Thank You!

 

Four delivered per FedEx tracking. I'm sitting here formatting my notebook after a second HD failure so I had time to check it out...

Mike

 

9 of the 11 will have supports.

 

I think your head is getting bigger and bigger as that number has climbed closer and closer to 11. Competition baby!!!!

Chris

 

I seriously doubt the last 2 will add them.

 

I'm surprised you didn't add ding dong in there! Hey Steve, just one question, because I know you love questions from me. Is 11 gauge metal equivalent to 1/8" thick roughly?

Chris

 

Yes it's a RCH less than 1/8".

Here is a blurb from Rockstomper on the subject:

"The base skidplate is brakeformed from 11 gauge steel, reinforced to take some serious abuse, and available in three configurations.

All skidplates are shipped as unpainted steel. We ran our first prototype, unpainted, for over five years, on Colorado roads and trails, with no real rust. Paint just chips off anyway, the first rock you hit.

Type 2 skidplate: Just like the Type 1, but more of it. Extends to the rear of the lower control arms. Bolts onto our IFS frame brace. Drilling required. If you've got somebody else's frame brace, you'll have to drill into it. If you don't have a frame brace, you need to add one. Check out IFS Frame Braces for more info, and to find out why you need one. Frame braces are part of every Rancho, ProComp, Trailmaster, and Superlift IFS lift kit, so don't stress if you've got one of those, we've got you covered. Drilling will be required. Tacoma does not require a frame brace.

One thing that applies to all skidplates, is that they're going to get dented and banged up. That's a fact of life, and there's a couple of things we can do about it.

1. Stop banging them on rocks, stumps, small cars, or other trail obstacles. Nah, that's not gonna happen.
2. Make them thicker, heavier, stronger... but there's a flaw to that. Check out how thick your frame is, and consider whether you'd want the skidplate to bend first, or your frame to suffer. That's why we make our skidplates a little thinner and a little less expensive. It saves you money, your frame stress, and the UPS guy's back.

So our skidplates are intentionally designed to get dented and beaten up, but to be the part that takes that beating, instead of just simply transferring all that stress to your frame. A skidplate is really just a sacrificial item anyway. We make ours beefy enough to last, but not so heavy that it'll beat up your frame or your UPS guy."

 

Cool! Thanks Steve!

Chris

 

FYI, this was the first result from a Google search on "metal gauge conversion":

http://www.geocities.com/shridhar_prabhu/gauge-cov.html

That's for sheet metal - wire gauge is different.

 

Window on the center supports is closed and an order to Mike @ Xtreeme has been placed.

If you missed it, don't e-mail me, I will not make you any.

 

I received my skid this weekend. Now this thing is beefy. Huge improvement over my prototype - good job guys!

I will need to get some more mounting bolts locally. Save me some time and give me the size would ya? Most of my screws get cross threaded going in. Remember my frame is all whacked up. Nothing lines up correctly. I've been lucky those five little bolts have kept the plate on and that I have been able to remove and replace them for oil changes.

I guess I'll blow off painting it and see how it looks after a winter in Denver.

 

It's all untreated hot rolled with scale, it's gonna rust. Mine started rusting a bit in Phoenix when we had a bit of rain for the 4 days I ran it unpainted.

 

Try some Goo-Gone. The middle supports will ship hopefully later this week in the U.S. Mail (priority mail), Mike @ Xtreeme has submitted the order to Daystar already.

There are 2 grinder tweeks I did to mine,

1. Round all the sharp edges

2. Cut the side 2" pice streight up and down with the frome of the truck. Look at the pic, if left alone it will lean into the vehicle, I cut off 5/8" on the top to make it streight.



You can see the "new" support blocks in there as well.

 

Howdy fella's, posting from on the road (yeah, Dallas rocks...) Anyhow, that packing tape was absolutely necessary, Acetone or Lacquer thinner will take it right off.

OEM bolts are M8 X 1.25 pitch. All of mine are now 3/8 - 24's with nuts on the opposite side if the mounting brackets. The inserts (rivnuts) blow. Give the skid a little buffing with some scotchbrite and a good lacquer thinner cleaning and give it a few coats of Rustoleum, no probs.

I received a few emails regarding the next prod run, I will give better, more detailed responses when I get home Friday and get to a real computer instead of the road pig.

Mike

 

Thanks for the info guys.
Im already on it. Last night I took Naptha to the adhesive and I grinded all the corners. Hmm Steve anal minds must think alike.

Steve thanks for the update on the supports. I have too many home projects going on that I forgot I ordered them.

My garage looks like woodworking shop and with all that equipment I don't have room to paint the skids.

 

Thanks for the info on the bolts Mike. And I'll give it the Rustolium Hard Hat treatment, just like the sliders.

 

I got mine today!!!

It is awesome! You have greatly exceeded my expectations of craftsmanship.

Good job guys, this is the best present ever!

 

Still no sign of the Daystar poly. The steel parts are all done, all I'm waiting on is the poly bump stops and they'll ship out the same day I get them in.

Hopefully tomorrow. I want to wrap this up.

 

As of Friday evening, still no sign of the Daystar pieces. I have an e-mail into Mike @ Xtreeme to contact Daystar and see what is up ???

It's never taken this long to get stuff from Daystar ???

:pat: :pat: :pat: :pat: :pat: :pat:

 

I have no idea what has taken so long to get those bushings to Steve from Daystar...I will place a call first thing Monday to Daystar...

Funny, I have been watching this post, I suppose my name is "Skip"

I will post a followup about the bushings on Monday


Mike