I was out talking to my neighbor about his H1 Hummer, and while looking underneath, the skeleton rib cage of tubes used to protect the drivetrain cought my eye in a new way. I'm needing some new skids, and I'm getting a guy from 4ROC NC to make me some new ones, but my question is, why hasn't anyone had skids made like the Hummers. Is there some downside to having a tubed protection system, I could see a hang up or two, but nothing that would stop you cold. Help me out here guys or I might just have to be the first to give it a try.

 

I would guess if its an actual tube design that you would sacrifice ground clearance and might get hung up on big rocks and other obstacles...I'm not a hardcore wheeler so I'm not real sure.

Fink

 

Budbuilt, marlin, allpro, frontrange, etc...all have really good transfer case crossmembers/skid plates.

 

I would think that making a tube style skid would be more work since it involves bending, notching, and cutting. Possible benefits being lighter weight but with less protection against "pokey" rocks.

 

Herre is a pic of what Scott is talking about.

It looks like it would eat up some ground clearance on our rigs.

 

In that pic all I see is anchor point after anchor point...no thanks.

I'll take a flat belly pan/skid over that any time.

 

Thanks for the input guys, and the pic. Will. THat's what I figured, but just needed to be smacked into reality. You can't blame a guy for dream'n though. Guess it's gonna be 1/8" steel plate all the way back after all.