Warrior Products U-Bolt Skid Plates - WAR1780

Bronco638 · May 12, 2004

WAR1780
Has anyone purchased these?
If so, your opinion?

I'm curious about the protection for the lower shock mount. My (engineer) brother-in-law seems to think the thickness of the skid (3/16") is sufficient but I'm leery of the mounting stud for the shock.

I checked into Ray Lobato's source but they're no longer being made.

TIA, Dave.

Brian1 · May 13, 2004

Bronco638 said:
WAR1780
Has anyone purchased these?
If so, your opinion?

I'm curious about the protection for the lower shock mount. My (engineer) brother-in-law seems to think the thickness of the skid (3/16") is sufficient but I'm leery of the mounting stud for the shock.

I have read of someone using them and having problems with them mostly due to the stud for the shock mount. EDIT: I found a few threads about them:*click* *click* I made my own using the stock plates. I cut off the shock mount and flipped it up for extra clearence and I put on a 1/4" plate for the u-bolt skids. It is beefy. I know on later model explorers they are a little different but same basic idea.
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AspenX · May 14, 2004

Hey Brian thats pretty neat. :thumbsup:

Bronco638 · May 14, 2004

Brian1, those are really nice. PM sent. Thanks, Dave.

Brian1 · May 15, 2004

Got your PM, here are more pics that I have while making them:

What I started with
Chopping off the shockmount
Final product 1
Final product 2
Installed (same pic as my above post)
Installed 2
Installed 3

I have been really happy with them and no longer do I drag the shock mount across rocks like I use to do. I have taken some big hits with them and they are still doing good. Like I mentioned earlier I used 1/4" plate for the skid. I used a hole saw to make the openings for a socket to get to the u-bolts, they are no bigger than they need to be to fit the socket up in them. I had to add a piece of 1/2" strap steel to extend the shock mounts away from the plate in order to clear my swaybar. (Remember if you use the chop saw it will take out 1/8") Just check the clearences before the final welding.

I had plans of producing them but never had the time to get around to it. I got the idea from here: http://www.explorer4x4.com/shockplate.html and I just improved the design by flipping the shock mount up for more clearence. You or your fab guy should be able to figure something out for your newer u-bolt plates which are similar to mine but a little smaller.

Bronco638 · May 19, 2004

Brian,
These are excellent and will provide a great starting point.
Thanks for posting more pictures, Dave.

CarFreak146 · May 19, 2004

wow, great final product Brian!! Makes me wanna make them.... Just need a welder and the skills

--Ryan

Brian1 · May 19, 2004

Thanks guys. Dave, glad I could help. If you get them done be sure to post some pics.

Bronco638 · May 19, 2004

I'll be happy to share. The guy I know that will do the work is one of those people that can fab something out of nothing. He used to 'wheel with an old IH Scout. I'm hoping he can fab some rocker sliders for me, too. I have exactly 12 months to be ready for Moab '05. I'm pretty jealous of everyone that left for Utah yesterday and today

Thanks again Brian - D.

JPA1982 · May 19, 2004

hey brian if u wanna look into these working on 2nd Gen i think u will have a few(lots) of buyers, i'll be one of them, how much did they end up being in the end, time? price?

let us know, i'm sure me and dave would buy em

Brian1 · May 20, 2004

Bronco638 said:
I have exactly 12 months to be ready for Moab '05. I'm pretty jealous of everyone that left for Utah yesterday and today

Thanks again Brian - D.

Im leaving Friday for Moab, it will be the first time since I made alot of my mods to try them out there including the u-bolt skids. The previous 2 times I scraped more of my undercarriage than I care to remember

JPA1982, right now I still dont have time to produce them, I just have too many projects going on. Thanks for the interest though!

I think it was around $10 in material for both and maybe took me a half day to make them. It was during the time my Explorer went through some big changes about 2 years ago so I dont remember exactly.

Bronco638 · May 20, 2004

Jared,
I tried to get my friend, Peter (the old Scout owner), to produce several sets of these for Forum members. He pretty much said the same thing, he has no time. Plus, if you're going to start fabricating en masse, it's better to set up jigs to make everything identical. He simply doesn't have time to do that, either. Since he and I are good friends, he doesn't mind helping me out. I will ask him about making two sets (one for you, one for me), if you'd like.

Brian, if you ever change your mind about fabbing more sliders, keep us in mind. Although, by that time, we might have some already! Have a great trip to and from Utah. I hate you.

Dave.

JPA1982 · May 21, 2004

Dave, that would be awesome, i think i need these as i just went and did a lil wheeling yesterday, not sure if i hung up on these or the front leaf bracket, prob front leaf bracket but never hurts to plan ahead, buy these or have my u-bolts ripped off, huh, which would i rather have, lol, yes please if he would make 2 sets, i'll def buy some if brian said they cost 10 to make, i'll pay 25-30 shipped??

JPA1982 · May 21, 2004

i'll take a set

Dave, that would be awesome, i think i need these as i just went and did a lil wheeling yesterday, not sure if i hung up on these or the front leaf bracket, prob front leaf bracket but never hurts to plan ahead, buy these or have my u-bolts ripped off, huh, which would i rather have, lol, yes please if he would make 2 sets, i'll def buy some if brian said they cost 10 to make, i'll pay 25-30 shipped??

Bronco638 · May 21, 2004

Jared,
We (Peter and me) will have to see what's involved with fabbing them up. As you know, the 2nd Gen Ex has the lower shock mounts below the u-bolt tips. This is an issue, which is why I like Brian's skids so much. Warrior Products knows this and does not attempt to resolve it (I emailed the CEO and he admitted as much). So, if we can use the stock units, modify the lower shock mount location (to be above the skid) and add the skid, we'll be close. Peter cannot bend 1/4" plate without a sheet metal brake (heating is not an option, it destroys the strength). WP uses 3/16" steel for their skid with a circular spacer between the skid and the u-bolt plate. This may be the way to go. So, hang on to the stock plates off your parts truck (Kris Gilbeaux is getting a set for me - hopefully). I'm not sure if we can fab them so cheaply (WP's are $80+). I'll have to keep you posted on price.
Dave.

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