Belly skid
 

I'm running a Clayton Off-road Y link long arm suspension up front. This system utilizes a new crossmember to replace the old, thin stock one. The mount is made in 3 sections, two frame mounts and a middle section that can drop to allow you to remove the transmission if needed.

Here is the middle section removed, pretend those bars aren't there yet.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/perevy7a.jpg

I used a 10' stick of sch 40 pipe (thicker wall for this application and easy to bend) and I bought 5' of 12" wide 1/4" plate (used about 3').

Bent the tube *now look at tube*.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/zety5ena.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/4agezazu.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/ugahajem.jpg

Welded it all together and it looked really pretty, right?

Yes it did, and it was a heavy *****. Unfortunately, it dost quite clear the t case and wasn't going to allow full droop of the front driveshaft.


Then I hacked it up and made it ugly.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/ytaneje5.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/qeve8uqa.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/sa8uga8u.jpg

Didn't have time to paint it, so a few weeks later I was changing the front output seal if my t case and cleaned it up.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/uva4aje6.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/15/a3e4a4u8.jpg


This has taken a good beating, the long arms have been worse though...

Happy wheeling!

Looks good. I'd cap the tube ends so they don't fill with mud and such and rust out.

nice job.:yes:

I was going to cap the tube, and will whenever I get some down time, but it wasn't as important when I did it.

Beautiful welds. One suggestion maybe a couple drain holes on each side.

Nice

Yeah, Will. Those are some beautiful welds you laid there. ;)

looks mean.

Lol... Those welds do look nice.

I do have two drain holes in it now.

what kind of welder do you use? im wanting a mig bad.

That was with a Hobart 140. Nice machine.

Great machine. I run the hell outta mine

will this skid work on a stock/slightly modified(RC 3" lift kit)?
thanks from a newb

Is it possible to build one onto a stock crossmember?
Yes, but i wouldnt after seeing the collection of 4 i have and have beat the hell out of. My crossmember is 2x4x3/16, its not going to be as easily mangled as the stock ones.

Aside from building a skid one thin piece of metal, lift height and nothing else should change the design.

I was originally wanting to do a clocked t case and run a true flat belly from frame rail to frame rail, but this has worked so well i dont have any complaints.