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Rockhard Skid Plate Bending Fix?

2K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  WhatWouldJasonDo_ 
#1 ·
I'm Experimenting with an old Rockhard Engine/Tranny Skid to prevent it from continuously bending. I've removed it, bent it back with a chain hoist and beat the low spots out of it but I think that just weakens it over time.

I welded a piece of 3/16" by 1" plate vertically along the passenger side tying it into the factory bent edge that starts about half the way to see if that works. If it holds up I will do the same mod to the new plate that's on its way before installing.

Here's 2 photos of the old one bent pushing into the exhaust and a photo after the fix with the vertical plate welded on. And before you ask Yes I reached out to Rockhard who were GREAT but who also confirmed its performing as designed which lead me to start tinkering.
 

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#3 ·
What did you do to get that bend in the first place? The RH skids are pretty stout.
 
#4 ·
Jasnuc, did it happen last Saturday from the run at John Bull ?, I hit my HR skid a couple of times, but i guess i didn't land that hard over those damn boulders, now i need a gas tank skid though :)
Do you have a picture that show the reinforcements you did from the top, i figure you're gusseting the back of the skid, on what it could be considered the crumble points ?

I was more concerned on the driver side, close to the exhaust loop, but that side took all the hits i gave it, i think in your case you hit the passenger side by the trans member judging by the pic.
 
#6 ·
Now i need a gas tank skid though :)
Do you have a picture that show the reinforcements you did from the top, i figure you're gusseting the back of the skid, on what it could be considered the crumble points ?.
Oh yeah the gas tank skid gets abused on the 4 doors! I have a bunch of ripples in mine from dragging on stuff. Synergy makes a replacement heavy duty gas tank plate while most of the others just cover the stock one.

No other pics sorry and yes that bend in the photo is on the passenger side but it was just as bent on the driver side too.

This photo shows me straightening it using a cherry picker. You can see the chain goes right across the area just in front of the subframe where mine started folding on both sides.
 

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#7 ·
I guess RockHard made changes to their skid plate, as mine has the reenforcement added. I just installed these earlier this week on the wife's Rubicon.

Passenger side



Drivers side

 
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