Just finished DOI skid plate prototype

[Ipedog]

Hmmm. Interesting. Anything that is stronger than the tinfoil shield that is provided now is a big improvement.




I do worry a bit about mud and heat build up with the solid plates shown where the OE tubular protection would typically go...

[Desert Dan]

Nice bjc,

is there anyway to make the front part one angle (smooth) without the step down?

Let us know when it will be available

[bjc]

Originally Posted by Desert Dan

Nice bjc,

is there anyway to make the front part one angle (smooth) without the step down?

Let us know when it will be available

The break provides a solid mounting surface to the frame - not sure if this is avoidable or not.

Regarding availability - Matt has the dimensions recorded and is likely ready to fabricate more as demand arises. I suppose he would incorporate design changes if I provided negative feedback, but like I said, I have not had a chance to test yet.

[Desert Dan]

I guess it is plenty solid then and in several pieces for service access?

Good Job

[Anti-BlInG]

Very nice. I like...

[evldave]

ok, I'll bite. A couple questions:

Thickness?

Have you tested full of mud (between skid plate and T-case)?

Any ventilation?

Please provide details of mounting points

Weight?

In the absence of any answers I have the following comments:

That's gonna weight 100# at least (3/16). Any less thickess and Steve from San Jose might as well use it. And the weight will have a significant impact on vehicle performance.

No ventilation=burned up tranny/t-case. I'd recommend adding a (free) transmission temp gauge. Too much and shut it down. Without a tranny temp test, I wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy (mostly because it will break down on the trail and I'll be obligated to help them out no matter what).

Unless that's a fully sealed unit, mud will get up in between the tranny/t-case and skid plate. BAD NEWS. It will never come out. See tranny temp above.

Other than those fundamentals, at least it looks good. At a connoisseur of ghetto engineering, I have to give this (absent any responses) a C-. Many people who want to look good will love it, those that use their vehicles should avoid it because of the potential issues. Perfect for a Jeep Liberty...

[Sewie]

If he is planning on producing these there's a couple things I'd be concerned about.

1. What if you don't have the winch bumper? Will it transition okay with a stock bumper?
2. IMO the bumper should overlap the skid plate in the front.
3. I'd definitely want some kind of ventilation on the back half. If he's gonna sell it in 2-3 pieces that would work so you could use the OEM UCP.

[youngguns4x4]

Originally Posted by evldave

ok, I'll bite. A couple questions:

Thickness?

Have you tested full of mud (between skid plate and T-case)?

Any ventilation?

Please provide details of mounting points

Weight?

In the absence of any answers I have the following comments:

That's gonna weight 100# at least (3/16). Any less thickess and Steve from San Jose might as well use it. And the weight will have a significant impact on vehicle performance.

No ventilation=burned up tranny/t-case. I'd recommend adding a (free) transmission temp gauge. Too much and shut it down. Without a tranny temp test, I wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy (mostly because it will break down on the trail and I'll be obligated to help them out no matter what).

Unless that's a fully sealed unit, mud will get up in between the tranny/t-case and skid plate. BAD NEWS. It will never come out. See tranny temp above.

Other than those fundamentals, at least it looks good. At a [font='Times New Roman']connoisseur [/FtONT]of ghetto engineering, I have to give this (absent any responses) a C-. Many people who want to look good will love it, those that use their vehicles should avoid it because of the potential issues. Perfect for a Jeep Liberty...

I think i'll bite back. First off, I don't understand how the weight is going to have a huge impact on the vehicle performance. Do you hesitate to invite friends to go wheeling with you in fear of it effecting your h3's performance? Not to mention the fact that it isnt effecting the center gravity. Especially not anymore then anyones gobi roofrack.
If i was worried about vehicle weight my first choice of vehicle would not be a 4700 pound suv powered by an inline 5.
I don't think the tranny and transfercase heating up is going to be a problem. Indy cars are fully panned underneath and sit low as hell to the ground yet they dont have any cooling issues. If you bring up the side vents then look at desert trucks. There running thousands of miles at a time with bigger tires and motors and they are holding up. It looks to me in the picture that is posted the exhaust is sitting outside of the skidplate anyways. Even if for some reason my tranny were to overheat i would rather that happen then the darn thing to get smashed on a rock or the pan to crack and leak fluid out on the trail. Tread lightly wouldnt be to happy.
As for mud getting stuck in between it and never being able to get it out, it looks like the fabricator did a good job of keeping that in mind. I see quite a few holes for that problem. Not to mention you can just pressure wash it out.
It looks like the mounting points are pretty good useing the factory crossmembers. By the looks of the companys website it doesnt look that ghetto to me. If i was going to build a skid plate theres not much I would change. I see alot of good products coming out from smaller companys or just guys building it in there garage that someone always comes along and bashes. But you'll have that when you get a bunch of web wheelers going in and out of forums.

[matt DOI]

Originally Posted by evldave

ok, I'll bite. A couple questions:

Thickness?

Have you tested full of mud (between skid plate and T-case)?

Any ventilation?

Please provide details of mounting points

Weight?

In the absence of any answers I have the following comments:

That's gonna weight 100# at least (3/16). Any less thickess and Steve from San Jose might as well use it. And the weight will have a significant impact on vehicle performance.

No ventilation=burned up tranny/t-case. I'd recommend adding a (free) transmission temp gauge. Too much and shut it down. Without a tranny temp test, I wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy (mostly because it will break down on the trail and I'll be obligated to help them out no matter what).

Unless that's a fully sealed unit, mud will get up in between the tranny/t-case and skid plate. BAD NEWS. It will never come out. See tranny temp above.

Other than those fundamentals, at least it looks good. At a connoisseur of ghetto engineering, I have to give this (absent any responses) a C-. Many people who want to look good will love it, those that use their vehicles should avoid it because of the potential issues. Perfect for a Jeep Liberty...

TO answer the thikness 3/16
the weight about 85 pounds
ventilation -if i go into production thare will be more slots and holes. the exhaust is off to the passenger side of the plate. as far as mud yes it will get in there but if you wash the truck you can also remove it. Over heating the t case does not seem to have affected Brians 10 hour drive from indy to DC.
the mountig points will be crush-nut zerts,along with the oem holes.

I bilt this skid plate so when you bash some thing under the truck you know what it is,and can stay in it if so you choose. it is the proto and made in about 15 hrs. if i get some intrest from it i will go in production.

As far as the skider being "ghetto engineering" all i can say is wow, never thought i would hear that in this forum. thanks for the input . i thought that H2 and H3 owners would like some hardcore parts too i hope some of you like it ,let me know . more pics at WWW.defeliceinnovations.com

[Agriv8r]

Originally Posted by evldave

ok, I'll bite.
In the absence of any answers I have the following comments:

That's gonna weight 100# at least (3/16). Any less thickess and Steve from San Jose might as well use it.


...

ooohhh sh1t, that funny