1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

My take on a skid/cat deterrent

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by JRS, May 9, 2022.

  1. May 9, 2022 at 8:03 PM
    #1
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    Have a few road trips coming up and with the current backlog of plates decided to make my own full-width version. It seems like most skids are only a center strip and most deterrents have wings which only tuck within the rails. This idea overlaps the rails ~1" so that angle will contact during compression. Still need to make those, rear mounting brackets, add ribbing, and then prime/paint.

    What's the general consensus on countersunk bolts vs the domes meant to protect hex heads? Leaning towards countersunk if I can find them at 100deg.

    Also, I was an idiot and forgot to set the correct face when marking my bend lines. The contouring on the front cross-member is flipped.

    20220507_151651.jpg

    20220509_195744.jpg

    20220509_210050.jpg

    20220509_210549.jpg
     
    Warreng, Mike59, Luckydog and 18 others like this.
  2. May 10, 2022 at 3:37 AM
    #2
    Bammer

    Bammer I'm disinclined to acquiesce your request.

    Joined:
    May 23, 2019
    Member:
    #30901
    Messages:
    1,386
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Monroe, CT
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra SR5 TRD Crew Max 4x4
    Nice work !
     
    JRS[OP] likes this.
  3. May 10, 2022 at 3:50 AM
    #3
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2017
    Member:
    #9912
    Messages:
    69,374
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 CrewMax limited 4X4
    6" lift 35" Toyo M/T
    Nice job.
     
    Y0TA PR0 and JRS[QUOTED][OP] like this.
  4. May 10, 2022 at 9:08 AM
    #4
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2020
    Member:
    #54409
    Messages:
    7,730
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    North of Boston
    Vehicle:
    02 Tundra AC SR5 V8 4x4
    Great job! Looks like a place for unwanted critters to stay warm overnight though.
     
  5. May 10, 2022 at 9:23 AM
    #5
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    All of the foxes, coyotes, and hawks do their job around here, but now I'll always be questioning if there's a snake curled up. They're going to love that plate and we're not friends. Thanks for planting that fear!
     
  6. May 10, 2022 at 10:17 AM
    #6
    Wahayes

    Wahayes Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2019
    Member:
    #36539
    Messages:
    1,745
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    Vehicle:
    2017 tundra limited
    325/60r20 falken at3w, 2.25 dobinsons ,20x9 +20 fuel torque wheels, leer xr100, bmc

    1628260830286.jpg
     
    Mike59, KK6PD, texasrho83 and 3 others like this.
  7. May 10, 2022 at 10:29 AM
    #7
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    I'm a little girl. No shame in admitting it.
     
    Jack McCarthy likes this.
  8. May 10, 2022 at 11:07 AM
    #8
    Wahayes

    Wahayes Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2019
    Member:
    #36539
    Messages:
    1,745
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    Vehicle:
    2017 tundra limited
    325/60r20 falken at3w, 2.25 dobinsons ,20x9 +20 fuel torque wheels, leer xr100, bmc
    Man i hate snakes too. One of my buddies lived out in the country when i lived back in texas, and had one of those outdoor washing machine hookups and found a family of rattlesnakes in his washer one day. I told if that had been me i would have burned the house down and moved.
     
  9. May 10, 2022 at 11:10 AM
    #9
    pvn.beluga

    pvn.beluga New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2020
    Member:
    #56744
    Messages:
    1,475
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Phuc (Phooc)
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tundra DC
    Not sure at this point.
    That's looking bad ass @JRS!!!
     
    Wahayes and JRS[OP] like this.
  10. May 10, 2022 at 11:21 AM
    #10
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Member:
    #7025
    Messages:
    8,720
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Charles
    Conroe TX
    Vehicle:
    2016 DC MGM 4x4
    See build link
    Continuing the derailment of this thread but I was raised out in the country in a single wide trailer (country song?) with skirting around it. We went under there one day to look at some AC ductwork and found one big ass momma cottonmouth sitting on some eggs.

    There just may have been a doodoo trail on the way back outta there.
     
    Mike59, NewImprovedRon and JRS[OP] like this.
  11. May 10, 2022 at 12:57 PM
    #11
    Wahayes

    Wahayes Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2019
    Member:
    #36539
    Messages:
    1,745
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    Vehicle:
    2017 tundra limited
    325/60r20 falken at3w, 2.25 dobinsons ,20x9 +20 fuel torque wheels, leer xr100, bmc
    My dad and mom went on a hiking trail in yellowstone one time. As my mom told it , they were walking on this trail by a river and came across a snake in the trail. She got startled and said she turned to grab my dads arm in fear and he was already turned around and running the other way. My dad never denied it he would just start smirking and try (unsuccessfully) to hold in his laughter.:threadjacked:
     
    texasrho83 likes this.
  12. May 10, 2022 at 5:07 PM
    #12
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    A bit more fab. Also ran out of bar for the longitudinal ribs. Will have to pick some up next week when I finish.

    20220510_190314.jpg
     
  13. May 10, 2022 at 5:12 PM
    #13
    Charvonia Design

    Charvonia Design Enthusiast-Owned Small Business Vendor

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2019
    Member:
    #26282
    Messages:
    674
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keith
    Huntersville, NC
    Vehicle:
    2024 TRD Off Road Solar Octane
    Wow nice work! Impressed with your CAD and fab skills.
     
  14. May 10, 2022 at 6:30 PM
    #14
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    Thank you. Been at CAD my whole life but the past two years decided to beef up the shop and tackle smaller fab. Interested in lots of solo projects as well as bridging the academic to hands-on gap.
     
  15. May 16, 2022 at 1:57 PM
    #15
    engineer

    engineer Drive it 4ever

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2021
    Member:
    #60506
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    '21 Limited Double Cab
    Follow your passion. Plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs.
    :thumbsup:
     
    JRS[OP] and WVI like this.
  16. May 17, 2022 at 4:16 PM
    #16
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    A few more pics to conclude the build.

    Is there any interest in buying a plate like this? If so, I could put together a drawing package and send it out for some RFQs. It's too big for me to tackle as a one man show from home. Also, it would require palletized shipping and industrial-based shops get preferential pricing due to volume. But if there was enough demand I could put some time towards it.

    The obvious question is - how much would one cost? That's what I'd have to get answered but it'd likely be the most expensive option of all current offerings because of it being a single assembly.

    20220515_143931.jpg

    20220517_172537.jpg
     
    texasrho83 likes this.
  17. May 17, 2022 at 4:19 PM
    #17
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Member:
    #7025
    Messages:
    8,720
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Charles
    Conroe TX
    Vehicle:
    2016 DC MGM 4x4
    See build link
    Do what so few are doing right now - design for those who are lifted.
     
  18. May 18, 2022 at 7:56 AM
    #18
    COTundie

    COTundie Whoa Black Betty

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2021
    Member:
    #64339
    Messages:
    961
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    Black 5.7 DC TRD 4x4
    Pretty things
    Looks excellent! I know you're not looking to produce these, buy maybe another enterprising individual could make the shield in two separate but interlocking pieces for a much friendlier shipping rate.... would probably not be so good for those who intend to off-road tho. 1 rock steike and you'd never get the thing off of there.

    Also @JRS

    Do you mind sharing the thread pitch of the 4 pieces of hardware seen from the underside? Thinking I might want a quick-n-dirty deterant.
     
    JRS[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  19. May 18, 2022 at 10:37 AM
    #19
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    My thought was that since the dev work is done, and I have tons of experience with taking parts through the production cycle, I could act as the liaison. But it'd only be for this geometry since there are so many other things I need to work on and I'm not very interested in trying to make a mom-n-pop shop for custom Tundra parts right now. My other thought is there are plenty of two-plate approaches already. Or, single plate with bolt-ons. Was trying to fill the void by making a stout skid while providing a deterrent. Really approached it for myself but figured to ask anyway before I forget the nuances which I didn't model.

    Time will tell if it was smart/dumb to make the skid one sheet. I've only just started trail riding and really don't have any experience. The back end is a bit flexy with the brackets which mount to the frame rails making me think even a larger dent wouldn't prohibit plate removal. Just guessing though.

    Used standard grade 8 UNC fasteners for now. The front crossmember took 1/2 x 13 - 3.5 and the rear was 3/8 x 16 - 3.5. They go full-length through the crossmembers with a nut on top.
     
    Sumo91 likes this.
  20. May 18, 2022 at 10:45 AM
    #20
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    Oh, also, it's 3/16" thick. That dude is pretty heavy. Going to take one helluva beating to significantly bend it.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  21. May 18, 2022 at 5:57 PM
    #21
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 Busy with projects

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2019
    Member:
    #38726
    Messages:
    1,494
    Gender:
    Male
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM Tundra Platinum 4x4
    Bilstein 8112/8100 3.25in lift Dobinson leaf springs 2.1in lift Level8 MK6 wheels Big ole dent in bedside
    Hell of job on the skid. I made my own single piece skid plate. I only had a tape measure,, angle grinder and a welding machine, so it's rough around the edges and not nearly as nice as yours, but does the job. It's heavy af. Prob 150lbs. 3/16 steel plate. I figured it makes a better theft deterrent. I have to use my floor jack to remove and install when doing maintenance, which isn't bad when you get used to it and know where the center of gravity is.
     
    JRS[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  22. May 18, 2022 at 6:51 PM
    #22
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    Fortunately, have access to a 4'x8' plasma table at one of the labs. Props for tackling yours with only a grinder, that definitely took some work. I have put mine on a small dolly and lifted the rear up to the frame. From there, rotate and connect the front cross member. Going to try your approach because that's smarter. I just got under there and cave-manned it for some dumb reason.

    Same weight for this one. Whichever sorry bastard tries to drop these plates is in for a surprise when they get squashed.
     
    Sumo91 and Mike59 like this.
  23. May 18, 2022 at 7:38 PM
    #23
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 Busy with projects

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2019
    Member:
    #38726
    Messages:
    1,494
    Gender:
    Male
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM Tundra Platinum 4x4
    Bilstein 8112/8100 3.25in lift Dobinson leaf springs 2.1in lift Level8 MK6 wheels Big ole dent in bedside
    It wasn't the funnest project I've done, crawling under under truck a thousand times taking measurements, but the cost of a 4x8 sheet of 3/16 was cheaper than any cat plate I could buy, and I've used the excess 4x4 leftover sheet for many projects so far.

    After installing and removing it many times, I've found the best way is to slide the jack under the truck from the front, and keep it dead center, then get it close to the center of gravity, apply light pressure, remove bolts, then lower it very slowly. If it's off center, you just need to slide it forward or backwards on the jack, which is easy to do if your jack doesn't have a rubber pad. Once centered, I lower it, and roll the jack straight out from under the truck, perform my maintenance, then roll it right back into place. After you do it a few times you'll get close enough that you don't need to adjust it on the jack.

    These pictures are from when I was test fitting, so the jack is backwards, I was still trying to find my rhythm.20210804_143511.jpg 20210803_133058.jpg 20210804_143550.jpg
     
    JRS[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  24. May 18, 2022 at 8:24 PM
    #24
    JRS

    JRS [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #73919
    Messages:
    293
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCLB
    Same mentality I had but I only bought a half sheet. To save on a few rounds of measurements I progressed through templates using cardstock, particle board, and 24ga.

    Going to have to make some blocks to drive onto so that I can avoid using stands up front. That approach will definitely be easier.
     
    Sumo91 likes this.
  25. May 18, 2022 at 8:35 PM
    #25
    COTundie

    COTundie Whoa Black Betty

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2021
    Member:
    #64339
    Messages:
    961
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    Black 5.7 DC TRD 4x4
    Pretty things
    Much appreciated!

    Thought they were threaded, but thru-holes will make things easier for gathering parts.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top