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Can-Am Headquarters ...Aurora Wheelers ATV Forum > Tips, Toys, Tires, Ads, Misc > ATV Tech Tips > Skid plates. Aluminum or polyurethane?? |
| Moderated by: zac41, trailrider2, QUADAHOLIC, OSOKILL, MtnOuty, fmj40 |
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| Skid plates. Aluminum or polyurethane?? - ATV Tech Tips - Tips, Toys, Tires, Ads, Misc - Can-Am Headquarters ...Aurora Wheelers ATV Forum | ||||||||||||||||
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turboman Member 
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I have no experience with skid plates. PERFEX recommends 3/8" polyurethane over aluminum, because it won't bend and it's quieter. He said he will have full plates ready for the Outlander 800 in a couple of weeks, as soon as he can get a machine to measure and make templates. They will be made in both aluminum and plastic. Anyone with experience with either, what is your opinion? I can visualize aluminum plates bending and possibly interfering with an axle shaft or disc brake. Of course it can be just bent back out of the way. 3/8" thick plastic is tough stuff and I can't see it cracking and it slides nicely over stuff and there's no "clanking" and "clinking" over rocks.
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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packnrat Member
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why not made of steel???? weight should not be a problem, and it will with stand most any rock. (if built right)
____________________ just get out there, remember were ever you are, there you are. getting lost...never just taking in the view from another hill. |
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turboman Member
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packnrat wrote: why not made of steel???? RUST. and more weight than is necessary. If I had my druthers I'd use a reinforced molded carbon fiber/kevlar that had virtually no weight, is quiet, and super strong.
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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Survey Guy Member 
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I'm in the same boat I'm not sure what to get, I think the aluminum looks better, but I also heard the plastic works better sliding through snow and such and it won't bend.
____________________ Fourwheeling is not a crime! Neither is backhanding a Liberal! |
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outlandish Admin 
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Exactly!! The aluminum looks way better but the poly or lexan skids are slippery and slide accross rocks better and snow doesn't stick and build up lessening your ground clearance. Steel works fine but does add unneccesary weight. I don't think 1/4" steel plate would rust through very fast but it does not look good rusted, especially front bash plates.
____________________ Previous BRPs: 03 Rally 200, 03 Outty 400, 05 Outty 400 XT, 06 Outty 800, 07 Renegade 800 Ridden in 6 states and 2 countries Next up? 2010 BRP Side by Side |
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turboman Member
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Speaking of steel bash plates, a galvanized 8 or 10 ga. diamond plate would work fine, if you were into fabricating your own. Stainless steel would be even better. But how many guys have a welder, a bender (brake), and a drill press in their garage. Maybe at work... So much easier to just buy skid plates, they aren't that expensive. Usually around $100US to protect everything..
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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packnrat Member
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for a quad you would only need 1/8 in or even a heavy guage steel, as to rust ever hear about paint?? aluminum will need to be at least 1/4 in plastic should be even thicker like 1/2 in aluminum gouges when put to a sharp rock, it also "sticks" (not slides) i think due to the soft side of the metal, stainless will also "stick", a good tig welder can fix most problems. plastic gouges and flexes (that might help some times) a lot, it can/will crack when bashed. glue can you carry enough? steel slides easly enougth, tends to not gouge and steel can be easly fixed with a torch and hammer if you have too much fun   all will need some kind of renforcement. i do not know the weight of steel verses aluminum, but if you are a weight wenny then go with the plastic parts and have a tube of glue with you at all times. do not flame me for calling anybody a weight wenny as i am one for my bycycles. i have a full boniger that tips the scales at 24 pounds and a roady that is under 20 pounds. all in all each have there advantages but i would rather have the strength and workabilty - repairabilty of steel. with my jeep and all the other 4X4's i see on the trails, 3/8 steel is the min for a full size truck. and no aluminum stands up to anything more that a walmart basher/parker. plastic that is for the beer cup. due to the much lighter weight of a quad, time will tell about plactic skid plates. as to any noise we can talk about that latter as i can not hear you right now, my skid plates are making to much noise protecting my under works
____________________ just get out there, remember were ever you are, there you are. getting lost...never just taking in the view from another hill. |
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turboman Member
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An ATV is NOT a Jeep. An ATV weighs 1/3 what a Jeep does. Any comparisons between the two are irrelevant. Painted steel will scrape off paint with every "hit" and every scrape will rust. Lying on the garage floor touching up scraped paint every Sunday night is not my idea of a hobby. Aluminum's strength depends on the TYPE and thickness of the material. Some types are used for aircraft (they fly through the air) and "hardened" and will break before it will bend. Polyethylene (plastic) is used for bottom protection on swamp air-boats and skid runners on ice boats because of it's strength-to-weight ratio and it's "slipperyness".
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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outlandish Admin
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plastic that is for the beer cup. I had high molecular 3/8" plastic on my Big Bear and believe me it was slammed and dragged over rocks many times. It did not tear or break, no glue needed! Aluminum comes in different strengths, some so hard you pay hell to cut it with a saw........I will be putting plastic (Lexan) on the bottom of my 05 and aluminum a-arm guards as to rust ever hear about paint?? Paint wouldn't last long under my bikes
____________________ Previous BRPs: 03 Rally 200, 03 Outty 400, 05 Outty 400 XT, 06 Outty 800, 07 Renegade 800 Ridden in 6 states and 2 countries Next up? 2010 BRP Side by Side |
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packnrat Member
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please do not shout, i was not trying to compair a jeep to a quad, just most if not all of my motoring off road has been playing around on the rocks up in the sierra mountain range here on the west coast. when up there solid hard steel is the only thing that works, even on motor bikes. i was just stating my belife as i have seen what has worked and not for draging across a lot of rocks. i also stated that a quad is much lighter, and that we will see what comes from this plastic stuff. not having much of any use with snow, (i tend to stay away from the white stuff, up in the mountians it gets up to 15 feet deep) or snow mobiles i am not aware of how plastic does or does not work there. rust is good it shows you have been using your toy, one can even do things to keep it away. but out here automobile can last for over 20 - 30 years. now that that has been said, i am not one to wash and polish much of anything, also i have a open mind for "new" (to me at least) things, as i did state we will see what comes as there is allways something new coming down the pike. i do not want to clog up this fourm with in fighting, so please if you know of a web sight that has some info on plastic parts please inform me so i can go look and see how good it might be. yes a lower weight is a good thing, when one does not have much power to start with, even when one does have plenty it is still good to have a lighter frame and add ons.
____________________ just get out there, remember were ever you are, there you are. getting lost...never just taking in the view from another hill. |
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turboman Member
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No hard feelings, at all. I wish I had your experience in the mountains and off road. If you're looking for a comparison of synthetic materials to steel ask some of the guys you drive off road with about KEVLAR winch rope. Everyone I've heard mention swears by it. Ive had it for 3 years but never had to use it. My only comments about it is there aren't any steel slivers and it doesn't keep uncoiling itself on the spool. Only guy I heard ever broke it had a roller fairlead which is a NO/NO. Rope catches in the corner of the roller and cuts.
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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packnrat Member
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no problem. if you ever make it out here to northern californa let me know and we can see about getting you up on the slabs. (quad or jeep) you would love it. as to the wench "rope" most still want / need to use the good old fashon wire rope, due to the rocks, my jeep has 125 feet on the wench and another hunderd feet extra cable plus 30 feet chain and 30 feet of jerk strap, (used most offen). for the quad i have a wench, still need to mount the unit it has wire rope on it but will look into the rope in a year or two, ( want to wear out the wire first),
____________________ just get out there, remember were ever you are, there you are. getting lost...never just taking in the view from another hill. |
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BAJA X 
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JUST PUT A SET OF ALUMINUM A-ARM PROTECTORS ON MY WIFES OUTTY. THERES A LOT MORE PROTECTION THEN THE STOCK ONES PLUS THEY LOOK GOOD. TAKE THE WHEEL OFF AND VERY EASY TO INSTALL.
____________________ 2004 DS 650 BAJA X 2004 Outlander 400HO XT 2008 XT30SB CrossRoads CrossForce Toy-Hauler 2004 MXZ Adren 800HO & 600HO 1989 H-D Springer Softail 2008 F-350 4x4 Super Duty Crew Cab V10 Tow Command 4.10 gears 2005 F-150 Super Crew FX4 4X4 |
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outlandish Admin
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Were those the Bomb guards? I have had some of them ordered for a month now
____________________ Previous BRPs: 03 Rally 200, 03 Outty 400, 05 Outty 400 XT, 06 Outty 800, 07 Renegade 800 Ridden in 6 states and 2 countries Next up? 2010 BRP Side by Side |
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turboman Member
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It might be relevant... I've had on order for over a month rear fender guards, fender extensions, and rack ext. and I was told they were all on back-order until August 29th.
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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BAJA X
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OUTLANDISH; YES THEY ARE FROM BRP. MY DEALER ORDERED THEM ON 8-18-05 AND THEY CAME IN ON 8-22-05 THERE THE ONES WITH OUTLANDER INGRAVED ON THEM. PART#703500524
____________________ 2004 DS 650 BAJA X 2004 Outlander 400HO XT 2008 XT30SB CrossRoads CrossForce Toy-Hauler 2004 MXZ Adren 800HO & 600HO 1989 H-D Springer Softail 2008 F-350 4x4 Super Duty Crew Cab V10 Tow Command 4.10 gears 2005 F-150 Super Crew FX4 4X4 |
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outlandish Admin
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Yup thats what I ordered. Look good huh?
____________________ Previous BRPs: 03 Rally 200, 03 Outty 400, 05 Outty 400 XT, 06 Outty 800, 07 Renegade 800 Ridden in 6 states and 2 countries Next up? 2010 BRP Side by Side |
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BAJA X
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OUTLANDISH; YEA THEY DO LOOK GOOD, WHY IS IT TAKING YOUR DEALER SO LONG TO GET YOURS? DOES HE WAIT TILL HE GETS ENUFF ORDERS AND THEN SEND IT TO BRP.CAUSE MY DEALER CHECKS TO SEE IF WHAT YOU ORDER IS IN STOCK IF IT IS HE CAN HAVE IT IN TWO DAYS. WELL HOPEFULLY YOURS WILL BE IN SOON.
____________________ 2004 DS 650 BAJA X 2004 Outlander 400HO XT 2008 XT30SB CrossRoads CrossForce Toy-Hauler 2004 MXZ Adren 800HO & 600HO 1989 H-D Springer Softail 2008 F-350 4x4 Super Duty Crew Cab V10 Tow Command 4.10 gears 2005 F-150 Super Crew FX4 4X4 |
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Outti-in-Aitkin Member
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FWIW...I needed a right side mirror for my Outti. The dealer in Aitkin, MN told me he needs at least $150 worth of items in order for BRP to fill it. He added a few more things to his list and the mirror was in the next time I stopped by a few days later. Maybe dealers have limits based on sales volume.
____________________ '05 Outlander 400 H.O. (red) |
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outlandish Admin
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Ahaa....That is probably why mine is taking so long. Small dealer.
____________________ Previous BRPs: 03 Rally 200, 03 Outty 400, 05 Outty 400 XT, 06 Outty 800, 07 Renegade 800 Ridden in 6 states and 2 countries Next up? 2010 BRP Side by Side |
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turboman Member
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I would suspect if that's their policy it's more a matter of keeping the freight cost down, per item. A bunch of parts can come in the same box and the shipping cost is divided up. On some small items, individually, freight costs are much higher than the price of the part and the customer isn't happy when he has to pay for freight too. If I was a dealer that's how I'd do it.
____________________ 800 MaxXT,25"XTR's.RAM GPS,Twin-Air, Ricochet,ELKA fronts,EBC pads,Kevlar cable,PIAA bulbs,grip-reinf's,Leeds hitch,Precision damper,1" Rr spacers,Iridium plugs,Rene'wgts,OEM w/shield,OURY grips,WestCo coated muffler,Saeng mirrors,flares,AGM bat |
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drees Member 
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I'd go with the UHMW plastic skid plates. We used to use it for the skids on our Potato Planter back in ND when I was growing up. (The skids helped keep the potatoes at the same depth) We ran that planter thru some thick sticky goopy mud and it never stuck to the skids. Last edited on Tue Oct 4th, 2005 02:14 pm by drees ____________________ 2005 Sportsman 800 EFI 2004 Sportsman 600 <- For Sale 2004.5 Sportsman 500 HO http://wejustrock.com |
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