Group Buy of Iron Pig Off Road Rear Diff Skid

[Ken G.]

[

By all means...vent away! I'm right there with you! Yeah....the whole thread degraded into a "look at me and my fabrication greatness" forum! I've dealt with that type before. Never back down from some meathead trying to bully you. Never backed down growing up near Pittsburgh, never backed down in the Army or in combat, not gonna do it when a couple guys can't stop themselves from becoming A-holes. It's all good. I had some fellow Winch Mob back-up!

There are loudmouths and jealous assholes everywhere!
Got your back Ken!

Yep! Thanks! I guess he and his buddy will have to fabricate a binky for themselves, along with some dry Huggies. Aww...sad clown face.

[cruz]

Hey Ken, I came across these two diff skids mounted to the axle tubes and pinion housing ...

[GunniPWguy]

Who makes those? I kind of like that no drill/u-bolt installation method better. Don't neccesarily know if it IS better. Just looks like an easier install. here is another one

[cruz]

Here is the link to AEV...
http://www.knowwhere2jeep.com/extreme-o ... lider.html#
I remembered I'd seen this type before and just started searching online.

With the skid up tight to the bottom of the diff and the mounting points are there to locate and secure the skid only, the majority of the impact force would be on the diff housing. It's pretty much the same as Ken's idea but a no drill install.

Ken, what do you think ?

[Ken G.]

Yep, I saw both of those designs before. The first one is from AFE (I believe). I wrote them about it and they said that they did not plan on making one for the AAM 10.5 any time soon. The second one is by Nth Mobility (for XJ's & such) and I actually sent a picture of that one to Iron Pig as a starting point for the design. They liked that one. That said, when I showed up for the truck after they completed the prototype, they had gone ahead with what I currently have. The only problem with the U-bolt type for our diffs is that the flanges on the sides are so wide that it would require the u-bolt to be really wide or in an awkward position. Now maybe it's possible to have the u-bolt on ours very near the pinion, so I guess that's option. Also, because the rear part of the diff is so wide, it might require the whole skid to be monstrously wide back there, and of course heavier. You guys are right....something like this would be a much simpler installation and not require drilling holes through the flanges/webs. I guess it may be worth talking to the Iron Pig guys again very soon and seeing if the u-bolt option couldn't be revisited. Vice that, I guess the path will lead to getting the brackets that run to the flanges at the pinion end shored-up to address the potential of cracking the flanges at that point in the event of a hard strike near the pinion. I definitely at least plan to have that taken care of. Plus, I think the current design needs to have steel welded to the skid in between the skid and the pinion end to act as a bridge and "fill the gap", to keep it from deflecting and possibly cracking the webs. I'm up to my ears with job-taskers right now, so I might not be able to give this the attention it deserves until this weekend. I'll try to contact them this coming Saturday.

[Throttle 8]

Yep, I saw both of those designs before. The first one is from AFE (I believe). I wrote them about it and they said that they did not plan on making one for the AAM 10.5 any time soon. The second one is by Nth Mobility (for XJ's & such) and I actually sent a picture of that one to Iron Pig as a starting point for the design. They liked that one. That said, when I showed up for the truck after they completed the prototype, they had gone ahead with what I currently have. The only problem with the U-bolt type for our diffs is that the flanges on the sides are so wide that it would require the u-bolt to be really wide or in an awkward position. Now maybe it's possible to have the u-bolt on ours very near the pinion, so I guess that's option. Also, because the rear part of the diff is so wide, it might require the whole skid to be monstrously wide back there, and of course heavier. You guys are right....something like this would be a much simpler installation and not require drilling holes through the flanges/webs. I guess it may be worth talking to the Iron Pig guys again very soon and seeing if the u-bolt option couldn't be revisited. Vice that, I guess the path will lead to getting the brackets that run to the flanges at the pinion end shored-up to address the potential of cracking the flanges at that point in the event of a hard strike near the pinion. I definitely at least plan to have that taken care of. Plus, I think the current design needs to have steel welded to the skid in between the skid and the pinion end to act as a bridge and "fill the gap", to keep it from deflecting and possibly cracking the webs. I'm up to my ears with job-taskers right now, so I might not be able to give this the attention it deserves until this weekend. I'll try to contact them this coming Saturday.

Maybe you could ask the ASSHAT design team for some technical help. LOL!

[Ken G.]

Yeah....they would certainly want to let all of us Power Wagon people know how to do things! Except we won't be able to hear them talking over the sound of their own fabrication awesomeness!

[cruz]

Also, because the rear part of the diff is so wide, it might require the whole skid to be monstrously wide back there

Forgot how big our axles are, definetly ain't no Dana 44.

[Ken G.]

The below is a recent reply I made to Twin Stick over on that "other" forum. I am trying to look at this thing as objectively as possible, and not be "married" to one particular design. The skid itself is very strong...no question there. What seems to have most folks concerned about it is the attachment method. So, here's the exchange. I'll keep trying to do the best I can with this so that all of you guys who want one end up with a quality product. I know it's taking longer than any of us wanted, so please bear with me.


Post #65
Quote:
Originally Posted by TwinStick
Back on topic: I ain't gonna lie, i am liking the whole U-bolt bolt on thing. Not sure if it is any stronger---or not. I think more contact points to the HD parts of the diff would be in order though, so when hard contact is made, it is not all transferred to the thin line of the u-blot. At some point, i was actually considering getting one made like that. I have also thought about axle tube skids with u-bolt connections & contact points . Kinda an easy-ish on/off kinda thing, so we can remove them when not needed. Just a thought.
Twin.....yeah, I have to agree with you, in all honesty. I do plan to have Iron Pig modify this design a bit and include U-bolts as the primary attachment. The on/off would go much easier, and if I have them weld in steel to the skid at key locations, it should cradle into the diff just right and at the same time, not allow any deflection or deformation to either the diff itself, or the U-bolts. After all, it does need to be something that doesn't cause too much butt-pain to remove in order to service the diff, and it should also be as user friendly as possible for the owner to install. The strength of the skid itself is fine right now, so the modifications to make a better attachment shouldn't be hard for them to accomplish. More info to follow as soon as I can. I'm still up to my ears in work taskings right now, so I hope to get face to face with them this Saturday to describe everyone's concerns.

Best,
Ken G.

[GunniPWguy]

As they say.Good things come to those who wait. I Appreciate all the effort you are putting into this thing. I would imagine I speak for all interested. Don't lose any sleep over it man.

[Juday]

As they say.Good things come to those who wait. I Appreciate all the effort you are putting into this thing. I would imagine I speak for all interested. Don't lose any sleep over it man.

Ditto. Thanks Ken!

[BlkWgn]

I have been away for a while, but definitely interested. Any update on price?

[RckyMtnRam]

Hi. Newb here.. Looking all over web for a rear skid plate like these that fit our wagons. Did they get made or was there not enough interest? Thanks.

[myoung84]

I had forgotten about this. This thread hasn't been updated in about a year. What's the latest guys?

[FirerescuePW]

I had forgotten about this. This thread hasn't been updated in about a year. What's the latest guys?

Ken had one made for his PW. He has been maintaining radio silence for quite awhile. He was traveling for work and pleasure. I did PM him several months ago and he responded, so maybe he will check in and see his thread revived and update everyone.

[GunniPWguy]

I still need to install a front diff guard. Nevermind the back. Still would be interested in one that does not require drilling.

[TwinStick]

Who makes those? I kind of like that no drill/u-bolt installation method better. Don't neccesarily know if it IS better. Just looks like an easier install. here is another one

sadly:

http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/new ... degree.asp