P500 SKID PLATE DIY SOLRUS VERSION :)

[solrus]

Ok folks , after recent unpleasant story with $$$ offroad and due to reinforcing their MAP policy my steal deal order was cancelled , I decided to 'fight by creating my own skid plate" with pricing monopoly philosophy and write guide for average guys not ever holding circular saw and having any experience with UHMW plastic to whom I belong myself.

Also working on installing summit heater under hood space made me a bit going "nuts" , so I switched gear to work on the skid plate.

I'm a bit half way to finish working on it, but just could not wait to share the middle section , that made me feel proud of myself .

 

[ncred02]

awesome job!
wish I had a shop to work in, I would DIY tons of stuff

 

[solrus]

awesome job!
wish I had a shop to work in, I would DIY tons of stuff

No worries, no shop needed. Once "one door has closed for me" ( I could not buy the plate and decided to make my own), a friend of mine offered his shop at the farm, I'm a city guy with small garage space, BUT you need shop with car lift only to simplify and get easy access to develop template. For the rest any place is fine. And the fun part, no special industry machine needed. simple hand circular saw and two forstner bits. Will take pics and everything very soon.

Once I finalize my skid plate and have dimensions, it will belong to all you guys, I will post them and may be if some one have hard time , I will make paper template that will be willing to mail. So no worries, I need just now some time , working this weekend 7am to 7 pm, so have to postpone till next weekend.

 

[newb]

No worries, no shop needed. Once "one door has closed for me" ( I could not buy the plate and decided to make my own), a friend of mine offered his shop at the farm, I'm a city guy with small garage space, BUT you need shop with car lift only to simplify and get easy access to develop template. For the rest any place is fine. And the fun part, no special industry machine needed. simple hand circular saw and two forstner bits. Will take pics and everything very soon.

Once I finalize my skid plate and have dimensions, it will belong to all you guys, I will post them and may be if some one have hard time , I will make paper template that will be willing to mail. So no worries, I need just now some time , working this weekend 7am to 7 pm, so have to postpone till next weekend.

Re: template - I'm all in ! Great idea !!

 

[solrus]

forgot one more pic, more to come next weekend. this might give a good idea for making reference points and symmetry marks.

 

[Hondasxs]

Great job @solrus.
Looks like a production job. Nice lines and well sunk washers. Will do great protecting the underside.

 

[solrus]

Great job @solrus.
Looks like a production job. Nice lines and well sunk washers. Will do great protecting the underside.

Thank you sir !

 

[JACKAL]

@solrus Looking good work! A lot of ciphering, measuring, and expanded vocabulary went into that I am sure.

 

[solrus]

Getting close , had two production quality inspectors visited me .

Not sure if I should drill and tap and use counter sink washers or just use U shaped bolts dont bother . Any advice?

View attachment IMG_20151102_200714_904.jpg View attachment IMG_20151102_200714_904.jpg

 

[bobbyhill]

It seems like this my be a good time for a cat joke! but I'll bite my tongue on this one.

 

[solrus]

Added four holes at the front fender to drain all dirt, since looks like I covered more area at the front that might create dirt retention. Going for real life test ride tomorrow. Will test skid and machine.

 

[bobbyhill]

Video Please !!???!! It is cheep Entertainment! I don't have cable, You boys are all I got!! lol

 

[solrus]

Video Please !!???!! It is cheep Entertainment! I don't have cable, You boys are all I got!! lol

I will try , not good video editor, I need CptOvo help . Hope we are lucky enough to get elk or two

 

[sajnaj]

where did u order ur materials from

 

[solrus]

Video Please !!???!! It is cheep Entertainment! I don't have cable, You boys are all I got!! lol

I'm back from elk hunt, missed elk , bummer, but got mule buck next day. Almost cried when missed elk.

Did some pics and some video, tried to pull old tree and almost dig a trench with BH 2.0 . Elk dragging test did not happen , but only mule buck got into my curt made rear cargo. Was fun time with my dad. . Tired, will report this week.

 

[solrus]

where did u order ur materials from

Redwood Plastics Corp.
Spokane, WA 99206 Locations
Contact Company: 800-222-7772

read this post also: P1000m5 - Buy OEM Aluminum Skid Plates or wait for UHMW? | The Honda Side by Side Club!

I just could not find time now to write a DIY guide. Just got back from field test and so far love my plate design , I think need to do few more drain holes.

 

[Hondasxs]

Washing my 700. Yes. It needs drain holes just inside the frame rails or you will be pushing mud back and forth forever. I added a bunch to my rig.

 

[solrus]

Washing my 700. Yes. It needs drain holes just inside the frame rails or you will be pushing mud back and forth forever. I added a bunch to my rig.

Ok, I'm back from my elk deer hunt and first test ride with new skid plate. Just pulled if off and these are pockets where all dirt collects after thorough wash with my original plate design, so after looking where all dirt /blood collect < i drilled several more holes. See next post.

Missed my elk at 324 yards. This is only time I cried , next day got 4x4 mule deer, behind ear vertebra shot, so blood was dripping all over while getting it to the base location and then on trailer going home, sorry for the bloody mess on the pics.

 

[solrus]

This is Version # 2, will do more testing and will have another feed back if more holes needed, but I mostly drilled along frame on both sides (1" diameter) and extra big ones 1 3/4" behind front and in front of rear tires.

 

[solrus]

Here is pdf doc with dimensions (looks like 11 mb could not be uploaded to forum, pm me with email will send you), tools for drilling holes and making recessed holes. To cut I used only hand circular saw 7" blade, please use saw guide, any straight line stick with two clamps on both sides to help you to make straight cut all the way. Dremel was just to polish some edges.

Very important point , start with dividing the sheet into 2 simmetric parts, by drawing straight line, then everything else will be super easy, and use OEM plate to help you to guide to where to put recessed holes. Recessed washers I bought on ebay. I tapped only few extra holes on the center frame, but on the side I used U shaped bolts.

One tip bid when you drip UHMW plastic with regular drill bits, please do it gradually increasing diameter, it will be faster this way and safer, if you use 1" bit from the start it will bite plastic, so I used 2 smaller diameter bits as shown on the pic.

Forgot to add that total height of main middle plate is 129 cm.