Talking skid plates, what is the difference between UMHW and ARMW material, if any? And is there really that much protection gain between 1/2" and 3/8" for the average weekend rider? Maybe Super ATV can chime in on this one? Talk me into their skid plate over Tusk's.
Skid Plate Material
1 reading
Jrohm253
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
Joined
·
409 Posts
Sweet
Joined
·
239 Posts
3/8 is probably plenty for west coast, desert, Moab, dune, etc. I’d like to invite those guys that say “that’s all you need”, to ride with us here in KY, TN, WV and then give their opinion. Point is, it all depends on riding terrain/location and riding style. We destroy 3/8” uhmw skids here all the time. The properly installed 1/2” skids are holding up well.
From the youtubes I watch you guys destroy a lot more than 3/8' uhmw skids pretty regularly.
Joined
·
239 Posts
Yes Snoking, it happens often out here. We (at least myself and some others in our group) are very handy, and carry enough tools and spare parts to be self-sufficient. Throttle control is the key to a high percentage of breakage, as I’m usually fixing other machines and lending my parts out to fix someone else rather than myself….
Joined
·
3,981 Posts
I guess if you're strictly sand only, you could get away with zero skids. but anything in rocks, 3/8 may do you fine, or as others have stated, I've hammed hard on my 1/2" trail armor.
3500+ miles and no skids. I have yet to install anything other than the Full Access Transmission plate. It must depend on how high you are and how you ride. I'm 17 inches in the front, 16.5 in the rear, on 35's. East Coast North Carolina and some WV.
Joined
·
469 Posts
Went with 1/2""
1 machine with Trail Armor (no tree kickers)
1 machine with Super ATV (tree kickers)
Kinda think the TA 'up the side' protection offers a bit more...
Wipe down the undercarriage with acetone & give it a few coats of your favorite color Rustoleum rattle can.
Fasteners are either machine screws going into threaded holes or self drillers.
I pilot holed each where the self drillers went in and once the drill end of the fastener went in part way I backed it out & vacuumed the chips. Saved having rusty water dripping after a washdown. Also I loaded each fastener with antiseize with an acid brush, hopefully delay the wasting of the threads in the frame tubing.
1 machine with Trail Armor (no tree kickers)
1 machine with Super ATV (tree kickers)
Kinda think the TA 'up the side' protection offers a bit more...
Wipe down the undercarriage with acetone & give it a few coats of your favorite color Rustoleum rattle can.
Fasteners are either machine screws going into threaded holes or self drillers.
I pilot holed each where the self drillers went in and once the drill end of the fastener went in part way I backed it out & vacuumed the chips. Saved having rusty water dripping after a washdown. Also I loaded each fastener with antiseize with an acid brush, hopefully delay the wasting of the threads in the frame tubing.
Quite the conversation on skids. I have both 3/8" and 1/2" currently in use. I prefer the 1/2". Weight is low and the protection is better with the 1/2", so I opt for 1/2" for my rigs. TA, FUTV, Ricochet, SSS, and SATV. I have installed and used them. I like TA or FUTV. FUTV and Ricochet have the best grade of UHMW if that matters to you. FUTV and TA are best quality skids that I have used and either will do an outstanding job. SATV is the best bang for the $$$. Ricochet fits the best. You guys decide what works best for you.
3/8' FUTV on this rig with rock sliders.
1/2" Ricochet modified by me on this rig. See the side rockers. This rig started out at 84" and grew to 114".
3/8' FUTV on this rig with rock sliders.
1/2" Ricochet modified by me on this rig. See the side rockers. This rig started out at 84" and grew to 114".
Joined
·
409 Posts
I agree the 1/2" inch is the best. I have trail armor on both my Pioneers and my KRX but I agree that superatv is the best bang for the buck. If the superatv would have been available back then, I would have probably went that route because I'm a cheap ass. When I installed my transmission plate, my stock metal skid was already bent even though I had the 1/2" skids installed from day 1. I assume it would've been worse with a thinner aftermarket skid or no skid installed.
I ran the 3/8" FUTV on my General. Good stuff but they didn't have anything for the KRX when I got mine so I went with Tusk. The Tusk is holding up just as well as the FUTV did so I'm 100% satisfied with it.
For certain the gigantic underside mass and vulnerability of a Pioneer 1000 needs all the skid protection possible. With 1/2” UHMW on my P1000‘s, a glide-over is always expected and without damage. For my western states des & mountain kind of driving, I say once again, my 3/8” Tusk covering all in-place KRX 2 seater underskin is ample protection. Even Craig has previously told me 3/8 is enough. But then I don’t typically drive it like I stole it. 😃
Joined
·
172 Posts
For a follow up, we ended up going with the Tusk. After everyone input and first hand knowledge, we feel it will be more than enough with what we see ourselves riding. 90% of what we do will be hard packed trails, gravel, ruts and high pointed mounds. We wanted the trail armor, but couldn’t come to justify the price compared to our riding style. We went with Tusk over SuperATV solely based on past experience with install, figment and customer service.
Joined
·
3,981 Posts
Paralysis by Analysis.........just run it.
You'll be happy with your choice. It's a great product and saved you some $$$.
Joined
·
47 Posts
Anyone have a link to the Tusk skids? I cannot find it on their site. Wanting to compare to SuperATV.
Joined
·
2,500 Posts
Tusk Quiet-Glide Skid Plate | Parts & Accessories | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC
Shop for Body, like Tusk Quiet-Glide Skid Plate at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. We have the best prices on dirt bike, atv and motorcycle parts, apparel and accessories and offer excellent customer service.
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
