Skid plate - final word

[bretton_s]

I have read a lot of posts on people recommending skid plates (OEM or Skinz) based on the possible improvements in floatation and protection provided. The floatation seems to be the same or only slightly better at best (based on my research of others' comments) but the protection issue is what I'm concerned about.

Bottom line - does a skid plate actually protect anything or is it one of those situations where someone might say "no broken undercarriage parts, must be the skid plate"? Does anyone have any experience with a sled that has taken damage to the bulkhead or other pieces under there? (including skid plate cracks/dents)

Cool - thanks for your stories in advance.



I wonder if a lot of people are still not back at the forum yet this time of year...

 

[05900]

Have had skidplate on every sled owned it is cheap insurance and YES they do protect. Look at one after a season of good riding and one of a mediocre season and the abuse is evident!!! It's that thump you feel and didn't see where they prove there worth!

 

[MORSNO]

My OEM skid plate is all scratched and gouged up. Mostly from running over the alders up here in AK. I've also ran over hidden stumps and logs early in the year before a good base sets up. I can't imagine not installing one before the sled ever touches the snow. I cannot confirm if it ever protected my bulkhead from catastrophic failure, because I have always had one.

Take a look at the carnage on the underside of every sled you see....you'll see how the small cost of a plate is money in the bank!

 

[Super B]

My skidplate save my sleds a-arms and possible bulkhead damage when I nailed a rock last winter. I hit the rock with so much force, it stopped the sled in its tracks and tossed me over the bars. I thought for sure I busted something. Flipped the sled on its side, and the skid plate was damaged, but the sled was not.

 

[Jonce]

Skid plate on my Ski Doo last year saved me a tunnel cooler and possibly a tow out of the back woods. There is a puncture in the top of the skid plate (mag side).

 

[bretton_s]

Well there's my answer. Thanks for the evidence guys.

Next question -- for the OEM skid plate, how easy/hard is it to install? My buddy has one on his 08 (mine is 09 - should be the same attachment method right?) and it looks like it was a horrendous job to install. The bolts are under.... everything. Do you actually have to pull exhaust, steering, and/or engine pieces to install one?

 

[metallicat]

Dragon Damage!

This is a couple pics of my 07 dragon after coming down on a hidden rock in the hills. No skid plate on. thought it only took out the a arm until i thawed the sled out and saw it had bent the whole bulkhead/tunnel. boom, sled totaled out because i didn't have a $75 piece of plastic on it. Personally, i run the skinz strictly for better protection. The rock i hit smacked just in the right spot where the a arm mounts to the bulkhead and with a skinz plate, it is protected and with an OEM one, not even close to covered. That is why i would ALWAYS and ONLY go with the skinz.

 

[Trenchmaster]

Well there's my answer. Thanks for the evidence guys.

Next question -- for the OEM skid plate, how easy/hard is it to install? My buddy has one on his 08 (mine is 09 - should be the same attachment method right?) and it looks like it was a horrendous job to install. The bolts are under.... everything. Do you actually have to pull exhaust, steering, and/or engine pieces to install one?

Front part of skid plate gets bolted on, easy access, back part gets riveted on so access is not required. I agree with the post above go with the skinz float plate, it protects way better than the stock one!! The plastic on the 09 is not quite the same as the 08

 

[mountainhorse]

I have used the Skinz plate on my last 4 sleds.

multiple rock and stump hits and the protection well worth the investment.

The plates help to deflect any hits rather than collapsing the nose piece and leaving the vertical surface of the bulkhead exposed to a direct hit.

 

[bretton_s]

So an OEM wouldn't have protected that area as in the above pictures hey? (I know it different on a skidoo) Does anyone have a pic handy of their skid installation with a bottom view?

Groovo.

Ps. Guess what? It snow on the hills in our ridding area near Tumble Ridge, BC this last weekend!

 

[Ski-Dont89]

Thinking about a skinz float plate for my 09 rmk... seems to me as though the skinz plate would really fill up and hold snow...any comments on this?

i guess the extra weight would be worth the extra protection if they do fill up with snow?

thanks

 

[UP2NOGD88]

SKINZ Float Plate '10 Assault

Here is a picture of my SKINZ Float Plate. I haven't had any problems with holding snow. Definitely worth the investment IMO.

 

[bretton_s]

Nice looking sled man. I was actually thinking of doing a white on my all-black RMK (if I was going to do it) but wasn't sure about the look. Anyone else have black with white skid plate (OEM?) pics? I do love those black Assaults - best color combo IMO.

 

[UP2NOGD88]

Thanks bretton, I really like the sled. It turned out great. I may be able to send you a couple more pics of the skid if you like. Just have to find them.

 

[PusherMan99]

I've got an 07 Switchback and went with a black OEM skid plate because it seems pretty sturdy and more in my price range for some additional protection. Let's be real.....this stuff is plastic and if you hit something good enough there will be damage (huh...kind of like the movie title "There will be blood"). Anyway-for those of us that have an 08 or older IQ sled the skinz option wouldn't work anyway because it closes off the front radiator/grille area unless an upgrade is made to 09/newer front bumper

 

[rmkboxer]

stay away from the skinz plate unless you want to pay $50 more then the oem and then you will have to modify it so it will fit your sled

 

[Trenchmaster]

The Skinz float plate fit on my 08 with no modifications, and offers way more protection than the Polaris part. I have a Polaris skid plate on the wifes 07 600, it's OK but not as good as the Skinz. I also put Skinz bumpers on both sleds, great products as far as I'm concerned!

 

[PusherMan99]

Apparently you didn't have the front radiator Trenchmaster in your 08? If you did then you just negated a good portion of your cooling system with the skid plate. How much is Skinz paying ya to rep their products? I could think of a few better spots to spend an additional $50 in my pocket like say clutch springs

 

[bretton_s]

Forgive my ignorance if I'm wrong, but no dragons/RMKs have rads as far as I'm aware. Isn't that just a flatlander thing?

 

[stmike]

SKINZ

i installed a skinz float on my 09 IQ.It takes lots of modifying,but it does protect very well,and covers the grill for the none existing rad