Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I know this has been done before but I couldnt find it when I searched ...and I also wasnt looking through 350 pages....


I want to add a skid plate to the Vit that will start from the back of the front lower link brkts and extend through to the back ofthe cab ......

I always have a tendency to over engineer things......well so I have been told ....so I was after other people's opinions of what type of material and thickness .....

I know that some ofthe tube buggys run 3mm mild steel .....but with the chassis rails of a buggy being pretty narrow in most places 3mm wrks fine ......

At one stage I was going to run a 15mm HDPE skid ....but the I would of had to add a few mor crossmembers to be able to take the weight ofthe rig .....

I'm leaning towards maybe 4mm alloy most prob 6mm but its starting to get heavy ...and even though the wieght is low and that is good ...its ( the vit ) is already going to be alot heavier than anticipated....so I want to keep the wieght down as much as possible ...

I can add a few blocks down off the crossmembers that are already fitted ..to add some strength to the skid when landed hard on and I could also weld some braces to the inside of the pan if necessary ....


anyway add your thoughts ??


Dan

Alloy is to abrasive (sp?) for skid plates.

yeah, always thought mild steel was the best for this purpose.

Bisalloy?

My buggy has got 5mm structural alloy, its still pretty light, but its as hard as a rock.

Its not like normal alloy, you cant bend it.

Not cheap though, was abou $400 for a sheet

Mock

AlbyOne wrote:Bisalloy?

that would be cool but $$$$.


The bushranger in tuff truck last year had sheets of teflon or somthing screwed under it to make it slip off rocks, i dont think it worked though.

i'm going to use some 5 mm plate covered in hard facing weld and ground smooth. it will take forever to make, but in theory, it should not have any friction slipping over the rocks.



Andy

andrew e wrote: The bushranger in tuff truck last year had sheets of teflon or somthing screwed under it to make it slip off rocks, i dont think it worked though.

Andy

Teflon is great for chopping boards and runners for draws to slide on. But when stuff digs into it as in rocks it dosent slide. Would be the same for soft alloys.

andrew e wrote:

AlbyOne wrote:Bisalloy?

that would be cool but $$$$.


The bushranger in tuff truck last year had sheets of teflon or somthing screwed under it to make it slip off rocks, i dont think it worked though.

i'm going to use some 5 mm plate covered in hard facing weld and ground smooth. it will take forever to make, but in theory, it should not have any friction slipping over the rocks.



Andy

why dont you just get your sheet hardened in an oven?

Cheers ...............for your opinions

Alot of the yanks use 3/16 plate for all there wrk I just felt that it would be to heavy as the section I will need is pretty big .....I'm also not sure of the availability over here .........I may have a scrounge for some 4mm and be done with it


thanks


Dan