Skid Plates

[RebelThunder]

You might also look for a company that can do water cutting. Should be cheaper, and they can cut through thicker pieces. I had a company cut 7 pieces of aluminum for $140, and they had to be pretty precise since it went towards a parabolic mirror. They wouldn't have had any problems cutting out the mask and letters you have.

Thanks Carney!! I Goggled for a local water jet cutting company and WALLAH there is a shop about 5 mins from my house and much closer than the other and based on just the attached picture from their website, yeah the mask will be a cake walk for them.

Going there tomorrow to find out what,if and how much. lol

Hopefully they can provide the material and do the bending also. So I can just go to one shop.

It probably won't be cheap but those water jets are pretty fucking sweet.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Good luck!

There's a lot of us with CAD access if you need help

Thanks Nick. and good to know.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

It probably won't be cheap but those water jets are pretty fWONking sweet.

That's what I'm afraid of. We'll see. Maybe I can B.S. with the guy enough he'll cut (pun intended lol) me a break.

 

[Carneyman]

It probably won't be cheap but those water jets are pretty fWONking sweet.

That's what I'm afraid of. We'll see. Maybe I can B.S. with the guy enough he'll cut (pun intended lol) me a break.

Glad you might have found something!

If you're lucky like I was, it could turn out to be pretty reasonable. Like I said, they cut mine (supplied the aluminum and everything) for $140. And they were pretty good size pieces, 3ft x 1.5 ft.

 

[mr_bots]

Hopefully they can provide the material and do the bending also. So I can just go to one shop.

I can't imagine any type of fab shop that wouldn't have a break to bend plate, especially one that has invested enough money for a waterjet. Around here at least the fab shops are pretty reasonable on jobs for individuals because they make all their money off local industries as long as the shop isn't overloaded.

 

[dirtyoldman]

It would be pretty cool to see a cutout of Darth Vader in a skid plate where mine is,hope you can get it done

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Well small delay.

The shop ONLY water jets. He might have a scrap of stainless for the fair lead cover piece. He needs the design in DXF for Cad (Cheaper on my pocket book). Once I send it to him he'll tell me how many hours and cost per to do the pieces.

So the other fab shop will have to provide the material (cut to size) engrave the letters and bend/shape. So based on when I can get to the other shop I'll know how much for them. They'll have to cut to size, engrave, then off to water jet then BACK to bend.

He can water jet plastic so when I find flat (ish) solid extended cab window covers he can cut the mask in it.

Shit off to work and then I'll add what a PITA I have ahead of me for the skid plate template.

 

[Nick The Great]

I find it hard to believe there's not a fab shop somewhere in Jacksonville that has the ability to do both. But maybe this is the easiest/cheapest way

DXF is readily converted from AutoCAD or many other CAD softwares, I'm sure.

Good luck!

 

[bubbatrucklover]

I find it hard to believe there's not a fab shop somewhere in Jacksonville that has the ability to do both. But maybe this is the easiest/cheapest way

DXF is readily converted from AutoCAD or many other CAD softwares, I'm sure.

Good luck!

There is at least one. I went with the closest first that could do water jetting. I'm not sure which way will be cheaper. Dealing with the 2 (one being a "mom and pop") might be a little longer and a slight PITA but, as you know sometimes they are easier to work with and cheaper.

With my hours, I have limited time when everyone is open. so it might be next week 'til I get to the "all in one".

This isn't a project that has a due date, so shopping around isn't a prob.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Ok so part of my project delay is the skid plate template. The 4 constants in my project are the sizes for the fair lead cover and the 2 metal templates for painting or whatever.

The skid plate width is a fixed 31 3/8 ". When starting on the length, I hit the snag. The plastic valance is in the way and can't bend up far enough.

The 2 options are cut the valance at the 31 3/8" where the plate intersects ( this would prob be happening on install anyway) or take the valance off.

I don't want to drive around with either a butchered valance or duct taped one not knowing how long it will be before I have a skid plate.

To take the valance off, the brush guard has to be disassembled and removed (this needs to be done to repaint and further fabbing in the headlight openings) HOWEVER my lights are mounted on the bottom bar and wired to the battery. So the lights would have to dangle. This being the first time I had a set up like this I didn't think through the process of having a way to disconnect the 4 lights for removal other then up under the fuse box.

I will have a custom bumper fabbed up WAY down the road that allows for my specific brush/bumper guard and skid plate configuration. And extend my bumper to get rid of the valance and be "legal" when I get a slightly bigger lift.

HOWEVER based on the aftermarket "mass produced" ones I've seen (such as Boondock, Iron Cross, Ranch Hand,Road Armor etc) I'm starting in the $1,000 range.

So disassembling the guard and adding plugs to the wiring (all though more of a PITA then time consuming) is I guess my next course of action.