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Pros and Cons of MAF/Bud Built Skid plates?

26K views 67 replies 35 participants last post by  drummer22  
#1 ·
Hello All,

I'm working on my spreadsheet of what parts are going on the FJ.

I can't decide on what skid plate set to go with, the Man-a-fre or Bud Built.

I have viewed the thread for comparisons of skid plates. However, that only showed a picture comparison with no mention to what the pros or cons are. Which is understandable as vendors don't necessarily want their product badmouthed when they are trying to make a sell.

That being said I would like to hear your guys input on the pros and cons of each skid plate set.

Thanks,

Colin
 
#4 ·
nothing to get hung up on
I was curious about if all the holes in the MAF plate catch objects, Seems like they might snag something every once and a while. However, it also makes it easier to clear debris/mud from. With the Buds do you guys have problems of getting objects like gravel, mud etc etc trapped?


Thanks for the input so far.
 
#9 ·
Didn't Homedad say that there are no MAF skids available now? If that's the case, you may not have a choice. Best to call MAF and see if their skids are an option. I do like the MAF stuff too.
 
#11 ·
I run BudBuilt skids, but have no problem with the MAF product. Both are well made and it comes down to personal taste.

BudBuilt or MAF -- you win either way.

Bud's service, his attention to detail, he's THE guy who builds them (not sent out to an outside fabricator), all sway me in Bud's direction.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I honestly feel like my vehicle is a tank in the good sense. I call it my up armor because it reminds me of the plating on a HMMWV (the thinnest areas of course... that sheet gets thick!).

I've only gotten a little mud, dirt, debris, whatever stuck in the skids. That was easy to wash away with a hose.

I'm perfectly satisfied with my purchase up to this point. Like others have noted... Most skids are better than none and people will usually back their own purchases. Not many owners have had multiple skid setups or been super unsatisfied with either of these setups. Why am I going on when you already know this :)?

EDIT: Like this particular shot. Shows some of the coverage...

Image
 
#13 ·
Call Budbuilt and I bet he (Bud) answers the phone....

It all depends on the terrain you run in. Buds are the strongest but you may not need that much protection.
 
#15 ·
If not Bud answering it is his daughter on the phone. Bud has one of the best customer service reps in the business, he is also a great guy. Obviously I run Buds. No complaints from me, they do exactly what they are designed to do.
 
#16 ·
i've only had my Bud's for a short while now and have not dragged them on any rocks yet. i also debated between MAFs and Buds when i was looking. Just based on observations, this is what i saw as pros and cons between the two:

MAF:
pros - more holes to allow washout of sediment and debris, stronger looking crossmember, powdercoating included
cons - less frontal coverage, no gas coverage

Buds:
pros - more frontal coverage, gas skid option
cons - nuts and bolts for gas skid are exposed

NCFJ put together a groupbuy for the Buds, so it all came down to cost for me. I got bare metal skids and went to lowes and made multiple purchases of Krylon with "$10 off $25 purchase" coupons!
 
#17 ·
They'll both give you good protection. I ran my MAF through the Rubicon with no problems.

Given they're both heavy, go with the best one for shipping rates.
 
#20 · (Edited)
I run the MAF's, my brother runs Bud's on his 4runner. Zero difference in strength, slight differences in coverage but comes out in the wash as others have said. The MAF's are built as a collaboration between MAF in Simi Valley and 4+ in Arizona (hence why they're called MAF/4+ on their website - they're not some blind subcontract). Both MAF/4+ and Bud's appear to be based on alot of real-world wheeling experience and a lot of thinking went into both. The holes on the MAF/4+ will not snag on rocks, trees, etc. - on the other hand, as to whether they offer much advantage is also a question (alot of mudders run Bud's with zero problems). MAF/4+ also now has a link plate for the ARB front bumper.

This is the classic toss-a-coin, can't go wrong purchase. Both great companies, great people. Nothing in it.

MAF/4+ photos:
Image

Image

Image


No skid is indestructible, though. I hit whoops at 50mph. Hence the "whoops":
Image
 
#21 ·
I already ordered and had the filler plate (man-a-fre) for my ARB bumper installed.

Do either of these require any modification or do they just bolt right up? The comparison for the man-a-fre states "Some mods may be required to fit cross member onto frame." Is that true?
 
#23 ·
I struggled with the decision of Bud vs. Man-a-Fre as well. I went with Man-A-Fre, even tho as an East Coaster, Buds would have been cheaper.

My thoughts on the Man-A-Fre:

Likes:
1. The Man-A-Fre plates overlap at the crossmember mounting points.
2. Holes so that the prevalent east coast mud can be hosed out.
3. I think the Man-A-Fres might be slightly lighter, but the difference is meaningless considering the overall weight.
4. Powder coating was flawless, and thick (at least until first trip off road).
5. Perceived better heat dissipation, example: holes below crossover pipe.

Dislikes:
1. The front skid only connects at the front of the frame and at the crossmember at the rear of the LCAs. It could have incorporated a connection at the LCA front crossmember, but did not.
2. I would have preferred to rattle can bare skids. Powder coat is a royal PITA once compromised.
3. I would have preferred not to have removed the curved supports from the frame to the crossmember, although I am sure the strength of the skid more than makes up for the removed parts.
4. Man-A-Fre provides 2 "pipe" spacers that go between the front skid and the LCA rear crossmember. I don't like this design for two reasons: (1) the edge of the spacer could be pushed up into the crossmember due to the small surface area (2) the spacers were about 1/4 taller than they needed to be so any load on the skid would have been supported only by the pipe spacers (you wouldn't want jack up your truck with somthing that would bite into the bottom of your frame would you?) I replaced the spacers on both sides with a stack of large washers. This let me pull the skid up a little tighter, and provided a larger bearing surface against the bottom of the frame.

Shawn
 
#25 ·
I would be remiss if I didn't post on this topic.

I've heard fantastic things about MAF products, to include their skids.

I was actually about to call MAF for a set of their skids when Bud, having seen a post of mine comparing the two, actually wrote a PM to me. He also said that MAF skids are a great product, but took the time to explain the differences from his point of view. I called the number he provided, and talked with him for nearly an hour. By the end of the call, I was the owner of a full set of skids, front to back. Additionally, I'll be one of the ones to test his differential skid once it comes out. Beyond that, I'm having him build a special part for my ARB front bumper. I believe he's going to market it to the rest of the FJ owners with ARB front bumpers and I can guarantee you'll love it.

According to Bud, YinYang is the only FJ out there with the combination of BudBuilt skids I have on it. I talked with Bud about the fact that I'd put a URD Y pipe on the vehicle, replacing the low slung stock y pipe, and gaining nearly 2.5" of clearance in the process. Bud built a very custom set of skids for me, bring the last piece on the plane with him to the summit. He actually crawled under the FJ with me, in the rain, less than an hour after he arrived in Ouray, and helped me put it together. Helped is a rather flexible term in this case, as I pretty much couldn't keep up with him handing him tools.

Bud is a master craftsman who takes PERSONAL pride in his work. I'm very proud to call bud a friend and whenever I talk armor, my first call is to Bud to get his opinion.

To address the one thing repeatedly mentioned here about BudBuilt skids, Bud is working with a supplier to get beveled, countersunk bolt head protectors that will fend off rocks and the like from damaging bolt heads. As of the summit, he'd been too busy preparing for the summit to attend to that detail. But, he is working on it. It was one of my questions.

Again, both MAF and BudBuilt are excellent products. Personal choice will dictate. I understand mir207 has had similarly excellent customer service from MAF. I just wanted to share my experiences.

Oh yeah, I've beat my skids like a rented mule running through a minefield wearing snowshoes, dribbling a basketball. Other than some rather ugly front-to-back scratches, the BudBuilts are perfect.
 
#27 ·
Both the Buds and MAF will offer the same massive amount of protection, there is no argument about which is better in that regard. They are both awesome.

BUT! Give these two choices I prefer the MAF because of the greater clearance. They both hang down a lot... but the MAF seem to a little less.

I always liked this picture of the Buds... the design is a comedy of lost clearance.

Image


You didn't list All Pro as a choice so I won't get into it, but their skids have by far the greatest amount of clearance with the same massive amount of protection.
 
#28 ·
:thinkerg:

Thanks, Tibaal. You just made me start the thinking process all over. :thinkerg:

I have always wondered about the clearance issue. Having a stock rig, I need all the clearance I can retain. And you brought up All Pro, the people I started another thread about. I wish all of the sites (Bud, A P and MAF had pictures like yours. Sounds like you have All Pro, can you get a "same shot" picture of the All Pro?

Now my list goes back to the "big" three, Buds, MAF and All Pro. Again, a serious thanks for your input.
 
#61 · (Edited)
Let me 2nd Tibaals comments.

No doubt these two vendors provide maximum protection, but it comes so at two steep costs....clearance being the biggie and weight. Last year in Moab I ran with a couple of folks who just had buds installed and by the end of the outing they were *****ing and moaning because they were rubbing on just about everything.

That pic of how low the bud plate hangs below the transfer case makes me cringe. You need a 3 inch lift kit just to get your clearance almost back to stock height.

As such I went with the All-Pro solution as the weight is considerably less, the clearance was far superior as they sit high and tight, and still very beefy to provide great protection for what needs protecting.

Here are a couple pics of their IFS, Tranny, and Transfer Case skid solution:

Image


Image
 
#31 ·
bud-3/16 steel, man 3/16 steel. bud-4-pice $650, man- complete set $699 (on sale $650). bud-powder coating extra, man did not list on web site that i could find at one time was only bare metal. bud-5-pice (gas tank skid) $800 has heavy gas tank skid option, man-n/a. bud-arb skid $130 bare metal, man-arb skid $140 black or silver. I am looking to add skids to my truck. MAN was first choice then asked about Bud. Trail Team used Bud liked what they had, have seen on Trail Team truck after 8 events skids banged up. Have seen Man on a truck after a few trips banged up. Both do the job protect the under side. I will most likely go with BUD has gas tank skid and shipping will be cheaper to TN form NC. For me bolt protector rings or not is not that big a deal, holes in skid to hang not that big a deal. I don't think you can go wrong with ether one. They both support the sport so support them and thank them for that support.
 
#32 ·
URG, You people are making this decision hard for me as well....


I want the Buds because of the extreme amounts of protection, but I can justify losing all that ground clearance.... And I like the Man-A-Fre's but I cant justify not having enough skid up front. :worried: I dont know what to do....
I have already gone through a set of All-Pros and a Demello skid..
 
#34 ·
Umm, destroying them so bad that they wont come off without a BFH and will definitely not go back on. I crushed my All-Pros into the diff and flattened them out. Plus, they didnt fit well with my sway bar drop down brackets; my sway bar was rubbing everywhere on the skid even with spacers on the front of the skid. The Demello took a few really good hits to the front and are bent really bad. It started rubbing the sway bar.

I drive the truck hard, but only when I know I have the protection to save it. I currently am naked underneath. I dont even have a stock skid to put on, as I have given mine away...
 
#36 ·
Well, this is getting interesting. Can one buy the front Bud skid and then add either MAF or All Pro for the rest of the way to the gas tank. That way I would get the clearance.
 
#39 ·
I wish. From what I understand all the separate skids bolt up in their respective places making them incapable of mixing/matching. The only skid that can do that is the Bud gas skid *I think*

The All-Pro front skid was nice, but the trans skid was up too high in my opinion. It actually was about 1/4"-1/2" from my trans pan and that worried me. If I hit it hard enough it could start to hit the pan and thats not good. It was also up so high that if you actually used it you are more than likely going to get stuck. It bolts up way above the cross member.

The reason there are all the clearance issues is because of the stupid exhaust crossover pipe. It kills stock ground clearance and kills the clearance you get after you put full skids on.

I think if Bud could make me a custom set of skids that tuck up super tight then he can have my money. I will be re-routing my y-pipe behind the t-case to help.
 
#41 ·
Yea, it is tight in the front... I can imagine having some issues if you moved the sway around.

The BEST option, of course, is to do what BellyDoc did... re-route the exhaust, and get a transfer case that doesn't hang down as much, then completely cut off all the crossmembers. He's got NOTHING below the frame... it's sick.
 
#43 ·
A bunch of us just did a mini Nor-cal group buy and got the buds. He worked with us to give a deal and had them all shipped to one location to save on shipping.. SO far having just installed them I love 'em. The clearance is something I noticed that I was loosing. But I just figure that is the way it is. Its hard to gain something with out loosing something else.

If i had a shop and al the right tools I may be able to do something else..:bigthumb:

I was looking at the MAF's but we simply decided to go with Buds..

Great guy and great customer service..

My 02 cents:wave: