After the last trail run bumping over rocks & stumps I knew I needed a skid pan.  Checking dimensions, I found that I had a piece of stainless that was close enough, so my skid pan is started.
I welded a cross brace at the front A arms.

The piece of SS was 17.5" X 70" so my plan was have it cut to at 64.5" and both long sides bent up 90 degrees 1 3/8".  Then have small bends across the pan at 2" (down),  6.5" (up), 17" (up), 36" (up), the sides were cut to allow the bends.  I also made a wire jig so the bender knew about what I was looking for.

The metal came back close to what I needed.

Then I started fitting under the Tracker to see where to notch for the cross members.

I had holes punched about where I thought they were need (on the sides so bolts would not get ground off) and then built brackets to hang the skid pan with.  I am hanging it off my bumper with two bolts, the two bolts at back of A arms cross member, and two bolts at the transfer case member.  I welded the nuts on the brackets so it would be easier installing removing. 



Fitting, welding, grinding, (cutting off the bracket in wrong place) took longer then I figured, so hope to finish up tomorrow.

Replaced the bracket, enlarged some holes and bolted skid pan in place.


Test at Walker Valley on Sunday.

Looks great!  How heavy is it?  What gauge of SS is it?

Shiny! 

Now we need to find another piece of stainless laying around for mine. 

     Looks great! 
     I'd be interested to know if you notice an increase in heat in the cab on the trails.  I have a partial belly skid on mine and suspect it contributes (along with no carpeting) to the excessive heat in the cab of mine while on the trails not moving fast enough to generate much air flow.
     How easy is it going to be to clean all the mud and such out of it?  Without my body lift, it would be a royal pain to get mine cleaned out. 
     I think you need to try to get some good mud tests in on Sunday and some knocks on the rocks for sure.  See how she slides.  And take lots of pics while you're at it!!!   

Wait, camera? 

It shouldn't be too hard for him to clean.  There is only 8 bolts holding the entire pan on and all except the front two come in from the side of the skid pan instead of the bottom so they should avoid rock rash.

If it work swell I might try and get him to bend me up one.  Of course, we will need to find another sheet of stainless. 

It shouldn't be too hard for him to clean.  There is only 8 bolts holding the entire pan on and all except the front two come in from the side of the skid pan instead of the bottom so they should avoid rock rash.

Ok if you want to remove it each time.  Mine is very heavy and has been beat on enough now that it takes some wrestling to get the bolt holes lined up and back on.  I'm sure its better with full skid, custom for the truck.  Mine is a retrofit off a Ranger or something. 

Looks great!  How heavy is it?  What gauge of SS is it?

1/8".  It is a little lighter than I would have used, but it was just standing in back of garage and I needed a skid pan.  I'll see how it holds up.  The distance between cross braces is not that long, and I am not doing really radical rock.

Shiny! 

Now we need to find another piece of stainless laying around for mine. 

Saved the last one for you.  Now that mine is in, it shouldn't take that long to do again.

Quote from: Drone637 on September 25, 2008, 12:43:08 PM

It shouldn't be too hard for him to clean.  There is only 8 bolts holding the entire pan on and all except the front two come in from the side of the skid pan instead of the bottom so they should avoid rock rash.

Ok if you want to remove it each time.  Mine is very heavy and has been beat on enough now that it takes some wrestling to get the bolt holes lined up and back on.  I'm sure its better with full skid, custom for the truck.  Mine is a retrofit off a Ranger or something. 

I was considering the cleaning issue when I was installing/removing, putting in brackets, etc., and hoping that I don't have to remove or drop down to clean out often.  I will probably have to enlarge the mount holes after trail damage to keep fit easy on/off.  The exhaust side is open, but may encounter engine heat being trapped.  But hey, Fall is here and a little heat won't be bad for awhile.  I'll let you know how it holds up the first trip.