A SKID PLATE for the X

I found this site www.skidplates.com They have skidplates for the X Burke

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Thanks, but old news. A.K.A. skid-row.com

Brent

[This message has been edited by OffroadX (edited January 23, 2001).]

have had a set since June. they work very well. they come highly recommended. there is about 10 or so people on this board that have them.

very soon they will have a gas tank replacement skid plate and ARB skid plate as well. should be in the next month or so for the gas tank. hopefuly in the next couple of weeks i will be going up there for a test fitting of the gas tank skid.

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Synchro (aka Kirk)
Ashburn, VA, USA (suburb of Washington D.C.)
2000 Xterra SE, Alpine Green, Auto, 4x4, ARB, 32" BFG MTs
President: Mid-Atlantic Xterra Club
http://www.maxc.org/members/synchro.htm

Well i tried. LOL Burke

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and we thank you for that

i have them for 2 weeks now, and did test them last weekend, held up great !!!





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I need some cluing in. Are y'all replacing stock skid plates or were they part of a package that you didn't get so you gotta add them?

If you're replacing the stock plates, I take that to mean the stocks are flimsy.

What's the deal?

MikeT




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2001 SE 4X4
Rain+Dirt does it for me.

The stock front plate gets replaced by a much beefier 3/16" front plate.

A few of us are still working with Eric @ Skid Row to get a beefier gas tank skid made.

I was wondering about on road difficulties associated with adding 3/16' steel to the bottom of your truck? Any problems?

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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

What kid of problems were you thinking of?

No problems - except a slight decrease in gas mileage because of the weight, about 110 lbs. for all 2 plates.

(I'm ignoring mobycat and Philospher go at it, they do this every day over e-mail...)

I actually noticed my handling improved a bit when I added the skidplates, I'm guessing because the center of gravity moves down a tiny bit since the weight of the plates is so low. Or maybe it's just my X is that much closer to a tank, and hence feels more solid (I dunno...)

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html

That is primarily what I was wondering about, handling, mileage, and safety. I guess that a center of gravity argument is valid here, that makes sense. How about working on the car, do the plates make it more difficult, do dealerships get pissed about them being on there, anything like that?

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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

Yes, dealerships can be a problem, if you go in for maintenance that requires them to drop the plates you'll be charged for the labor unless you do it beforehand. However, if you're lucky enough not to have real problems (as I have been so far, knock on wood) then the only time you really need to do it would be for the big maintenance checkups, i.e. 15K, 30K, etc. Once you've gotten used to it, taking them off only takes like 30 minutes, and about an hour to put them back on.

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html

I would assume, however, that it takes more than one person to put them back on, doesn't it?

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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

Not really, I've put them back on myself, all you need is a good jack or some jackstands to hold the plates up. I'm not sure having more people would actually make it any easier, as there isn't much room as it is.

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html

The ride may improve with added weight, albeit, the actual handling, which to me means the terminal velocity sustainable around a curve or lateral G Force, could not be improved.

Adding weight never improves lateral acceleration. It can lower the center of gravity, but it won't lower the amount of weight pulling laterally on the rig as it tries to go around an off ramp...it will raise that weight.

So - The top of the Xterra weighs the same, you just added weight below it...

When you corner, both weights are against you.

To make a real difference, you would have to take the weight off of the top, and put it on the bottom...So the total is the same, but postioned lower.

Taking a spare tire off of the roof, and putting it under the Xterra.... for an X-ample.

I had added a Sterering Box Skids, 2 x 4 Rock Rails, Engine Skid, Gas Skid, A Steel Rear Rock Bumper, etc. to a past rig....a few hundred pounds of 1/4" to 3/16" steel plate.

It did not improve the handling. (Did not hurt it too badly to matter either)

It did seem to ride better though.

It did seem to be able to glide over/survive impacts better too.

Gas mileage actually seemed around the same, I would X-Trapolate it was equivalent to having a coupla passengers on-board, all the time.

So -Add plates to protect your rig, not to improve the handling...it's an acceptable compromise.





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- TJ

2001 Xterra SE 5 Speed Gold Rush