gonna build one for under the front and maybe the rear aswell. question is do you think it would be stupid to build this from aluminum? its a soft metal but I have that on hand. if not a good idea in your opinion then I will buy some flat steel. what ya think??

 

Depends how thick of aluminum.

 

Aluminum is VERY soft, so be sure to make it think if you're gonna use it.

 

if its scrap you have laying around go for it. whats the worst thats gonna happen you scratch your skid plate and mess it up and have to make a real one

 

Personally I would rather do it right the first time and I wouldn't use aluminum as it is too soft, but you do make a very good point, and you can mess around with it until you find a way to make it exactly the way you want it before making it out of more expensive material.

 

They have been using aluminum for skid plate for a while now and will be fine depending on thickness. Baja racers use them a lot and look at the punishment they dish out.

 

just use it if you have it

 

i made a tank skid out of aluminum i had floating around..... seems to be holding up..but i don't have rocks to crawl i'm a wooded trail wheeler.

 

I see you connected yours to your hitch how did you mount it on the otherside? Does it wrap around the sides? Sorry for all the questions I've been wanting to make one. And that looks clean and nice.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/my...idplate-66894/

my skid build

 

Alright sweet thanks! I may kinda copy what you did.

 

Looks really good!!!

 

Hello,

Don't diss Al , there are some applications where it is better then steel.
My tie rod was 1 1/2" DOM with 7/8" ball joints, I trashed 3 of them, look like pretzels.
Switched to 7075-T6 Al and have not needed to replace it for years.
Flexible and strong.

Maybe not the best for a skid plate, but it depends on the type and thickness and design.

Nitro

 

any thing is better than nothing when it comes down to it its all about how hard u wheel if you are playing in some mud dirt etc n just at worst sliding on plates aluminum will do better than nothing. if your rock climbing or jumping hard i recommend 3/8 steel it has saved some hard hits ive taken that aluminum would never be able to do

 

Lol, 3/8 is wayyyy overkill

Way to much weight