Another home-grown ARB skidplate

Well I've been running w/ this plate for a little over a month, and two difficult outings now. It has stopped me dead in my tracks and gotten pretty much all the paint scraped off of it, but so far, no dents/bends! It's made out of 3/16" steel, just like the Skid-Row plates. I think my design is pretty close to gearhead1972's (just in thicker steel), although I can't tell from the pics he posted here a while back. I've been trying to get a good pic of mine for weeks now, and this is the best I could get...


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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

For what's it worth, I'm still waiting for the shop that Carlton McMillan used to make up some of those skid plates. That was back on 1/23 and a follow-up call a few weeks later did nothing to get them in gear.

Needless to say, I'm not impressed. Think I just may make my own also.

dave and Xtoy - how to loose business

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Looks like you did a good job on your licence plate!!!! Now that's 4-wheelin'!!

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Yellow '00 SE X "Mojo" standard, Yellow Triumph Tiger motorcycle. Waltham MA.

Thanks rubbus...I should probably get a new plate (current one tore at the point where it curled over) but it's kind of a badge of honor.

Dave--if you decide to build your own, all mine is is a 28.5" x 11" piece of 3/16" steel, it shouldn't cost you too much to have a piece cut to size at the local junkyard (that's what I did.)

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

They STILL have not got those plates done??!!

I know that he was making something like 9 plates for people but when I talk to him last (last week) he said that he was done and waiting on the shipping boxes.. That sucks.. I will call him right now and see what is up!!

Just called his shop.. he was not at the shop... picking his kids up from school..

I will find out more and let you know what is happening.. Grrrrrrr

New info..

Company that was supplying the shipping boxes ordered the wrong boxs.. soooo he is trying to get new shipping crates to send the plates.. So.. The plates are complete and he is looking for a reasonable container to send them in..

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2000 Xterra White
4x4 3pack w/xtras
SWXC Member# 2
TMTC (Texas Motorized Trails Coalition)Member # 653
KD5MQO

Carlton_McMillan@swxc.org www.swxc.org

[This message has been edited by Carlton McMillan (edited 03-06-2001).]

Carlton...

FYI, I'm another one who has had trouble getting the plate (or a return call).

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Patto
Silver 2001 4WD XE 3 Pak
ARB, 31" BFG AT KOs
F-Jackie

Hmm...Synchro and I were all set to order them from Carlton's shop but then didn't for some reason (I don't recally why.) Guess I'm glad I ended up making mine myself (and made Synchro one of the same design, along w/ 5 other MAXC guys.)

Good luck getting yours promptly all...sounds kind of like the KMA bumper deal some of us are going through right now--on the bright side, at least you guys have a representative (i.e. Carlton) who can drive over and check on things for you.

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

Yup, same design only I added another 2 1/2" to the 11" at the bottom and bent it so that it is level with the ground to add rigidity to it. You are also correct about the gage of metal mine is somewhere around 12-10 gage. I put it to good use the other day, I went to a place I go to often and the ice gave out .the front wheels went in to over the hubs and the plate took the impact of the hit on the high part in the middle of the ruts
Here are the pics
http://superblackxterra.tripod.com/skid.html

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Kevin
00' Super Black SE 5 speed
31" BFG M/T's, ARB, Rancho RSX's
superblackxterra.tripod.com

[This message has been edited by gearhead1972 (edited 03-06-2001).]

Ah, right on. I don't have a brake or any other good way of bending 3/16" steel, so I didn't bother. If I do decide to work on mine some more I will come up w/ a design that butts up flush against my front Skid-Row plate, but Eric @ Skid-Row is already working on that (he took the measurements he needed off of my truck in January), so I'll probably just wait for him...then decide if I can justify the $$$ for the nicer plate. (Will wait and see if I manage to bend this one first...)

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

when did you get the new rubber? i see you also got the nissan steel wheels. any shots to show? looks bass ass!

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2001 silver 4x4 SE
JWT
HKS
WAAG
Surco
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471505&a=11294707&p=39628578

I just got the Swampers last week.

Unfortunately I don't have any good pics yet--you're right, they're mounted on stock X steel wheels. Thanks for the compliment.

I just got this pic from my friend's digital camera, it's a slightly clearer shot of the ARB skidplate.



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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

I just noticed something on your ARB that I don't remember seeing on anyone elses. I know Eric cut out the directionals so you put in the PIAA's, but where did those guards come from and are they metal or plastic?

jeff

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They're metal--old U-bolts, actually. After Eric cut out the directional holes for the PIAA's, we drilled holes for the U-bolts, inserted them through about 1/2" and then welded them in place. I really like them, they work well at protecting the lights and they give my X a little "Mad-Max" flavor.

You can see them a little better in this picture, which Swampwrecker got at the last MAXC outing.



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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

I think it's time to add a "beat to hell" license plate photo forum...

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Regards,
Ian

...i mean bad ass.

there are a lot of great rides and incredible modifications in the XOC but gothamist you probably have the most interesting and inovative mods to your ride than anyone else. has anyone from nissan R&D every get in touch with you? i don't know if that's a stupid question or not but i just had to ask.



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2001 silver 4x4 SE
JWT
HKS
WAAG
Surco
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471505&a=11294707&p=39628578

Just got off the phone with Keith.. Boxes will be there tomorrow in the morning and he will be shipping ALL orders for the skid plate tomorrow afternoon!!

He said there is a chance the boxes will be at the shop tonight in which case he will be shipping today.. But in either case the plates will be going out today or tomorrow..

If by some strange occurance they do not go out tomorrow I will go to the shop and... well.. I will do somthing :-)


P.S. We (SWXC) are trying to find a way to have that shop produce an excess number of skid plates- rock sliders- and other Xterra stuff- so that there will be an inventory so that if someone orders them they can be shipped within 24 hours. More news soon...

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2000 Xterra White
4x4 3pack w/xtras
SWXC Member# 2
TMTC (Texas Motorized Trails Coalition)Member # 653
KD5MQO

Carlton_McMillan@swxc.org www.swxc.org

[This message has been edited by Carlton McMillan (edited 03-07-2001).]

Steinism--thanks, I'm blushing. :-)

Seriously, most of the stuff I've done has merely been me riding on the coattails of other people here, guys like MT, FSR, Pikachu, Carlton and Ian. I will take credit for having a few good ideas, though.

Glad to hear all the ARB skidplate nonsense from Texas got worked out...go Carlton

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

[This message has been edited by gothamist (edited 03-07-2001).]

Hey Carlton... do you want to head to Georgia and clear up the KMA Bullsh*t while you are at it? GO GIT EM!!



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2000 Silver Ice 4x4, SE
ARB, 32" BFG Mud Terrains
PNWX webmaster
www.pnwx.net

Yeah, how about some of our East Cost friends make a trip over there to "convince" KMA to get their asses in gear.



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Join the Xterra Offroad Webring

2000 Aztec Red 4x4 V-6 XE-3Pak
www.xterra4x4.com

MT and I are considering it in all seriousness. Unfortunately it's a 750 mile drive each way, and if we're going to spend that much on gas we'd rather go to Tellico.

Who knows, if that's what it's gonna take to get KMA to produce the damn things (us watching them work), we might just have to...

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html ---> moving to http://www.4x4LO.com

I'll be in Chattanooga the first weekend in May. Want I should buzz over there and slap 'em upside the head?

Brent