4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
Ok so I got my Bud Built front skid (will add the rest as money allows, also Bud gives the 3 piece discount even if you don't buy them all at the same time, thanks Bud). I thought I'd post pics with a tape measure across before I mounted them in case someone want to know the dimensions. Also I double primed them and double coated them with color code 5A3 (Sun Fusion). Cost was about $100 for primer and paint but it's the good stuff. Primer was a 4 to 1 ratio of primer and hardener. Paint was 8 to 6 to 1 (paint, reducer and clear coat). Was a windy day and I'm impatient so it wasn't as good a paint job as I'd have liked but the wife is happy so I'm happy. Currently my fingers are also Sun Fusion colored. BTW Bud, I see others with Bud Built logos on their skids, do you have those available?
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Follow the yellow brick.
Sun Fusion AT, bunch of factory options, protective door sills, multivex mirrors, reflective tape, BudBuilt front skid, Bandi mount, Midland CB, 4' Firestick
Location: Somewhere where I don't know where I am. Actually, the OC
Posts: 3,490
Re: Complete skid plates comparison
Quote:
kb3gun previously said:
Just the aluminum OEM one and it surrendered to the first rock it met. (Must have been French aluminum ) ASFIR is probably better, but I can't see aluminum holding up to any kind of hard abuse. I would thing a rock would dig into the aluminum instead of sliding along it like it would with steel.
No facts.. just opinions.
that was one of the greatest things i have read on this forum!!
__________________ 2007 Sun Fusion Cruiser 5AT 4X4
It's mainly stock with some bolt ons
I really, really like stickers
The So-Cal Safari Snorkel Install Guy7chicken necks installed to date
"The mountains are calling and I must go" - John Muir
I want to install a full set of skid plates on my Fj. However, I was wondering why some of them have a grill or opened space on the front plate. Is it for air circulation? And why others don't have them?
I personally think that if they're not necessary, don't have them. My experience has been that when mudding, mud gets in and makes a piled mess in there. Can't imagine having to take the plates out to wash'm everytime, if not have a nice "mortar" set.
Think that the ones with holes are to allow some drainage and minimize the soaking mud bath. As to if they actually work, don't know yet, just got my MAF Front Skid and will install this weekend.
I talked to All Pro and said that the vents are not necessary. Budbulit says it's for -quoted: "Front cooling slots and flow deflector engineered for maximum airflow and maximum protection. Fits around stock cooler mounts and factory crossmember braces"
I was cruising through the Toyota Canada page on the 08 and I noticed that Toyota change out the bling skid. It looks much better now, it looks to be protecting the lower part of the radiator and the A/C line much better.
Time to update the first post.
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Rig
Black Diamond M/T,Custom XM Inno mount ,Bandi antenna mount/ Yaesu FT-7800r, 4 Piece Budbuilt Skids(still need the gas tank skid), OME 886/895, All-Pro upper and lower links, Procomp 7089, Procomp Extreme M/T's, Project Overkill rails,
I was cruising through the Toyota Canada page on the 08 and I noticed that Toyota change out the bling skid. It looks much better now, it looks to be protecting the lower part of the radiator and the A/C line much better.
Time to update the first post.
Thanks for the link. I'll update the first post when I find out more about pricing.
) ASFIR is probably better, but I can't see aluminum holding up to any kind of hard abuse. I would thing a rock would dig into the aluminum instead of sliding along it like it would with steel. 
7 chicken necks installed to date
Linear Mode
