My 2K DAK QC will be a 4WD without the skid plate "group" on it.
The reason I wanted the skid plates is because the entry to my uncle's
property has about 200 yards of very sharp rocks and recent cut stumps that
stick up about 6-10 inches.
My Bronco II has a thin corrugated plate over the tank and thick 1/2"+ steel
plate protecting the transfer case (that sucker is heavy!). At the time, I
was more worried about the tires since the other stuff was well protected.
There were a couple of times I bounced bad and heard "THUD" as one of the
stumps hit a piece of the truck.
Needless to say, I don't want to do that in my DAK. So, my question is (I
came late to the discussion) should I buy the MOPAR skid plate set (about
$150-$200) or go for something else? I thought the MOPAR was thin steel with
some corrugation (wrong term?) for strength.
I only go to my uncle's place 2-3 times a year, and the only other off road
is around hunting time (mud holes) or in Mexico (mud roads).
Thanks,
Brian T. Carter
-----Original Message-----
From: Morrison, Dennis [mailto:DMorriso@ciena.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 1999 1:34 PM
To: 'dakota-truck@buffnet.net'
Subject: DML: FOR PLASTIC SKID PLATE ANSWERS (READ ME)
Some things I found out about plastic skid plates.
1- the gas tank plate is metal because of 2 reasons.
a. STATIC CHARGE! (BOOOOM!!!! COMES INTO MIND)
b. more durable and safer overall
2- most people who buy "off-road" 4x4's never go off road. So manufactures
can make some easy money. On using plastic instead of metal.
3- weight, for multiple reasons like better 0-60 times, gas mileage, towing
overall weight etc.... All the stuff you look at when buying and comparing
vehicles.
4- New age plastics are very strong and durable (per a Ph.D. at my work) not
as "hard as steel but no rust, almost as impact safe without hammering it
out when finished. So it is just as good as metal for normal "off-road"
experiences -- like a camping trip or going to the job site. And it reduces
weight for better gas mileage, better 0-60 times etc...
Now it was said that if you are doing heavy off-roading you should
definitely go steel. Like say, the Baja, where your truck may go 3' off the
ground. But if your a regular "Joe" I'd go with the plastic.
All this advice came to me from multiple reliable sources.
Feel free to e-mail me with any more questions or concerns.
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