Topic: crossmember/skidplate

[knowwake]

Ive Been looking for a new skidplate/crosmember and was wondering which one you guys suggest? ive narrowed it down to 3 choices:
1) Sky Manufacturing
2) Marlin Crawler
3) Front Range Off Road

Thanks for the help
-Jordan

[notajeep]

I have Marlin's and I like it. It is HEAVY DUTY, and works great with the dual cases.

[DTB]

what about Budbuilt or the new triple-x member?

[notajeep]

what about Budbuilt or the new triple-x member?

I like the design of the Bud Built and how you can space up the transfercase. I almost went that route... but was rather concerned about the front pinion angle and driveshaft.  But if you have and 84 or later truck I think that the budbuilt would be an excellent choice.

[yotabj]

I like budbuilt's the best I've noticed on marlin's crossmember it leave a small portion of the tcase left open on the back right corner....But it may not be a big concern..I have a homemade on mine

[wa4x4]

On marlins crossmember lately I have been hearing that you have to take a dremel to part of to clearance it so it fits?

[MiniSimp]

Since I have the R10 I can only go with the FROR Center Section and design my own crossmember.
If it was regular, I'd say Marlin or Budbuilt

[toybuilt]

I've always like budbuilts crossmember, Marlins is awesome to. I be making my own because I don't think anyone make a crossmember for a 83 toy with a grany 4 speed and 205 tranny/ T case

[Jase]

I run a budbuilt and really like it plus he bent it with however much lift on the t-case/tranny I wanted. 

[Sandman]

I ran a FROR Crossmember and Skid because it gave me the option to push the transfer case flat with the frame.

[sloyota]

go with buduilt or sky.i got the marlin skidplate and my t-case mounts stick out about 1/4 to 1/2 below the skidplate.poor design but it's beefy.i just need a couple of spacers and it will fix the problem.or i'll buy a budbuilt

[locktup]

I have a heavily modified All Pro one on mine. If I was to do it over I would build one. If your not able to build one I would go with Trail-Gear or Marlins.

[Rocksurfer]

I don't even know who made mine, got it from a friend. I is for duals but I only have a single, had to mod it to fit but I won't ever hit my t-case, dang thing extends like six inches or so beyond my case. I'd go with MC looks like they cover everything.

[gedean]

I've got the All Pro Triple X-Member.  The idea is good (essentially just a rip off of a FROR idea) and the price is awesome.  300 bucks for a crossmember + integrated driveshaft parking brake.  The design of the x-member will pretty much ensure that you will never bust a motor mount.  You can tell an increase in the vibrations transmitted into the cab but it's not much to worry about.  You can also custom mount it up even higher (though you will have to redo your driveshaft tunnel, and some work to the frame crossmember.  Eric at www.yotamasters.com did this.  I had yotamasters put in mine, along with a dual ultimate from Marlin.  I have had one major problem with it though.  The bracket that mounts the parking brake was not made correctly.  The bracket was angled in such a manner that it allowed the caliper to put a small amount of pressure onto the disk.  Not enough to be noticeable when driving, but enough that it heated up the disk at the rear of the t-case.  Cruising down the freeway at 70 mph was enough that the heat transfered to the rear seal on the T-case and caused it to leak.  Yotamasters took care of it though.  Not only did they fix the seal, fight with All-Pro to get the parts fix the x-member and fix the parking brake they did it all for free, without complaint, and whenever I had the time to come in.  The unit works fine now, thanks mostly to Jay and Eric at Yota Masters not All Pro.  All Pro took almost a month to give up a new caliper, (they wouldn't part with a whole new x-member), so Jay King worked the mount over and got it right.  The funniest part is that All Pro tried to blame them, rather than their defective part.  All in all it is a great price for a copy of a great idea.  Had the part been correct, or quickly fixed by the manufacturer I'd have had no qualms about recommending the triple x-member, as it is I have no qualms about recommending Yota Masters.

[Shoyrtt]

go with buduilt or sky.i got the marlin skidplate and my t-case mounts stick out about 1/4 to 1/2 below the skidplate.poor design but it's beefy.i just need a couple of spacers and it will fix the problem.or i'll buy a budbuilt

Here is the Marlin unit installed. The t-case mounts do extend below the skid plate but not by much (1/8 to 1/4 inch). My guess is the first real contact will shave that minimal amount off of the mount. The other alternative would be to intall some washers or simply grind down the mount a bit. Has anyone using Marlin's unit ever got caught up on a 1/4 inch mount.  

[CTENG in KS]

My crossmember is thrashed so this is on my list of needs too.  I always like to support Marlin so I'd like to go with theirs, but here is an issue.  I run a single case now, but may go dual in the future...can you run a single case with the dual case crossmember?  Will the rear driveshaft clear on full droop?