Valhalla’s Shield theft deterrent/skid plates info and ordering post

Installed the plates today. Very well designed and made! Thanks Tyler and thanks Jimmy for the Screwd hardware.

 

Sorry I haven’t been as active here, I am still answering questions, between the heat and packing up the large load of plates I have, it is wearing me down. Besides a few people I am waiting on to pick up, I am caught up to April 16th right now. I am hoping to beat the heat and push to get to May today, although there are some aluminum orders that need to go to powder coat.

 

Stay safe Tyler! Heat and humidity are a bitch of a combo... rather you stay safe and get to us when you can then to try and push thru and end up in the hospital.

 

x2. Stay safe & healthy. Thanks for busting your tail but don't overdo it.

 

I couldn’t sleep this morning so I decided to start working at about 4:30 this morning trying to beat the heat. I am taking a bit of a break in the ac eating some left over pizza and planning metal orders

 

x3.

 

That’s why I did not put my order in yet Tyler. Giving you a break. Lol. That heat sucks.

 

Well… there could be a price increase soon, prices for metal are getting to my uncomfortable zone….

 

How much do you think it'll go up?

 

Completely understand. I live in Texas, too, and the heat and humidity recently has been overbearing. Stay hydrated, take your time, and know that many of us understand and are willing to wait for a quality product.

You saw a demand for these given all the thefts recently and took the initiative to use your fabrications skills and equipment to use. So thanks for doing that.

 

It's crazy for sure. Even with a price increase, it's alot cheaper than new cats/pipes. Just don't cut yourself short.....we all have to put food on the table.

 

The thing is, I am no master of any of this. I know how to weld, but I am not certified, I know a lot about fabrication from project managing parts being made by various vendors. I know coatings because I frequently had to deal with mistakes and questionable metal quality when we would do rebuilds. And I finally I was customer service, I frequently would get calls from customers and talk them through their problems. I got laid off and thought I might make a few bucks making some plates, never knowing it would turn into this.

My helper is currently cleaning up plates, I am hoping he will be done today but it may run into tomorrow. I am taking I think 17-18 aluminum plates to powder coat tomorrow and finally sending tundra curt his full plate set. And a free decal because I love him for his understanding. Wednesday or Thursday will be dropping off to my bulk powder coater and of course shipping everything I can every day this week. I am hoping to have a large load of 1/8 steel cut up and bent ready for the weekend to put my helper back to work.

As for metal prices…. 3/16 aluminum was about $200 a sheet for 4x8, I just got quoted $335…. To give you an idea how much it has gone up…

 

Steel going up like lumber. I paid $120 for 2 sheets of sanded 1/4 plywood the other day. Crazy prices.

 

I took a few semesters of welding class at the local community college many years ago. So I know that while it may look easy, there’s a whole lot more to it! But you, sir, seem to know exactly what you’re doing with all the experience you’ve had leading up to this. Kudos for turning a layoff into worthy business!

Anyway, I remember when Jason DeMello started welding and fabricating Tacoma sliders and bumpers back in the delphiforum days about 20 years ago. If I remember correctly, he was using his garage (or maybe it was his parents’ garage?). Of course, now he has his own shop and a flow of orders from all over the place.

 

From Tyler regarding WKOR sliders, and a comment about their skid plate:

 

Thanks John. I have updated my slider post to include this information.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/val...-and-ordering-post.84911/page-38#post-2269911

 

Dumb question and i thought i saw it addressed here, but not in Tyler's instructions...does it matter if the tcase skid plate touches the rear plate?

Mine does, i was going to remove it, but then figured if it wasnt in the install instructions it wasnt a big deal. Im running 2 spaces on both sides.

 

I thought I read on here that you're supposed to remove that t-case plate to ensure fitment. But I guess if it still fits with it on, then no harm no foul?

 

Below are a number of posts regarding this topic and the install guide created by @CmdrD8TA . Basically, the small transfer case skid plate should be removed and there should be no contact between the transfer case and the cat plate. I think Tyler has been too busy building plates to update his own version of the instructions.

 

Thanks @3rdTundra thread is too large and didnt find it updated near the beginning.

 

I removed the transfer case skid. No issues

 

I would like to openly thank Tundra Curt. He ordered a full set of skid plates and his order became cursed… I sent the set to a new powder coater, he was 2 weeks late and it came out looking like a bad spray paint…. I repo it and take it to my reliable and great powder coater, he fixes them, but I noticed I am missing a piece… between the repo and the new powder coater a piece got lost. Fast forward another few weeks to get the new piece cut and powder coated and it is finally done. I am happy to say that his plates were picked up by fed ex today and they are finally on their way. He has been very patient and I really want to openly thank him for this.

I also want to thank everyone else who is waiting or has waited for their plates. I know how anxious everyone is waiting and hoping they don’t fall custom while the plates were made.

 

Your username seems to suit you. Transparent, honest, appreciative, …classy.

 

@Classy63 where are you currently at for June orders (06/04) on powder coated aluminum? Thanks!

 

Aluminum is getting harder to source. I just bought a large load of 1/4” aluminum and I am working on getting a large load of 3/16 aluminum too

 

I also have 3 rear cat plates in 3/16 aluminum that didn’t cut very pretty if someone wanted them at a discount

 

Thank you for the kind words Tyler! Yep, this order had its issues and you can't make some of this s@!t up. But we're through it and the skids are on their way. I'll post up pictures when I get them installed.

Congratulations on your successful business even if you didn't intend to be the official cat protector of Tundras everywhere. Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Me! Pick me.

lol

 

I'd be interested in this as well... that's 2 people now... one more to go

 

Message me if you are interested in the not cut well plates