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DIY Rear Diff skid plate??

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by kevine0001, Jan 12, 2022.

  1. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:08 PM
    #1
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 [OP] New Member

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    Any one run a rear diff skid plate? I don't do any hardcore offroading, just hunting, camping and fishing, but still like the idea of extra protection.

    Victory wants $350 and it likely won't be made for a couple months so I'm going to make my own, mocked up with cardboard. Wondering if anyone else has made their own. It doesn't seem that hard, although I don't have a press brake. I think that front clamp on the drive shaft will be the trickiest part but once that's done, easy peasy. Thoughts?
     
  2. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:13 PM
    #2
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    I dont mind paying for the RCI one, I heard bad things about the victory one how it falls apart or doesnt install correctly.

    What I really want is something that will protect the driveshaft as well. I have not seen one for the tundra but I have seen it for other vehicles where there is a lip or a a spout of sorts that covers the driveshaft connection to the diff.
     
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  3. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:16 PM
    #3
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 [OP] New Member

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    So it extends forward a little with a protective plate?
     
  4. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:18 PM
    #4
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Yes, it doesnt cover the whole shaft, but it comes out maybe and extra 6 inches so it covers the knuckle and last U joint where it connects to the flange on the diff.
     
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  5. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:36 PM
    #5
    Cruzer

    Cruzer Wheeling Full Size

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    Got me curious so I took a picture of my truck.
    So are you saying something that sticks out like this to protect the U-joint? I figure that would require a lot of bracing cuz the weight of our truck will just bend plate right into the joint. Would be nice to have cuz I surely need it:rofl:
    upload_2022-1-12_14-33-21.jpg

    upload_2022-1-12_14-35-18.jpg
     
  6. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:44 PM
    #6
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Yes, something like this.

    https://www.justforjeeps.com/nth24220ab.html

    https://agileoffroad.com/product/van-compass-differential-skid-plate-sprinter-2015-2018/

    there could be a brace support bracket that goes up to the bottom of the frame or something so it doesnt bend.
     
  7. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:46 PM
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    Cruzer

    Cruzer Wheeling Full Size

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  8. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:47 PM
    #8
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Right? Too bad its for a sprinter van of all things on this earth.....
     
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  9. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:48 PM
    #9
    Classy63

    Classy63 Valhalla’s Shield guy

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    I agree with cruzer. You would essentially need a full cage on top of the diff aswell to support the extra exposed area. You would also need to make a full enclosure to prevent a heat from sending the skid plate into the U joint

    think about it like this, let’s say you are going 5 miles per hour and slip off a rock and drop your truck down on the U joint area and bend the skid into the U joint. You are dropping 6k pounds in motion. It will bend 1/4 steel like paper.

    A wrangler is much lighter and would stand a better chance.

    I think you would be better off with larger tires to increase ground clearance.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2022
    831Tun and Cruzer like this.
  10. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:51 PM
    #10
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    I feel like if its going to hit and bend that plate into the driveshaft, your shaft would have been screwed anyway without the plate, so may as well have it to help with something minor or light doing some potentially harmful damage that wouldnt have bent the plate.
     
  11. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:52 PM
    #11
    Cruzer

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    In all honesty though, the only time I'm mashing up the driveshaft, u-joints or 3rd member, is when I'm trying to climb something big like a waterfall/ledge. Our breakover angle sucks and that belly area is what usually gets caught and eating rock. For the most part an off the shelf diff armor will do wonders.
     
  12. Jan 12, 2022 at 2:55 PM
    #12
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    I agree, i do have the RCI one myself waiting to be installed. For the way I wheel, and extended cover plate on the knuckle would protect me without worrying about bending it since I am no where near as hardcore as you are offroading lol. I will attempt to try some way to use the rear sway bar with the RCI, just because everyone says it cant be done, but I will use the armor over the bar if its one or the other.
     
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  13. Jan 13, 2022 at 8:13 AM
    #13
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 [OP] New Member

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    That agile one looks interesting. That front edge tho, imagining that hitting a rock...how bad would it mess up the attachment points. And if you come down on that front edge of the armor, the leverage without bracing would definitely push it up hard.

    With regard to the comment by MadMax about hitting the driveshaft in most instances, and having some protection is better than nothing, I agree. However, there are probably instances where you wouldn't even hit. That front edge of the armor hangs down at least a couple inches from that point of the drive shaft, so you may have instances where you hit that plate. However, if it was not there, and just a diff cover, you may not have ever hit anything. I do like the idea though and that design is one of the better ones I've seen to protect more of the driveshaft.
     
  14. Jan 13, 2022 at 8:14 AM
    #14
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Yeah it is a double edged sword. I think i am just a fan of overkill engineering, in all honesty, for my purposes, I probably would never need that extra lip.
     
  15. Jan 13, 2022 at 8:20 AM
    #15
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    Haha, he's already on 40s. @Cruzer just needs a chase truck with spare parts and a 2 post lift following him.
     
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  16. Jan 13, 2022 at 8:21 AM
    #16
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 [OP] New Member

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    Yeah, for what I do, I would not need it. I'm gonna do a card board mock up of the front attachment point this weekend. I like the bolt on feature of the Victory one, that way if you bash it in one spot, you can just replace the armor plate versus entire thing. Leaves room for fitment adjustment too
     
  17. Jan 13, 2022 at 8:40 AM
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    Cruzer

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    :rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
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