SKID PLATES?

Anybody run or thinking of installing some on your rig?
Im seriously considering some for my next build. Im not super concerned about weight as much as the rocks in the creeks and hills around here.

ive got a washing machine lid I think that's suitable for that its pretty strong. im thinking about it seriously

Stretch has said he is kicking around the idea of skid plates.
I would say for most it isn't a priority... we have run our tractors hard over some rough / rocky terrain for years and have not had a situation where a skid plate would have saved something we broke.

Ive considered it. Have i done it? No.

I may end up with a skid plate, kind of as a side effect to the axle truss I'd like to fab up. I tend to think that due to the size, height, and footprint of your average tractor, you'd probably have to be genuinely "rockcrawling" to actually need one.

I'm also of the opinion that if they were that much of a necessity, the Mowrons would be well aware of it!

I think a skid for a rear axle would be the best, one lucky shot to the aluminum case and pop..... Kinda like the rear skid on ff's craftsman crawler.

I do a lil rockcrawlin. Hard not to at times. Lol mostly when wheelin in lil creeks when the waters low enough. I bent one of the tierods on my murry-type setup. Had to mount it a lil lower in the frame so its all hangin out waitin for that unfortunate opportunity.

i want a skid plate but.. i work on mine too much lol.. thought about a frontbumper with a plate.

Plannin on putting one on the Deere soon... Thicker around tranny area and thinner under the whole tractor sorta like fearless fronts Murray just to keep sticks outta the belt system...

Figured I'd just put a picture of mine on here as an example. I used steel that was a little too thin, but it still protects the transmission pretty good. Big dents look cool anyway, like your really driving in some tough stuff.

here is the links to fearless fronts skid plate builds that he did for his sears and his craftsman crawler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pamvhBpobD8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXt52Fu5rdI

I built this one for my wheel horse, goes halfway back under the tranny, It really helps going though mud and rocks because it try's to "skid" you up over and not catch on anything. much more of a problem on wheelhorse because it is flat right there normally

I have a skid plate but mines more for belt protection. I ride in the woods alot and wouldent you know it there are stickes everywhere waiting on an opertunity to take your belt out. Made out of sheet aluminum about 1/16 thick.

CornShuck4CE wrote:

I have a skid plate but mines more for belt protection. I ride in the woods alot and wouldent you know it there are stickes everywhere waiting on an opertunity to take your belt out. Made out of sheet aluminum about 1/16 thick.

Thats what I was planning on doing

They came out pretty neat, I have to make a tight fitting one for my sears project. I was thinking of using some steel diamond plate, but the stuff weighs a ton. Not to mention it's hard to work with as far as bending it.

skid plates/belt protection are on my huge list of things to do on my mower

Here is mine so far

That looks good. Redlinemotorsports made a skid plate with a square tube frame for his steering box skid plate on his mtd front axle.

I've made a skid plate for my new simplicity from an aluminum stop sign. That has a 633 transaxle too.

Nice, these transaxles are tanks and hard to find up here, i wanted to do something lighter but i run it on alot of rocks and wanted something strong. now i need to build one for the front ( like prerunner style)