By wisker on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 09:32 am: Edit

Where can I find more info about Southdown equipment? I know RN sells their stuff, but I'd like to see/read/hear more about it before I decide.

wisker

By Ron on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 09:35 am: Edit

Well I know the guy who manufactures the skid plates for southdown USA, what eaxctly do you want to know?

Ron

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 09:58 am: Edit

You can contact and buy from (for the same price) Southdown USA- see their website. Jim Pappas is the guy here. From personal experience, not sure the axle guard is worth the price. I still like the concept and overall design, but the materials could be thicker/heavier for the $$. Rear diff guard is pretty good though - acts as a slider/guard/u-joint guard all in one. I don't have it, but it seems to hold up well on a couple of friends trucks.

By wisker on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 10:15 am: Edit

URL? I've been looking for their website and can't seem to locate it.

Thanks

wisker

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 10:16 am: Edit

http://www.southdownusa.com/

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 10:18 am: Edit

I think the guy with the hammer on the logo is Bill B. hammering his axle guard back into shape! ha ha ha

By wisker on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 10:35 am: Edit

It's always the obvious . . .

Anybody know if they will fit with an ARB and steering damper relocated?

Thanks,

wisker

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 01:56 am: Edit

Sad but true about the hammering - I still owe you a picture - will do as soon as I pressure wash all the mud off.

Wisker - both axle guard and steering guard work with an ARB bumper. As far as the damper relocation goes - should be fine - worst case you'd have to grind one bracket to clear the damper (I did, but have another brand steering guard - seems like from other posts in the past, most folks have had no clearance problems)

By chrisvonc on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 03:13 am: Edit

The front axle guard has a huge drawback in that it acts as a plow and anchor in deep mud or loose sand/dirt. It was the direct reason for 3 stucks I got into. In each case you could clearly see how it was acting as a plow or anchor prohibiting forward and sometime backward movement.

Good luck if you try to deal directly with Jim. I have never been able to get him to return any of my phone calls or my emails when I wanted to throw money at him. But others seem to talk to him all the time so who knows.

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 03:45 am: Edit

Maybe it has to do with type of country you "wheel" in - but I still like the axle guard design (not construction). For me it has had the effect of getting me out of trouble by lifting the front end and letting the rear wheels push - even in deep mud and snow.

I have heard from another guy who took his off due to the same reasons the Chris mentioned above - so who knows - probably all related to conditions/driving style/etc etc

BTW - no attack or great endorsement here - just my observations.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 04:15 am: Edit

Bill , I have seen Chris stuck on the East coast because of those gards and I have seen him stuck in Utah because of thsoe gards. I think that about covers it as far as terrain gos. When ever there is a little mud that bastard digs in. I like the idea of them but thats about it. You lose way too much. Its far easier to push the pumpkin through some whale shit then it is to puch that plow through. YOu are far better off with some Links from Rovertym and a good front diff guard....

Kyle

By Tom P. on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 05:09 am: Edit

>> YOu are far better off
with some Links from Rovertym and a good front diff guard....

Kyle,

Whadaya mean by *links*? The RT rear links for better clearance?

Tom P.
96 Disco

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 05:13 am: Edit

Kyle - I've got the RT links also (can never have enough HD stuff) - Regardless, I still like the design - who knows maybe one day I'll find something better!

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 06:08 am: Edit

links = steering linkage from Rovertym

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 06:27 am: Edit

If you have the links and a good diff guard Bill you are just carrying around a plow for nothing. Ditch it man.... It will just end up pissing you off

Kyle

By Ron on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 07:51 am: Edit

Ya Bill B, ditch it.

Ron

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 08:03 am: Edit

Thanks Ron! - then you'll make me an offer for it right

By Ron on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 08:05 am: Edit

Yup, I here MJ Lee makes a great Dif gaurd

Ron

Where bill b's old parts go to live on.

By wisker on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 09:02 am: Edit

Didn't know I'd start this big of a thread. I also like the idea of the guards and simply wanted to find out more. I tend to agree with most of the posts about the shovel effect. The last thing I want to do is dig in Mississippi clay (whaleshit).

Thanks for more info than I anticipated

wisker

By MTB on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 09:07 pm: Edit

Ok here we go
When it comes too protection who makes the toughest Diff Gards, steering gard, & tank gards.
If you put RT steering link on do you need the front skid plate and will there be any +/- with putting frt skid plate.
I know alot of you have tried or seen everything out there who passes the true test.

Michael B

By wisker on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 03:34 am: Edit

Even with the RT links (and I'm sure they are very well built) I would still want some kind of guard up there even if it was one of the AB cheap ones. I imagine a combination of the two would be relatively indestructable.

wisker

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 05:25 am: Edit

Yes , I run a cheapie AB plate just to give the truck something to slide up on. Not so much for protection but for stream lining. If it wasnt there you would suffer more resistance when winching along through deep mud or when sliding over a rock in the center.


Kyle

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 06:51 am: Edit

cheapy AB front plate kicks ass actually...

it can really take the abuse. at least the steel one can, i dont know how the alloy one holds up.

-rd

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 07:06 am: Edit

Rob , the steel one is like butter. Mine is bend six ways from sunday. But , as I said , it aint really for protection.


Kyle

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 07:44 am: Edit

What about the AB transfer skid plate? Is it any good? I hope so as I just bought one today.. Didn't really see any thing else out there for that part of the rover.. I also bought their diff gards as well.

By gil on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 07:46 am: Edit

i agree with Kyle, mine to is bent 6 ways from Sunday, but its still there so I guess that a plus. try Rockware for underbody skids...

By Ron on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 07:49 am: Edit

"What about the AB transfer skid plate?"

You mean the anchor?


Ron

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:14 am: Edit

Ron, is it that bad?

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:19 am: Edit

Yes Eric , throw that out the same window as Bills south down.... That thing will piss you off even faster....


Kyle

By Ron on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:20 am: Edit

I dunno Eric, its just the two people I know who have had them have since disgarded them. One was particularly bitter about it as it got his truck stuck in the middle of a river in VT in winter. After hiking 5 miles out and getting frostbite it took a massive undertaking and a lot of ice chizeling to free it the following day. It acts like a plow/anchor when you go over stuff and you get hung up is the problem, but maybe the peice of mind it is owrth it.

Ron

PS Has anyone ever busted a tranny or T-box offroad by impact?

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:36 am: Edit

Great... I just wasted $300... Oh well.. Maybe I'll put it on and see if I can improve it.. I'm not planning on doing any hard core stuff but, it is higher up then the southdown so shouldn't it not be as big of a shovel?

here's what else I bought today
AB diff gards,
Rockware gas tank skid and pinion gard
Rovertym trac/cross rods and seering damper relo kit.
OME D-90 damper

Did I waste more money today too?

By Ron on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:42 am: Edit

No, the rest is good. I like the rockware plate although I have lazed out and not put it on yet.

Send the tranny plate back before you use it, or cancel the order, or not. I bet you would be poed if you sent it back and then cracked the tranny on a rock.

hehehe
Ron

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:49 am: Edit

Umm, the OME D-90 damper won't fit with the RT steering damper relocation kit, you need a Napa damper for a Ford F250, part number SC2932.

The tranny plate isn't that bad, I have had one for a couple of years. It is worth having on the truck just to see Kyle's reaction every time I drag it over something....

The main drawback as I see it, is you have to drop the tranny plate whenever you change tranny fluid. It's also a PIA to get to the rearmost u-joint on the front driveshaft with the tranny plate in place.

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 08:54 am: Edit

When I talked to the guy (not sure who I was talking to as I didn't get his name) at rovertym they told me I could go with the OME it just had to be a eye mount on one end and a stem mount on the other.

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:00 am: Edit

That's correct, you need an eye/stem damper, which is what the D90 damper is. However, unless the RT relocation kit has changed, the bolt on the RT relocation kit won't fit through the eyemount on the D90 steering dampener. I went through that little exorcise in March, that's why I am mentioning it....

And as far as the Tranny plate is concerned, overall I like the piece of mind regardless of the drawbacks. It's staying on the truck. Everything is a trade-off, anyway.

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:07 am: Edit

They told me that I could use an OME so I guess we will see.. I'll make sure by putting it all together before mounting it to or changing anything on the truck.. Then if it doesn't fit then I'll worry about how to a) make it fit or b) get a new damper..

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:11 am: Edit

Sounds good. I have the RT tie/track rod combo on my truck, they are beefy as hell. You won't be disappointed.

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:19 am: Edit

Yes Ron, I would be really PO'D if I sent it back and messed something up that it would have been in between.. Not as PO'd as I would be if I put it on and still broke some thing cause it didn't do it's job though.. I'm thinking that if it gets hung up on some thing that I should be able to get out of it as I wouldn't be by myself. Some one else could strap me and drag me over or pull me if needed.. I don't like the idea of going out alone. I have done it before and if some thing would have happend I would have been in real big trouble. I would rather not go at all then to go alone. Too much risk for major trouble..

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:20 am: Edit

Eric,
The credit card must be particularly melted today

Good luck with all the goodies - just so you know in advance, you will end up bending the Rockware pinion guard too! Don't get me wrong I still like the idea (better to slide on that than the u-joint and pinion) - but I guess everything bends if you stress it enough.

I'm certain Kyle will flame me for this, but here goes anyway - you may also consider the Rockware or NRP cat/exhaust guards (have tried both now - Rockware is more of a plow, but is actually tucked up pretty high and protects more of that $1200 y-pipe )

Anyway - have fun - good luck, etc.

Bill

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:22 am: Edit

Ax would never say that again if he got hung up in some water that others passed through in front of him.... It is strong , I dragged Ax up rock pile sliding solely on his Tans plate last year and I dont think it got hurt. The thing just gets on my nerves...


Kyle

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:26 am: Edit

Water? You know how I feel about water, Kyle... You really think I am going to get myself stuck in water any time soon? Why do you think I drive 2,100 miles to wheel in the desert?

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:27 am: Edit

the issue of your protection becoming a plow or anchor or otherwise getting you stuck really depends on what you wheel in - if you constantly play in the mud (or "whaleshit") like lots of these guys do, then your protection may bog you down. Personally, I have more of a need for protection from dry rocks, so I'm not really worried about getting bogged down. I either scrape along on rocks, or bang undercarriage on rocks as wheels drop off of other rocks. Keep in mind, however, that big rocks also like to hide in deep mud..so, like Axel said, everything is a trade-off. Know what I mean?

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:28 am: Edit

Ya Bill B, I'm going to be getting a nice bill in the mail probably a x-mass card from them too.. Good thing that I already got the cash for the stuff... Wish there was a store around here that sold these things so that I could just pay cash for every thing.. I hate using my credit cards.. Too easy to get over your head..

The real fun is going to be the folks who live next to me listening to me cursing up a storm putting all this stuff on.. Doing my own front end allignment ought to be really funny..

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:36 am: Edit

If you need someone to help with the cursing let me know. I can handle that... Ax , if you are with us and we all go through , and you dont have a choice , I know you are going. I have seen it. I have also waded out with a damn strap in that cold ass water to rescue you only to see you get the bitch started and pull out ...

Kyle

By chrisvonc on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:41 am: Edit

What makes you think he didnt do that on purpose?
hehe

By John on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:44 am: Edit

The RTE dampener kit can be made to fit any brand dampener. The NAPA dampener takes a 1/2" bolt, the OME takes a 10 m/m bolt. If I know which dampener you are using, I make the kit to fit. My "standard" is always custom to your need.

By John on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 09:56 am: Edit

$.02...Another opinion on undercarriage skid plates, frame sliders, cat plates, tranny plates, axle plates, etc...etc...Other than sliders, the more you hang under the truck, the more items you have to get hung up on...a good line is your best skid plate.

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 10:06 am: Edit

Aha, that clears it up. I never told John I wanted to use a OME D90 damper, that's why I got the default kit for the Napa Dampener, which by the way is a good, inexpensive dampener. No biggie.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 10:11 am: Edit

Yes John , as I always say. "The steering wheel comes in the car from the factory and is best at savin your ass in such situations" Chris , dont tell me that , next time I might not wade in after you , I might think you are playing a joke....

Kyle

By John on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 10:12 am: Edit

I like that dampener for the cost and works just as well....its a Ford 250 truck dampener. Sorry Axe...next time I will get it right for you...hehehe

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 10:20 am: Edit

Well , if its a ford dampener it has to be better....

Kyle

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 10:28 am: Edit

No problem there John, I like the Ford dampener, and I sold off the D90 dampener for the same as I paid for it, so all is cool...

By John on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 11:02 am: Edit

"Cool"

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 12:05 pm: Edit

kyle about that steel being butter... hehe, you've seen mine. it's now humped in the middle and bent on the corners (actually providong a better approach. but it's still holding strong, thats what i mean.. no need to straighten it.

now.. the tranny plate.. hehe, yes it will bug you if you dont have a lot of ground clearance.

http://www.discoweb.org/abskid/

i would say that 3" lift with 235/85 (32") tires is the minimum i'd run and find the plate acceptable.

before i had 1.5" lift and the 235's and i was still getting hung up like a mad man. it will bug you bad at times.. especially when it alone is the reason you are stuck. on the other hand i have come down hard on it twice and man was i glad i had it there.

i was very close to taking it off after this happened:

http://www.discoweb.org/area53/P1080029.JPG

being high centered on a steep ass hill aint fun

especially with some fucker named Kyle you just met off the internet calls some guy Ho to make fun of me instead of winching me... at least thats the way i remember it ;)


anyway, since i moved up to 3"lift it's been 'acceptable'

so i'd say if you have to have a skid plate there and you are concerened about high centering , maybe go with RW

if you want crazy strong protection, AB is your thing

-rd

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 01:41 pm: Edit

I plan on getting a lift later this year or early next year.. I guess I'll just have to find out for myself.. If I get stuck all over the place cause of it then I'll take it off and put it back on when I get the lift.. But, the way I see it is that you can get a pull to get un-stuck and then try again or go around it.. Breaking the case means you aren't going anywhere and a big tow bill home and that has to be some big dollars to fix once you get home. I think that I would rather have Klye and Ho laugh at me for a while then buy a new trans case.