Rock Ware Skid Plate

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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron Ward (Ronward) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:52 pm: Edit

Anyone out there comment on the cat converter skid plate offered by Rock Ware? I just finished watching the MOAB 2001 video and saw a couple of rigs with some type of under protection beyond the obligatory steering, diff, pinion and sliders. Anyone?

Ron Ward

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John Lee on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:01 pm: Edit

I'm not a fan of this skid plate. At Nevada Trophy 1998, both of our team vehicles were equipped with this cat guard and both vehicles caught fire when the cat guards scooped long grass into the cats and the grass ignited. What's funny is that both vehicles caught fire within a few minutes of each other. As soon as we put out one fire the other one started.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron Ward (Ronward) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:05 pm: Edit

Man I never thought about that. Forget it. I dented up an exhaust pipe just aft of the right cat (broke the 02 sensor as well) coming down hard on a boulder. Perhaps sliders would have helped...

Ron W.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:09 pm: Edit

Bill B has it and likes it.

We got his used NRP ones and I have been pleased.

Ron

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 11:50 pm: Edit

I've been running one for years and like it. It's got lots of scrapes and gouges that would have been on the cats.

John Lee brings up a good point about fires although I try to avoid long runs through dry grass, any time.

Sill sliders probably won't help...

keith
discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:08 am: Edit

the Atlantic British plate is sturdy as hell but severly limits breakover. quite a few times IT was the reason i got stuck, still with a lift and some 235/85 tires, it is "acceptable" now. i have come down hard on it a few times i was glad it's there.

i dont have any experience with the RW plate other than to say it looks like it it tucked up alot better. i think i would prefer it to the AB version.

rd

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 08:06 am: Edit

The NRP version that I used to have (now installed on Lucas!) - would probably be better in the situation John Lee mentioned because it is open on three sides. Even with only being attached on one side - it is made of 3/8" thk steel plate with reinforcing webs, so is extremely tough. I got a good deal on the RW plate and that is the only reason I switched to it. I like the desgin and haven't had any problems, but also hadn't thought about the dry grass issue. Thanks for the info John.

Bill

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 08:10 am: Edit

George's truck caught fire in Canada because of shit trapped above the trans plate on his... I hate those damn things...


Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 08:53 am: Edit

It wasn't exactly a raging fire, just a a couple of smoldering grass strands. Didn't happen to my plate, though. I have mixed feelings about my tranny plate for the same reasons Rob mentioned, but I am keeping it on for now. It's main purpose is to irritate Kyle....... :)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 09:44 am: Edit

Um , there was fire,,,,,lol..... The damn thing is pretty close to useless....


Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 10:46 am: Edit

I am about to drop some DSU's on some skids. What do you guys think is useful in that department aside from bumpers, rock sliders, and a gas tank skid?

I like the Rockware frame sliders, and would like some protection for the tranny and cats, but don't want to blow my truck up in the process....

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 10:50 am: Edit

A good tank skid is priceless. The frame sliders are prety nice too....

Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Tom P. on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 11:30 am: Edit

Ditto on the tank skid. It's nice to know that there is something to drag *before* the hitch.

Also, a friend has two small cat skids on his Disco. I think they were from RN or NRP, but they are essentially a small ski-shaped skid attached to the main frame rail (just below the cat). They do not connect across to one another, so there is no grass catching action. But if you drop on a rock, the skid hits not the cat. Pretty effective, yet minimally intrusive.

Tom Proctor
96 Disco

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 11:43 am: Edit

Nothing like a good skid plate discussion - LOL

Tom - you mean the NRP cat guards (as mentioned above) - what I used to have before they moved onto Ron. They were a pretty good design. They fit tight to the cats, so not sure if they'd fit on an aftermarket exhaust (except for NRP I hope since they make 'em)

I found a set of the Rockware frame sliders used and like 'em - I drive like crap, so they've taken a few hits that would have otherwise dented/gouged the frame rails.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:28 pm: Edit

anyone have a link to the NRP skid plates?

i've never seen these... i am VERY curious now.

rd

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 01:52 pm: Edit

Tom, I've also had the RW frame sliders on for a number of years. They help a little on the common trailing arm hangup point but the new weld on mount arms that $G and now RTE have are much better. I don't think the frame sliders help much beyond that (although mine DO have several deep gouges in them that would have been in the frame without).

keith
discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 02:55 pm: Edit

You have pics of these?? I didn't know these were available.

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ho Chung (Ho) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:00 pm: Edit

http://www.expeditionexchange.com/frameslider.jpg

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:04 pm: Edit

Thanks. How much that cost?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By michel on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:18 pm: Edit

That catalytic plate is very useless. Not only will it get full of shit if you have mud, but like everyone else said grass even wet will dry out and catch on fire or smolder. Mine had lots of dings but the funny thing is without it, I never it anything. the cats are quite tucked up there and not vulnerable anyway. A waste of money that turns protection into a hazard.

Michel

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ho Chung (Ho) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:20 pm: Edit

http://www.rockware.net/rover/
"D-90 and Disco frame sliders $300"

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:21 pm: Edit

those are not the same as the one you linked to above, are they, ho?

tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ho Chung (Ho) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:33 pm: Edit

the ones in their site are the older version i think.
the ones i have are the new version.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:40 pm: Edit

ah. thanks. thought yours were rovertym.

tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron Ward (Ronward) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 03:51 pm: Edit

Looks like the cat skid plate from RW incorporates the frame sliders as well. I was on the phone with RTE John this morning and he game me some insight. He likes his cat skid plate from RW but said you lose about 2" clearance. What's the thing weigh?

Ron Ward

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John Lee on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Tom,

I would highly recommend the Rockware frame sliders for your Disco. I think the frame sliders combined with some HD trailing arms are a much better solution for most trucks than the heim-jointed RTE and SG trailing arms.

I'm not a fan of the heims because they transmit more shock to the driver and the vehicle than rubber bushings do. The frame sliders take away the hang-up point at the rear frame ears, but they also protect the two main frame rails when you're high centered or trying to climb a ledge.

If you ever get a chance to see Bill Burke's D90 in person, take a look at his frame rails. They're seriously battered from all the use his truck gets. You'll be shocked how much damage is there. Same for Matt Peterson's D90. Matt told me that he had to hammer out the dents in his frame rails so that he could get his frame sliders onto his truck.

There's also no butchering required with the Rockware frame sliders, as they mount using existing bolts on your frame.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 05:01 pm: Edit

Yeah, those are looking like the way to go. I already have some dents on my "ears" from slamming on rocks, and I have been hung up by the rears more than once.

It seems that other than those, there aren't much other skid plate options for the underbelly that are safe and maintain high clearance.

Thanks,

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John Lee on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 05:30 pm: Edit

Tom,

My approach to skids is to weigh the pros and cons. This is nothing new.

For the frame sliders, there are basically no cons. Sure, a quarter inch of ground clearance is lost, but that's not a meaningful con. What is gained is less hang up on the frame ears and protection of the frame rails.

For the front skid, I'm not a fan of these because they really don't protect that much and have some bads associated with them. The front skids basically protect the drag link from bending. That is true enough. But I don't see a bent drag link as a serious thing. Even if it does bend, your front tires are still aligned and you can drive home. The thing I don't like about the front skids is that they take away access to things. Oil changes are a pain with the front skid on. The front skid also reflects heat back into the engine. I can't say that they cause overheating, but I just feel more comfortable with free airflow around my engine. I'm worried enough with my Husky blocking my ATF cooler, and my bulkhead and floor boards are already hot enough for me.

Others will naturally feel differently. I don't think there is any right or wrong to all of this skid stuff.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By LarryG on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 08:40 pm: Edit

Obviously you guys don't play on rocks much! I have the RW Cat Guards and won't leave home without them. I did run a trail once without them, beat the hell out of my cats. They work great if you stay on the trail and off the grass.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Moe on Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 12:31 pm: Edit

Those RW frame sliders look great, but they are only secured by one bolt? Does EE have anymore pics of the install?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ho Chung (Ho) on Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 12:46 pm: Edit

yes. one bolt. thats' all you need.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 05:17 pm: Edit

True = the RW frame sliders are only secured by one bolt - but on the outrigger end, they "slot" onto the existing outrigger bracket in kind of a nifty way and secure that end, so the end result is a very solid piece. It's difficult to explain how they attach in the back wihtout seeing them.

Bill


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