SKID PLATES

[WILL]

I hope I'm in the right section, I am looking for advice on skid plates and any advice would help. Useful, useless, quality, quantity and where the heck are they on the web?

WILL
97 SOHC XLT 4X4

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi Will, and welcome to the site.
Since you have a 97, you should already have a skidplate for the gas tank and the transfercase. Well I have a 97 and I have them on mine. Are they any good? They are better than not having any skidplate at all and have saved my gas tank quite a few times. Where can you find them? well if you don't have any, then you can order them from Ford. The one thing that you will realize is that although the Explorer is the number 1 selling SUV, it isn't supported very much by the aftermarket manufactures, and especially the 95+ models. Don't be dismayed. There is progress being made. If you want really good skidplates, then you will have to have them custom made. I had a skidplate that goes from the rear of the torsion bars to the front crossmember made out of 3/16 plate steel and cost me $128.00. Let me tell you, that thing weighs about 60 pounds. Hope this helps.

 

[ExplorerEB96]

skid plate

Ray

where did you have your skid plate made? Do you have to know a good tool and die guy or did you go to a 4x4 shop? That price sounds really reasonable and I would definately be interested in something like yours.... you got a full pic of it?

Thanks
Karol
explorereb96@ford-trucks.net

 

[WILL]

Got them

Yep I got the factory ones but I was looking for something for the front half I think it is called an approach skid. I am learning fast that there is not much out there for us. We arent old enough, we shouldn't be crawling we should be running down the highway and flipping...heh ehe
(sorry just a bit of humor)

Thanks
Will
97 SOHC XLT 4X4

 

[Ray Lobato]

Karol, Will,
The 4x4 shop that put my lift and transfercase in makde it up for me, but any good metal/machine shop should be able to make one up for you.
Will, all you have to do is make one out of cardboard and take it to a machine shop. they will use that as a template and cut it up for you. then have them bend it where you want it bent and all you need to do is mount it. get the price for different types of metal and thicknesses. It shouldn't be too much. You might even see if a front skid plate like you want but only for a Ranger will work. Just a thought.

 

[flyguy]

Hey guys...I was lookin for one for the front as well... anybody get a price on that? How hard would it be to make out of titainium? how well would it hold up? I just wouldnt want to add the wieght.

nick

 

[ExplorerEB96]

oh well

Well I have a front skid plate from a Ranger (it's from Ford).... The only problem is that it's about a 1/4 " too short (in width)on either side. It is also pretty flimsy ...I think it's made out of a thin sheet of aluminized steel.. I could take it to a machine shop and have them make it wider by 1/4" using that as a template... Thanks for the idea Ray...I will soon be able to post updated pics of my truck since I broke down and bought a new digital camera....I just installed my Flowmaster Force II today and was surprised how easy it was... it sounds awesome

Thanks again
Karol
explorereb96@ford-trucks.net

 

[flyguy]

I want a light, one... thats ford blue... with a big ass ford logo on it. Yuuup.

 

[flyguy]

Hey, Have you guys seen the one on the Team Explorer? From Ace Motorsports? It looks like it has the Ford Trucks logo on it or something.. looks kinda sweet. Theres a link to the site on the home page here.... Anyways... What do you guys think? how about we all get together and have a bunch made? Might be cheaper.

nick

 

[donkey boy]

Westin Safari Bar

I'm not too much worried about the front suspension, but about the radiator, which just is protected by some plastic parts. I was thinking about putting a Westin safari bar for protecting my lower front end. It has a pretty solid looking lower cross bar, which just comes underneath the radiator.

I still have some questions:
-Does it mount to the frame?
-Does anybody has some pics of the mounting brakets/how it is attached?
-How solid is it?

What do you think? Would this be a way to go?

BTW here's the link to Westin. http://www.westinautomotive.com

 

[mikefox]

I have a Safari bar on my '95 4dr. It does mount to the frame with 2 different brackets on each side. I don't have any pics of the brakets but I do have of the bar installed. Just go to the link in my signature and you can find it in there. As far as it being very solid, I don't know. I think one good bump into something else solid would possible bend the brakets. The bar might survive but maybe no the brakets. I will see if I can find the instructions and try to scan them. If not I will draw a crude pic and scan that. It does look good, though. I just need to get a set of lights for it. On mine I followed the instructions for the Sport and Ranger.

Dead Link Removed

Dead Link Removed

[Edited by mikefox on 10-18-2000 at 10:31 AM]

 

[donkey boy]

Wow

Thanks Mike, this is exactly the information I was looking for, just better.

 

[ExplorerEB96]

front end

I have the Warn combo grille/brush and winch mount on order right now.. I am also trying to allievate the problem with clearance (its got the torsion lift w/rear leafs) by taking my spare tire and putting it in the Safari rack on the roof.. this rack comes with a tire mount... this leaves me with one problem... I could mount my lights on the Safari rack but I feel that it would be too far back (the rack stops just short of the sunroof... I would like to put a light bar just forward of the sunroof that way I could run the wires back and under the safari rack and down the back... What do you guys think?

here are some pics of the accessories I am talking about

http://www.accessconnect.com/safari.htm

http://www.accessconnect.com/litebars.htm

http://www.warn.com/
(go to mounting systems and then to combo I am getting thw winch mount instead of the light bar in the system)

I would appreciate any feedback...

Thanks
Karol
explorereb96@ford-trucks.net

 

[donkey boy]

The safari Rack is cheaper with Savanna Jones http://www.savannajones.com

I have never tried them, no clue if they are good or not; just stumbeled over their website while looking for racks.

I don't like these roof light bars, but that's my very personal opinon. I think your lights should work fine on the rack.

 

[Djohnson]

Originally posted by flyguy
Hey guys...I was lookin for one for the front as well... anybody get a price on that? How hard would it be to make out of titainium? how well would it hold up? I just wouldnt want to add the wieght.

nick

On the brighter side the more heavy steel armor you put under your explorer the lower the center of gravity. ha ha!