Any thoughts on Skid plates for axys Are they worth it do you need it ?? Is there any after market skid plates just purchased a 2016 rmk assault What do you think
Axys Skid Plates
- Thread starter greatone
- Start date
Good question. You will get several takes on this..... Here is mine. These sleds sit much higher, and are much narrower then sleds from days gone by. Most of the time if you hit something, its gonna be with the A-arms. The skid plates they do offer do not cover much, and if you get some of the bumper skid plate combos, they are too big and act like a shelf for snow to pile up on.
I put an oem skid plate on my 12 Pro, DIDNT put one on my 14,16,17. I also run the stock bumpers... But thats just me
Eric
I put the Polaris ultimate skid plate on my 17.Never really thought about not putting one on.Every sled,since my first (99 RMK 600) has had one.
Is it a waste of $125 and a couple pounds? Who knows,but If I hit something without one I'd be mad at myself.
Is it a waste of $125 and a couple pounds? Who knows,but If I hit something without one I'd be mad at myself.
I run the B&M Fab bumper and no skid plate. I think the just hold snow. The B&M has the tubes that run down to the bulkhead and will hopefully save me from damage. 650 miles last year and not a scratch on the bumper tubes or a-arms, but my exhaust deflector got smashed and chewed up. Must have been a rock just the right spot.
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I put the polaris ultimate on my 16, guess I wouldn't think twice about not running one either whether it helps or not but I do think a quick drive skid plate is more important imo. Pretty vulnerable spot hanging down, my wrp skid plate has 3 huge gouges out of it after 1 year of riding.
I like the plastic skid plate to slide over obstacles. Drag a plastic kayak and an aluminum canoe over a rock and see what slides easier. I also recommend the Polaris skid plate, but ditch the crap hardware and buy some large head long shank stainless steel rivets to use instead. The old Pro-Ride skid plates came with these. I could see the screws vibrating loose and they don't sit very flush. I'm not sure if Polaris was trying to simplify install or going cheap, but I don't like it.
2017 Axys here and I took it a step further.......
I put the Polaris Ultimate Skid Plate on and the B&M front bumper. I guess my thoughts have always been, I would rather have extra protection and not need it or use, then wishing I would have done a little extra, because of damage. I also agree that the plastic offers a surface that slides more when compared to the bottom of the sled which is obviously metal. Now think about hitting or glancing off and obstacle, I would rather have something that assists with sliding off then dragging and catching.
I also look at is the price of the skid plates, when you really think about how much they are compared to what a guy spends....it's pennies and why not add the protection? It only takes one split second in time to have a little mishap and I would rather have a big gouge in a skid plate than that same gouge in the bulk head.
I put the Polaris Ultimate Skid Plate on and the B&M front bumper. I guess my thoughts have always been, I would rather have extra protection and not need it or use, then wishing I would have done a little extra, because of damage. I also agree that the plastic offers a surface that slides more when compared to the bottom of the sled which is obviously metal. Now think about hitting or glancing off and obstacle, I would rather have something that assists with sliding off then dragging and catching.
I also look at is the price of the skid plates, when you really think about how much they are compared to what a guy spends....it's pennies and why not add the protection? It only takes one split second in time to have a little mishap and I would rather have a big gouge in a skid plate than that same gouge in the bulk head.
I agree with FatDogx. I have the ultimate on my 2017. Gives me a pc of mind as well.
I bought a Skinz belly pan protector for my ProRide in 2013, they shipped one for an IQ by mistake. I used it anyway, fit okay with a little trimming. and then I moved it to my 2014 and then to my AXYS. Skinz stuff is thick and tough. Definitely getting my moneys worth out of it.
I put the Zbros front bumper/skid plate combo on my 16. I liked the looks of the bumper and it is sold as an integrated unit so I pulled the trigger on it. I also liked it because it is color matched to my sled. With all of that being said, I have had three Pros and I have never needed a skid plate. However, I do agree with the comment above about it being slicker/easier to drag over logs/rocks.
put the ultimate on mine along with the better bumpers. Finally picked it up today..
how does the two fit together? I thought I read the skid plate doesn’t fit well with the BM bumper?
thanks
Bumper fits fine with the Polaris skid plate. We run them on our sleds that way.
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Fits fine, I have the Polaris ultimate skid plate and the B&M bumper combo.
put one on my sled the first day of the first ride well worth the cash if u ever use it.... if u never do your 1 in a 1,000,000
I ride off trail in low snow conditions being in the Northeast so I want the most protection available. The Polaris skid plates do nothing to protect the chaincase or belt drive.
For ultimate protection you want this http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402734
Yes, it's not cheap but if it saves my chaincase or bulkhead from a rock or stump it was worth every penny.
Ryan
For ultimate protection you want this http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402734
Yes, it's not cheap but if it saves my chaincase or bulkhead from a rock or stump it was worth every penny.
Ryan
Do you have a part number for the bumper? I don't see it on the poo web site.
