I know there was another thread but I thought I should start a new one since that one was getting kinda long and getting a little off topic.

Anyway I know someone wanted to know what I used to make this and how I did so I will try my best to explain it.

Materials
Some kind of stock I used angle iron but round or square would work good as well.
A sheet of diamond plated aluminum. (thickness is up to you)
Some bolts a couple different sizes.

Tools needed
Drill and Bits
Welder
Grinder
Something to cut aluminum (jig saw with a metal blade)

I started out by measuring by eye how wide I wanted the bottom side to be about 16.5 inches. Then the top which was somewhere around 24 inches. For the top piece of steel I cut the notches. Then I held both pieces in place and measured how long the side pieces should be. Then I bolted all four pieces together so I could get the angles correct on the side pieces. From there I cut the aluminum to fit as you see it in the pictures then bolted it to the steel. I then tack welded the back or bottom piece to the sides while it was still attached to the aluminum so it would hold the angles in place. Don't burn through the aluminum, with a tack weld the aluminum shouldn't even get hot. Take off the aluminum then weld the back to both sides so you have a piece that looks like this. \_/ Now you have to make a piece that will mirror the piece but for the tow hooks. and weld this to what you have already to close in the top part. To connect what I had at this point to the piece notched for the tow hooks I cut two 4 inch pieces and welded them in to place. To bolt it to the back/bottom I welded on four inch tabs that were drilled and bolted to the frame. To attach the front I drilled the steel and frame on the outside you can see these bolts in some of the pictures.

I am sorry that I dont have any pics of the process or any pics of the skidplate not attached to the truck but it is a pain to get on and off and when I was making it i was a 100miles from my camera. I may get a picture of it in the future if it has to come off. It is just a major pain to get it on and off.

I am not completely finished I am going to cut a piece of aluminum for the front that should come above the tow hooks and behind the liscense plate.

Now for the pics.

 

sweet looking

 

cool, looks nice and sturdy...

 

looks good

 

Looks good from what I can see. Do you have any full front shots?

 

Looks good

 

Looks pretty good, it'll be interesting to see what the trails do to it.

 

Hey, great! You'll feel better with that under the truck for sure!

 

Sweet, nice job man!

Brenton

 

I can take one and post it although there really isn't much to see. I still need another piece of aluminum to finish it off completely but now my radiator and lines are protected.

I will try to get a pic up tomorrow night hopefully.

 

Pic of the skidplate from head on. Compliments of Rangerless.

 

looks god, get some more pics maybe :)

 

I don't know if it is GOD. JK.

I don't know where else to take a pic of it from you tell me and I will get a pic when it is nice outside.

 

It looks like it needs something on the front where the bumper was cut. Do you have plans for that?

 

Yes I plan to put another piece of diamond plate in there. I just haven't had the time yet. I wanted to get the thing on the truck before I went wheeling on saturday. This way my radiator and stuff was protected. So I didn't get time to finish it. that will be coming soon.

I just don't know if I should extend it just to the bottom of the tow hooks or extend it to above the tow hooks and cut holes for the tow hooks to stick out of.

 

cut back the radiator lines and move the skid plate up some so it doesnt kill so much of your approach angle.....

 

looks sweet, but as others have said, getting it finished is well needed. i see it as a big water scoop right now.

 

looks great.. tested it thouroughly??

 

I just posted in the "exterior mods" about a skid plate for my '03 FX4. then I look down and see this post. Weird!

Looks good man, very nice!

 

Pretty much is exactly what it is right now. The back side lets the water out however. Which was kind of a design flaw but worked out in the end

The approach angle isn't really that bad and my truck is mostly for mud and doesn't see any hills or rocks.

 

Finally finished with a pic. I put the front piece on last week but didn't have the chance to take the pic till today so now it is time for my next project.

 

now if u can just pop out like 200-500 of those for less than what ford sells them for ull be made in the shade.

 

that loooks mean

 

Well for me it was free but I don't think I could make them affordable enough to make it worth my while.

 

ya reality does have its way of keeping us dreamers inline