I'm looking for some tips on building my own skid plates. Specifically I'd like to get an idea of who used what for mounting hardware and how well it worked. I'm going to try out using plastic for the skids (UHMW - Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), yes, plastic believe it or not. Or a combination of Aluminum and plastic. Either way the mounting should work out the same. thanks

 

Sals,

I am making my own skids out of Aluminum. I am going to use 1/4-20 knurled Carriage bolts to mount them, I am just going to use nuts and washers on the top.

http://www.mcmaster.com/ then do a search for part # 98060A170.

 

U bolts work with the ATVs frame,the material is up to you,steel,Aluminum or plastic . Just remember to have holes for any drain plugs or grease fitting so you never have to take them off again.

 

TLC, the problem with U-Bolts is the threaded part of the bolt point downward! Doh! Hello Mr Rock, I am Mr. Thread please don't hurt me.. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

That is why I am using carriage bolts. Hello Mr Rock, I am Mr Carriage bolt head, I am crowned and rounded so you can't hurt me too bad.. haha[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] sorry in a goofy mood.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: CraZySteve

TLC, the problem with U-Bolts is the threaded part of the bolt point downward! Doh! Hello Mr Rock, I am Mr. Thread please don't hurt me.. [img][/img]



That is why I am using carriage bolts. Hello Mr Rock, I am Mr Carriage bolt head, I am crowned and rounded so you can't hurt me too bad.. haha[img][/img] sorry in a goofy mood.</end quote></div>


Put the u bolts treads upwards, if it can be done with carriage bolts. No holes to dill in frame also with them.[img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]

 

I've made some tough plastic skid plates and used mechanics wire doubled up , I cut a small groove where the wire sat , But always thought a carriage bolt with a backing plate on top of the frame would work better ,it never did get ripped off and I would ride over logs and rocks and thru mud ,sure had some good gouges in it .

 

a cheap place to get tough plastic is 55gal plastic barrels ,it takes some work ,because you have to cut it out and heat it up enough to take the bend out of it ,

 

I found some more hardware options -

Torx Floorboard screw - this one would work good if I can recess the hole somehow.
http://store.nutsandbolts.com/toflsc.html


Carriage bolts
http://store.nutsandbolts.com/cabogr5pl.html


Stainless Steel Metric socket button head (allen head)
http://www.boltdepot.com/dimen...spx?cc=25&cs=82&cm=19



I hear that some aluminum skid manufacturers use these for attaching to the frame.
Clamps - http://store.nutsandbolts.com/...auto-body-auveco.html


I like the idea of carriage bolts but would like to be able to remove them Oct/Match for snow plow install. I'm thinking that I may go with a combination of the button head/carriage bolts and using a backing plate.

Hmm . . . I also have two 55gal plastic drums not being used in my yard.

lots of good ideas, thanks for the input.

 

Sals,

Cool. the problem with those Torx screws and the Button heads is they are sceptable to getting the heads beat down with a rock... therefore you cannot get a tool into them if and when you need to remove them. Which is why I chose the Carriage bolts with the knurled portion as I previously mentioned.

-Steve

 

if you go the 55 Gal drum route ,you do have to heat it up then hold it till it cools slightly,
I made mine with wrap around edges