VX skid plate kit

[JoFotoz]

Quick search says 93-99 Trooper.

And FYI...the "front one" ..at the area nearest the front of the drive shaft...
...has been known to bend and make contact with shaft/flange.

A quick trim with a grinder solves this issue.

Jo

[Riff Raff]

Is there other company make Skid Plate? Kilby can't get hold them. Even email, phone.
No response.

Kilby's changed ownership recenty, there new website is: http://www.kilbystore.com/info.html and they are located in Mesquite, Nevada. For awesome pictures of the Kilby skidplates mounted on a VX, see the photo gallery of "VX-KAT". Keep trying, they are a one-of-a-kind product custom-fit specifically for the VX.

[Litleleonardo]

Hi im also a new member of this nice club , i started looking for the skid plate kit for a while and had no luck , so i decided to make them ,right now im half way to the project but ill probably have them ready in a couple of weeks , ill keep u informed on my project when im done , and ill upload some pictures of my vehicross whit and whit out the skid plate ,again hi to everyone and will be in contact.

[tom4bren]

Marlin made his own too:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=15921

He offered to sell copies to other members but didn't have many takers. Not sure if he's still willing (or even in the country at the moment).

[JoFotoz]

Hi Litleleonardo...

Hi im also a new member of this nice club , i started looking for the skid plate kit for a while and had no luck , so i decided to make them ,right now im half way to the project but ill probably have them ready in a couple of weeks , ill keep u informed on my project when im done , and ill upload some pictures of my vehicross whit and whit out the skid plate ,again hi to everyone and will be in contact.

....welcome to VX life..great to have another VX in the San Diego area.

Are you in TJ ?...we should meet up ..I'd love to see your skid plate design.

Cheers

jo

[VX KAT]

Kilby's changed ownership recenty, there new website is: http://www.kilbystore.com/info.html and they are located in Mesquite, Nevada. For awesome pictures of the Kilby skidplates mounted on a VX, see the photo gallery of "VX-KAT". Keep trying, they are a one-of-a-kind product custom-fit specifically for the VX.

The Kilby's have served me VERY well, especially after last week....they took more hits on Top of The World than I've ever had.


WHEN NEW 12/09:












NOVEMBER 2011:







AFTER LAST WEEK IN MOAB:

[Riff Raff]

Kudo's to you VX-KAT. As usual, your pictures are very enlightening and in crystal clear detail that need no further explaination. The Kilby belly-pan skidplates are simply total undercarriage armor-plate from front-to-back, and any attempt to further improve upon its original design is futile. The Kilby's maintain maximum ground clearance, ease of routine maintenance accessability (oil changes), and are capable of supporting the entire weight (2 Tons) of the VX on a single boulder as a fulcrum without any damage to sensitive components. No other belly-pan skidplate for the VX can even come close to the Kilby's. They are simply the best and have no peer, regardless of cost or price. 'Nuff said.

[BigSwede]

Quick search says 93-99 Trooper.

And FYI...the "front one" ..at the area nearest the front of the drive shaft...
...has been known to bend and make contact with shaft/flange.

A quick trim with a grinder solves this issue.

Jo

The "front" one is pretty worthless IMO, too thin to do much, and easily gets pushed up into the front driveshaft, making a truly glorious noise. I didn't even have mine on for the trip to Moab, that's how important I think it is. The transfer case and catalytic converter skids are much thicker and do a decent job, but being supported on 3 corners the way they are they can't hold up to serious bashing, as proven in my RS Trooper.

The Kilbys are in a whole 'nother league, as seen above.

[budwrman]

Thanks a lot for all yours tips....
keith

[VX KAT]

Think a nut or something is missing here?
It's right next to the muffler, which I had installed a few months ago.
Is that a bracket for the muffler?

[JoFotoz]

Hey Sue...

Think a nut or something is missing here?
It's right next to the muffler, which I had installed a few months ago.
Is that a bracket for the muffler?

...two nuts missing.

Thats part of the OEM muffler /"in" pipe hanger.
Its bolted to the frame too..right were your annotation says "may be missing"
Above the plate the bolts go through is a rubber hanger isolator

If its not being used now...I wouldnt worry about it...
....but a couple of nuts will keep it in place.

Jo

[circmand]

with washers are clearly missing there

[JoFotoz]

Spoken like the deservedly proud "father" of the Kilbys that you are!!

Kudo's to you VX-KAT. As usual, your pictures are very enlightening and in crystal clear detail that need no further explaination. The Kilby belly-pan skidplates are simply total undercarriage armor-plate from front-to-back, and any attempt to further improve upon its original design is futile. The Kilby's maintain maximum ground clearance, ease of routine maintenance accessability (oil changes), and are capable of supporting the entire weight (2 Tons) of the VX on a single boulder as a fulcrum without any damage to sensitive components. No other belly-pan skidplate for the VX can even come close to the Kilby's. They are simply the best and have no peer, regardless of cost or price. 'Nuff said.

BUT...

Sues example is atypical in that she is not lifted...
.... and therefore gets pulled/strapped over many obstacles.

In her case...its a GREAT application.

However...

I cant recall any serious damage to "non Kilby plated" lifted VX's....

.......that run bare...or with the Trooper plates.


As for "any attempt to further improve upon its original design is futile"
..

We shall see....


Jo

[VX KAT]

Hey Sue...



..two nuts missing.


....but a couple of nuts will keep it in place.

Jo

huh......I didn't realize Tom4Bren was missing too.
and after we find him, all will be in place.


I know, I know, I just keep handing you material...

Sues example is atypical in that she is not lifted...
.... and therefore gets pulled/strapped over many obstacles.

In her case...its a GREAT application.

However...

I cant recall any serious damage to "non Kilby plated" lifted VX's....

.......that run bare...or with the Trooper plates.

Jo

True dat, with me being stock (plus about 1" for the 285/60s), the skids are going to take a LOT more hits.... ...but apparently I haven't been trying hard enough....given what they looked like in November...
I did TOTW 2 years ago and obviously didn't hit that much....or maybe I was just a way better driver...or maybe the trail has drastically deteriorated....that's my vote.




p.s. thanks Jo and Dave for the nut info...

[JoFotoz]

All the familiar trails I did this year...

or maybe the trail has drastically deteriorated....that's my vote.

.....were harder/more intense than in previous years.
(except maybe Kane Creek...)

Many commented on the deteriation of the trails.

I like it....

....they offer new challenges.


Jo