RCCrawler Forums - My $1.11 Home Depot skidplate

For those of us not interested in titanium skidplates, I found an option for just $1.11 at Home Depot. I was checking for some kind of aluminum plate to fab a skidplate and stumbled on this at the framing section. Its a galvanized steel tie plate 3 x 7in, code is 044315832208. It fit perfectly on my Mad Torque without cutting or drilling. I just carefully measured, bent the plate and then loosened 4 bolts in the front bumper to slide it between the plastic bumper braces and the 2 bumper tubes. The back clamps tightly on the motor and gearcase due to the perfect round bend. Tighened the 4 bolts and voila! bulletproof skidplate. Adds a little weight below the axle, gives a smoother transition from bumper all the way back, does not reduce ground clearance (see side shot, almost like its not there) and does not limit articulation in any way. I don't have problems with motors getting hot, anyway might work like one big heat sink. There are other sizes available (like 1 x 5, 3 x 4.5 or so), one might fit your crawler and come pre drilled with the holes. I'll see how I can fab the rear one now, I'm clocking the axle anyway.

Funny thing a couple days back I was thinking of removing the bumper, the I used it to hang the MT from my backpack so I could hike deeper into trails to drive the better parts.. and now it holds the skidplate, so I guess it is staying for now.

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