New gas tank skid plate... can you say aluminum? - Page 6

**mrblaine** · 05-10-2009, 11:17 AM

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Originally Posted by solarpower

Nice looking skid.

Thanks.

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Alum tubing is almost useless to try and bend. Alum tears when it's stretched. You can get some bends in it, but forget trying to get a sharp/tight bend in it. You can work around this in various ways mainly by cutting angles and welding them together, or by using a large gradual radius in the corners like seen in the gas tank skid.

I'm sure mrblaine knows this I'm just educating the masses.

Working with AL is certainly an education. Fortunately I've been doing it a long time.

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I'm also curious as to why mrbaline would believe that swiss made 6061 T-6 would be any better than what he could get stateside?? Everyone at all the cool places use "Aircraft grade aluminum."

Actually I snicker when I see that term "aircraft grade" and wouldn't have even considered using the term until I discovered that the same company supplies Airbus. That means I can say it with a straight face now.

I don't believe it's any better than the stuff I could get from Alcoa though.

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Kidding aside 6061 is pretty damn consistent. The raw surface finish will vary from one supplier to another, but overall there is very little difference if none in overall quality from my experience.

Hey now, quit messin with our marketing hype.

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Delrin sucks IMO. Too brittle. UHMW is where it's at. Has strength properties of nylon but higher melting point so it's easy to work with.

They all have their uses. I would have exactly zero qualms over using delrin for body lift pucks and I wouldn't use UHMW in the same place due to it's inherent lubricity. I wouldn't use nylon because it absorbs moisture that changes it dimensionally.

van1 · 05-10-2009, 12:16 PM

Wouldnt aluminum make a bad skid plate? Aluminum is more soft and would seem to not slide off object as easy due to its softness?

rmb2485 · 05-10-2009, 12:16 PM

Am I the only one who's thinking an aluminum skid won't offer the same protection as a steel one? I'm no materials engineer (I am a mechanical engineer though

), but it sure seems like a rock would fold up an aluminum skid a lot easier than it would a steel one.

I don't even know what grade of steel most companies build their skids out of (A36 maybe?), but how does the aluminum you're using compare, strength wise? I've been looking at Rokmen's skid combo, but the light weight and no-rust aluminum sure would be nice if it's just as strong...

**mrblaine** · 05-10-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by van1

Wouldnt aluminum make a bad skid plate? Aluminum is more soft and would seem to not slide off object as easy due to its softness?

Here's a pic of the aluminum belly skid that has been on my rig for 6 years. I slide it over rocks every time I go out and as you can tell by the length of the scratches, it rarely if ever hangs up.

Not all aluminum is soft. There are hundreds of different alloys with different properties for different applications. The key is picking the right one for the job.

Pvt_Joker · 05-10-2009, 12:53 PM

screw this im making mine out of pop cans

just kidding, if i had the money id order one

dodgetk81 · 05-10-2009, 01:32 PM

Can I get some clarification on the spacers please? I have stock tank set up and no body lift. Will I need to procure anything else that is not included in the 269.00 price?
Thank you

**95BadBoy** · 05-10-2009, 01:32 PM

Gentlemen, very very nice. Sure - and I just painted the Rockmen skids last week. Crap.

**mrblaine** · 05-10-2009, 02:02 PM

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Originally Posted by rmb2485

Am I the only one who's thinking an aluminum skid won't offer the same protection as a steel one? I'm no materials engineer (I am a mechanical engineer though

), but it sure seems like a rock would fold up an aluminum skid a lot easier than it would a steel one.

I don't even know what grade of steel most companies build their skids out of (A36 maybe?), but how does the aluminum you're using compare, strength wise? I've been looking at Rokmen's skid combo, but the light weight and no-rust aluminum sure would be nice if it's just as strong...

I can go into a long explanation as to what does what and why as far as materials go, but the easier way is to give you the short answer.

We have a guarantee. You tear it up, you have a choice. You can have another skid at no cost to you, or we'll send your money back. We have 100 percent confidence in our design and material selection and stand behind our products accordingly.

**mrblaine** · 05-10-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgetk81

Can I get some clarification on the spacers please? I have stock tank set up and no body lift. Will I need to procure anything else that is not included in the 269.00 price?
Thank you

There are other gas tank skids on the market. If you read their fine print, you will discover that if it's a raised skid that's going to be installed on a rig without a body lift, you have to purchase spacers to lower the skid until you put on a body lift. Then you toss the spacers if raise the skid later when you install a body lift.

If they don't require spacers without a body lift, then they are not raising the skid as high as it can be raised.

Other than the tools and experience needed to operate them correctly,

there is nothing else you need to purchase to run our skid with or without a body lift in the raised or lowered configurations and that includes new christmas tree clips to re-install your plastic wheel well liners.

We've found though doing the various installs that it's much easier to pop out the wheel well liners to get to all the emissions lines on the later models, and re-using the clips after you've yanked them is a poor solution. Besides, they're much easier to remove if you just clip the heads off.

**SuperWade2** · 05-10-2009, 02:16 PM

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Originally Posted by SuperWade2

Cool... I'm trying to see if I can sell my Kilby to someone in my club, or some one local to try to upgrade to the Savvy Off-road one...

Ah screw it, I just ordered mine anyhow, I can't get enough MrBlaine (and partner's) designed products on my Jeep... I'll figure out how to dump the Kilby once I get this one on... I need to get rid of some of the weight off my TJ...

Wade

**red rubi** · 05-10-2009, 02:21 PM

I guess it's true what they say about building a better mouse trap!

dodgetk81 · 05-10-2009, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the info Blaine. I will be ordering one before the first of June. I could use a free shipping deal on a Vanco Big Brake setup also

Mini-Me26 · 05-10-2009, 02:34 PM

Ugh, now I have to make the choice. A Sirgcal in-seat sub box with all the fix'ns or this? Or both?

And a question for all, what happens when Aluminum corrodes? I understand aluminum oxide doesn't change colour as drastically as iron oxide does, but that's about it. I've never actually seen aluminum in a situation where it "rusts."

rmb2485 · 05-10-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

I can go into a long explanation as to what does what and why as far as materials go, but the easier way is to give you the short answer.

We have a guarantee. You tear it up, you have a choice. You can have another skid at no cost to you, or we'll send your money back. We have 100 percent confidence in our design and material selection and stand behind our products accordingly.

Well, with that guarantee I'm sure you've done your research and the products/materials work.

Problem is, the engineer in me wants the long explanation of what materials do what and why.

I'm sure there are others like me, thinking that aluminum can't possibly hold up like steel in a battle between a 4,000lb Jeep and a big rock. My 6061 mountain bike frame holds up just fine, even with my fat *** taking it though some crazy terrain, but if I hit it with a BFH it would break.

**Jerry Bransford** · 05-10-2009, 08:48 PM

Got it installed today, here are a few comments and pics...

The total weight savings for my TJ was 39 pounds! The new aluminum skid weighs 32 lbs. my old OE skidplate and Tompken aftermarket skidplate together weighed in at approximately 71 lbs. total.

Additional ground clearance gained under the new Savvy Off Road skidplate is approximately 1.5".

Trackbar clearance, at least an extra inch which is cool because my RE trackbar was rubbing against the old gas tank skidplate.

Here are a few pics...

Before:

After:

Just before installation:

Tank in the old OE skidplate:

Tank in the new Savvy skidplate. It is made very precisely to be a very snug fit around the tank to give more clearance.