Hey,

I have a couple sets skid plates from various rigs (I love having a personal junk yard). I was wondering if anyone has stacked the stock plates together for more protection? I was going to weld the edges with a few tacks. I figure they will be very strong and much easier than making them from scratch.

 

In my opinion the stock skid plates arn`t that strong, so i wouldn`t waste my time. you can make your own that are alot better than anything stock.

 

Seems like a good idea to me!



Use what ya got...steel aint cheap these days

 

I ended up making my own, and am happy I did.



Sorry, don't have any pictures of it clean. Its made from 10 ga steel, cost about $80 altogether. The thing weighs about 50-60 pounds and is by far
the strongest thing on the truck. oud have to use 10 factory skid plates
to equal this one, but two would at least be a start for you for now.

 

I might make my own for the front, but I think doubling the gas tank plate would add a lot of strength.

 

from what i've found is that i hit a lot more in the front skid or the transfer case skid, i dont really hit hard on the gas tank. you should just make you own front skid instead of the 2 stock ones.

 

Sure go for it! Might have to get some longer bolts. You could also weld some extra bracing in too. I added some angle iron to the sides of mine (not stock):

 

what's up with the fan? From that pics I can't really tellbut I think some extra angle iron would help. I just found out some bad news though. The front bush gaurd on the parts runner I picked up is aluminium. So I will have to weld the mounts and flanges to the frame and bolt it on somehow. Looks like more work but I run a lot of narrow atv trails and I am to lazy to get out and move the trees all the time.

 

Thats what I thought too! Now I have like a 10 gallon tank haha

 

haha yea im sure now i'll wack it, but MOST of the time if my front skid dont hit it i'll be OK.

 

Thats why you lift the drivetrain after you do the body lift and get the tank up there too.

Heck, my plans from the very begining were to do a 1-2" body lift and put that tank as high as possible and skidplate the crap outta it. The 4Runners tank hangs so low its insane imho.

 

doubling the gas tank plate and adding some strips of steel should prevent any major damage.

 

That keeps the skid plate cool. Also helps cool the tranny cooler bolted to the skid plate hehe. That was the reason for the bracing, to help keep the skid plate from bending and taking out the tranny cooler. I was thinking about the last time my bash plate got bashed in. I hit a big coyote at 70mph, nailed him good. He was running across the highway at night, I didn't have time to touch the brakes.