Whole set of Armadillo skids on ebay for 239 delivered.

 

PRM holds up better than Armidillo. I've had both.

 

how do they hold up better there both made out of aluminum

 

It has to do with the geometry. On the PRM, the lips that protect the sprocket and the disk are formed by bending. Bending strain hardens the aluminum which makes it stronger, and it provides a higher section modulus (stiffness) because it has a bend radius.

The armindillo has lips welded on at a right angle. There is minimal section modulus. It can only take a couple major rock hits and it's rubbing on the chain or disk.

 

The armadillo ones are made from 1/4" aluminum angle stock, and the weld is just where the angle is notched and bent then welded back together. The lips are formed aluminum other than that spot. Either way you really gotta smack one of those to get it to bend, I been running them for several years. No experience with the PRM's personally though.

 

Also, Armadillo advertises using 6061-T651 aluminum (Aircraft aluminim). That material is heat treated for strength. They put a weld right at the highest stress area of the skid plate which negates the heat treatment. If they quench it after the weld, the material will get brittle and break off at impact. If they let it slow cool, it will be bendy and weak and end up wrapped around the sprocket. They would have re-heat treat the complete weldment to regain the T651 properties. If they did that, it wouldn't cost $80.

In Arizona, the skid plate is very important. This is one rocky place to ride. My armadillo lasted about 3 day trips. I have had my PRM for over a year.

You pay a good $20 to $30 more for the PRM. Around here it's worth it. In other riding conditions, it may not be worth it.

 

I really appreciate all of the input. I found a set of gytr a-arms and an engine/frame for $154 delivered and I went with a 1/4" PRM for the swingarm. We'll see how they hold up!

 

Enjoyed reading your posts, Masterraptor. I have sold hundreds of swingarm skids made by Armadillo and the only failure I have had customer contact on were mounting bolts shearing off (YFZ). We sell them all over the US and other countries, including the southwest in all the rocky terrain.

 

here is a pic of my armadillo skid

http://forums.atvconnection.com/i/Ga...7/DSC00246.JPG

 

It looks brand new! Don't you ride that thing?