Kilby is in business - Who wants their skid plates?!

[JHarris1385]

I have been in contact with Kilby since the first sale here of some of the skid plates. Since then there has been a change in owners and the new owner is willing to make some of these plates again.

He has asked me to see who would be interested in ordering some of these. As you can assume he would like and or needs a good group of confirmed orders in order for this to work for him and us.

I figure there has been quite a large number of new members since the last posts who may be interested and maybe some other members like I who did not order previously for various reason but interested now.

I forget whom ordered them last time and who has picture of them, but if you do, would you mind posting them in this thread? These plates are beefy, thick and really essential and or superior to the Trooper plates as this is a full length plate.

The price is not 100% set but I would assume it would be near the previous price, however he did mention that the more interested the lower it would obviously be for us all.

This is a great opportunity, and potentially the last time they will be offered.

http://www.kilbyenterprises.com/index.htm

[Breezy]

I'd be interested in a set POSSIBLY.

[VXorado]

Here's a pic of the kilby's in action on steel bender. They're a great investment as they protect everything back to the rear driveshaft.

[Riff Raff]

Too bad you missed out on Big Swede's kilby he had for sale (never used).

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=21117

VT-Maverick currently has one un-mounted, but I think he's saving it for re-installation on his next VX.

I was the catalyst brain child (it was my original idea) for the belly-pan Kilby's, and I personally solitated/coordinated directly with Brad Kilby (long distance via E-Mail on a daily basis) for many months to get them designed/built, and coordinated the donor VX to be used as the original template. There were countless times that Brad Kilby was ready to throw-in-the-towel and quit the orginal design project due to design/fitment frustration and cost over-runs, but I continually prodded Brad Kilby to keep going to complete the mission. It was a massive undertaking project for both myself and Kilby Enterprises.

I further coordinated the original "group buy" which also proved to be a challenge in itself in getting the required number of people here on VX.Info to commit to purchase. Purchased as a single buyer, the Kilby's are very expensive near the $800 price mark (but worth every penny).

Eventhough Kilby Enterprises has changed owner's, I knew the original CAD software drawings would be retained by the new follow-on owner for any possible future sales to VX'ers. Too much time and money went into R&D to simply destroy the original CAD data/drawings. I'm glad to see the new owner's enthusiasm to still try and market the Kilby's for us VX'ers!!!

[VX KAT]

some of the one's that bought them first time around....
VX KAT
VT_Mav
VXorado
VXlover
RiffRaff
BigSwede
I think there were a few more.


If possible, may want to ask Kilby to try to countersink some of the bolts....my mechanic was surprised they weren't.

Here's pics when newly installed: these pics are in my gallery.

[jimmyray]

Nice job on this undercarriage protection. Well worth the money in my opinion!!!

[bearandbee]

Finally something to keep the oil off my driveway!

[JHarris1385]

So is that TWO possibles?

[vt_maverick]

Sounds like zero in the hand, two in the bush to me.

[Scott Larson]

My concern is the royalties I would have to pay to Riff...

[vxcp]

Interested. Would like to see some or all of the bolts countersunk if possible.

[AlexVX]

Possibly interested - need to make budget thus need better idea on price.

[iott2551]

possibly interested depending on cost.

[JoFotoz]

OK...I'll either be shot-down..or its good info... ?


With all due respect to the time and effort put in to
getting the Kilby under armour/armor made.....


...its OVERKILL.

The bolts are gonna get F'd up...destroyed...it retains heat..BIG TIME..
...and its WAY more than ya need.....for the VX capabilities.

Your LOW point...is the crux of the matter....


Having wheeled as a relative newbie for several years...
.....and beyond that, done trails that VX's are not s'posed to do...
........many of them!

This is wasted $$$'s


$78 on old 94/6 (IIRC) Trooper skid plates that BOLT ON...


...nuff said.

I absolutely applaud the time and effort put in to this project...

...but...basic works.

JMHO


jo

..

[VXorado]

With all due respect to the time and effort put in to
getting the Kilby under armour/armor made.....


...its OVERKILL.

The bolts are gonna get F'd up...destroyed...it retains heat..BIG TIME..
...and its WAY more than ya need.....for the VX capabilities.

I'm going to have to disagree with you a bit on this Jo.

The lowest bolts at the front crossmember are counter sunk, the other round head bolts toward the back are very hard to scrape if you look at the angles of the skid plates and the OEM bolts in the middle crossmember should not be installed at all.

I've also heard the disscussion on retaining heat but I haven't had any experience with it. My VX was the exact same heat with & without the skid plates this summer (I tested it ). Also my floor seat bolt was super hot from the tranny with or without the skid plates installed.

For most trails the skid plates are overkill & they'll add some nice weight to the VX but I'm still happy to have them & would recommend them to anyone. The piece of mind that my skid plates are fully protecting the belly of the VX is priceless. Also the front skid plate acts as a water/mud shield to protect your alternator through water crossings.

Have I really needed my Kilby's on a trail yet? No, but I plan on trying hard enough trails next year once all my mods are done to fully utilize the skid plates.

For those that go offroading once and a while, the kilby skid plates are too much.