily rip the motor mounts apart (BTDT). That was the main reason I went with the FROR crossmember, plus I could set it up for any amount of drivetrain lift I wanted. Also, by getting rid of the rubber mounts below the case, you can an extra inch or so of under-truck clearance over something like the Budbuilt cross/skid. Budbuilts are very nice though, I would have considered one if they had been available when I was looking for one, but at the time, Front Range had the only solution for raising things up.

 

OK......Yea my truck might be goin coilover soon....already have a buyer for my Kings and I get a bitchen deal on Fox, I'm just not down w/ the work involved to modify my hoops.....We'll see though.....I may need a ride in the deathrunner to convince me.....

I wanna start buildin my undercarrige as thats all bout left to build on the truck....still lots of stufff to break though

somthin like this...

 

yea....that skid plate is a little pricey though.....mine will be made outta 1/4" and I'll trust/take my chances with that for 20 bucks and a few hours of my time versus 325 bucks and hours to get that thing installed....

to each their own though....my truck sees mostly sand and a little mud