Hi I'm looking to see if anyone has done this. And can post a picture and details about it. I have 1/4 steel plate that I've been itching to cut up and make something out of it. I hate to spend money on a bud built if I got the metal and welder to do so. So if you can post some pictures and an kinda some details about it would be awesome. Thanks

 

tons of people have done it...give the search a try

thread link:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot...ssmembers.html

 

1/4" is ridiculous thick... but have at it. you'd probably have a better time cutting the pieces rather than bending, but hey... its all you dawg

 

Perhaps a idea just what you want.

A simple skid plate or a plate from just behind the steering rack to behind the transfer case.

Just what your working on might help as well.

Here I was thinking 1/4" was on the thin side.

 

Dropzone thanks for the link I was searching but couldn't find much. But that link helped a lot.

And wyoming9 I was kinda thinking the same.. and i was gonna add braces but I just want a more t case skid when I go wheeling I really beat on my stock crossmember. So a low profile one will really be a benefit.

 

It you are talking about a tcase mount, I retract my previous statement.

If you are talking about a skid plate, I reiterate. Budbuilt uses 3/16" steel according to their site.

That being said, I say go for it if you have the means to work with it. 1/4" steel imo is just really thick, unless you PLAN on slamming some rocks in that area.

 

It should be pretty easy to fabricate something that attaches to the same bolts as the crossmember.

Break out the tape measure and your big crayon .

If one wants to get fancy you can even slit some tube and weld it front and back to help slide over any obstacles

If the crossmember is really beat up might not be a bad idea to replace that as well.

If you have not replaced the transmission mount it might be a good time as well.

 

Well thats what I'm gonna do I think take out the factory cross member and make this skid hold the mount and all like a low profile one. And once I get it all mounted up I'm gonna install one of those mounts that trail gear sell. If all goes to plan correctly. I'm also hoping I can start on this thing here soon. Hopefully Thursday.

 

Well, its for a 2000 Tundra, but I used 3/16" on my trans skid plate. I wont be gliding over any massive rocks with it. Its mainly to protect the tranny pan from hard dirt, large branches and the occasional rock sticking straight up. Also, its to keep from getting hung up on the high centers of some of the ruts I encounter while off-road. My '95 4Runner sure liked to get caught between the rear IFS mounts and the trans x-member. Its really not designed to support all the weight of the truck, but I may need to redesign it to in the future.





3/16" will be plenty. That seems to be what most manufacturers of these skids use. Some use a little higher grade steel, most use A36, though. 1/4" will be quite stout, but very heavy. This 3/16" is a PAIN to lift up there. I have to use a floor jack.

 

Sometimes one can`t help but use what has been sitting off to the side.

Saying use me !!!

One needs to take advantage of these urges to fabricate things and not suppress them as that leads to stress that can be taken out on family members

 

Exactly. But i still haven't started on it yet its driving me crazy but oh well I may be going and picking up a straight axle Thursday so thats kinda been my priority. Lol but soon.

 

There's a reason companies use 3/16" steel for the skid plates. When you slam into a rock hard, and I mean HARD, you want the skid plate to act as sort of a crumple zone, otherwise if that steel skid plate doesn't bend, then the next weakest piece will, usually the part that the skid plate is bolted to. You will be fine with 1/4", I wouldn't go any thicker though.

And I had a set of Budbuilt skids on my 4Runner, I smashed off rocks so hard with those skids and they never bent once. I think that's the least of your worries.

 

I had this steel plate for years..it is 1/4 thick. I cut all the pieces with a cut off wheel, then welded it together...When I first put in the transmission hit the floor. When I did the measuring, I did it for the original tranny.. I put a trans & transfer case out of a 89 in the truck, so I had to lower the skid about a 1/4 inch. I've had it in on the truck for about 6 months now with no issues...I did gain about 2 & 1/2 inches of clearance.

 

That thing is exactly what I'm looking to build. Very nice work!
You have any specs on it?

 

Specs, nope.. I cut the pieces with a (several) cut off wheels and then welded it together.. it follows the lines of the stock cross member.. I did raise it a bit, gained close to 3 inches of clearance..

 

Ok thats alright just thought I'd ask. I started building mine last night. And already got maybe 75% done. S