what X-member to get????

[toynizzy]

there are so many different X-members out there im wanting to know what one is working the best for ppl with dual cases,or is it a personal preference???im hoping to order mine asap and wanted to know.thanks

[DTB]

i've always been partial to budbuilt's. He is a great guy to work with as well. www.budbuilt.com

[79coyotefrg]

  hello


MARLIN

[Ramrod]

I have the marlin in mine but it has its flaws just like everything but I still like it alot.  at the back where it bends up it hits the t-case on the corner and the drainplug hole is not in the perfect spot and sometimes the plug hits it too and also the mounts sit below the level of the crossmember to hang up on stuff

[CTENG in KS]

As much as I love to buy everything from Marlin, I like the adjustability of the Sky crossmember:

www.sky-manufacturing.com

[toynizzy]

how much clearance does the sky x-member give u?or the budbuilt?

[CTENG in KS]

Those style give you about 2-inches better clearance

[abnormaltoy]

We're all a little biased...we obviously like the one we bought, which in my case is the FROR crossmember and skid plate.

Almost flat across the bottom.

[Shamb]

Marlins is good, doesn't fit perfect so you've gotta work it in there but I like it.. besides I bought it used for half price.

I hear good things about Budbuilt, no personal experiances.

[blackdiamond]

I have the marlin in mine but it has its flaws just like everything but I still like it alot.  at the back where it bends up it hits the t-case on the corner and the drainplug hole is not in the perfect spot and sometimes the plug hits it too and also the mounts sit below the level of the crossmember to hang up on stuff

What condition is your engine/tranny mount or mounts on the crossmember?  If you get the new V6 ones it might help the clearance issues.

[Rockdiver]

I have the Marlin one with no problems

[IronClad]

when it comes to tcase xmembers id leave it to budbuilt.. hes been building them forever and can build one to your specific needs.

[rlwjaw]

Doesnt someone make a dual case crossmember with an e-brake mount of some kind?

[RCKSQRL]

Skys manufacturing has a e-brake set up as well as all pro. Skys is n easier install from what I have heard however.

[synwars]

We're all a little biased...we obviously like the one we bought, which in my case is the FROR crossmember and skid plate.

I built my own, so I'm not biased when I say that I'm going to have to agree with the FROR style. It's not so much clearance, but stability that caused me to design one like that. You've got to admit, that the Toyota motor mounts/t-case mounts kind of suck for heavy load / heavy torque applications. Even with a single 2.28 case I remember being able to twist the drivetrain so much my shifters would hit my passenger (not really but but more like a descriptive expression).

I believe that the problem sits squarely on the OEM t-case mount as it is mounted directly in the center allowing it to swivel/wobble from side to side. The motor mounts are fine as long as they have proper support in the rear. But with 20 year old beaten on centered t-case mounts, no wonder so many motor mounts fail. Of course, when you add a second 2.28 t-case, you automatically add in another t-case mount. Even with two t-case mounts though, you still have double the torque. What then if you drop in 4.7 gears? You then have way more torque than those t-case mounts are designed for. Sure, up grade to V6 t-case mounts, but then add in the picture 36-38" tires and 1500 more lbs of armour and equipment. Basically, what I am trying to get at is that we, as like minded Toyota enthusiasts, are simply putting more torque and stress on the OEM t-case mounts than they are designed for. They will wear out over time, eating up your motor mounts as well.

The FROR style crossmember has an advantage over the BB, MC, and Sky crossmembers in that it DOES NOT utilize the OEM t-case mounts. Instead, it has arms that stretch out to the frame rails, which puts more leverage on the t-case so that it keeps it in place preventing it from twisting side to side. This also forces the torque to the axles, instead of being soaked up by the mounts. It also allows you to mount it as high or as low as you want, making it great for flatbelly applications (probably gonna be my next project).

All in all I'd say FROR style works the best.

[synwars]

Skys manufacturing has a e-brake set up as well as all pro. Skys is n easier install from what I have heard however.

It's not so much easier, they are both pretty basic to bolt in. The Sky one is more rugged though...

[abnormaltoy]

I built my own, so I'm not biased when I say that I'm going to have to agree with the FROR style. It's not so much clearance, but stability that caused me to design one like that. You've got to admit, that the Toyota motor mounts/t-case mounts kind of suck for heavy load / heavy torque applications. Even with a single 2.28 case I remember being able to twist the drivetrain so much my shifters would hit my passenger (not really but but more like a descriptive expression).

I believe that the problem sits squarely on the OEM t-case mount as it is mounted directly in the center allowing it to swivel/wobble from side to side. The motor mounts are fine as long as they have proper support in the rear. But with 20 year old beaten on centered t-case mounts, no wonder so many motor mounts fail. Of course, when you add a second 2.28 t-case, you automatically add in another t-case mount. Even with two t-case mounts though, you still have double the torque. What then if you drop in 4.7 gears? You then have way more torque than those t-case mounts are designed for. Sure, up grade to V6 t-case mounts, but then add in the picture 36-38" tires and 1500 more lbs of armour and equipment. Basically, what I am trying to get at is that we, as like minded Toyota enthusiasts, are simply putting more torque and stress on the OEM t-case mounts than they are designed for. They will wear out over time, eating up your motor mounts as well.

The FROR style crossmember has an advantage over the BB, MC, and Sky crossmembers in that it DOES NOT utilize the OEM t-case mounts. Instead, it has arms that stretch out to the frame rails, which puts more leverage on the t-case so that it keeps it in place preventing it from twisting side to side. This also forces the torque to the axles, instead of being soaked up by the mounts. It also allows you to mount it as high or as low as you want, making it great for flatbelly applications (probably gonna be my next project).

All in all I'd say FROR style works the best.

Well said! 

[RCKSQRL]

It's not so much easier, they are both pretty basic to bolt in. The Sky one is more rugged though...

from my understanding skys t-case mount is much easier... the e-brake portion is the same! (sorry for not clarifying!)

[toynizzy]

well thanks to all for the input,i guess its just whatever kind i like the best lol no one better than the other lol

[FatAzzRunner]

I have the Sky one myself and like the adjustability.  You can make it dang near flat if you chose to and could find a way to bolt it in like that. 

I installed mine with a 1.5" lift, it was easy to istall and is HEAVY duty.

[Tice]

I ran the FROR style x-member that I built. I did a totally different skid because I didn't like the fact it's bolted to the t-cases. But now I running a flat belly skid/x-member from Bubuilt and love it.  I do have my FROR style one if you are interested in it. No skid plate though.

[synwars]

I ran the FROR style x-member that I built. I did a totally different skid because I didn't like the fact it's bolted to the t-cases. But now I running a flat belly skid/x-member from Bubuilt and love it.  I do have my FROR style one if you are interested in it. No skid plate though.

Ya I don't like the idea of bolting a steel skidplate right to an aluminum housing either, but no one has complained yet that I know of. I'm gonna go flatbelly anyway so no complaints here...

[whiteman]

I have a FROR style but not there exact design.  I think this type of X-memeber works best if you plan to flat belly.  If not then I would say Marlin or Sky's.

[synwars]

I have a FROR style but not there exact design.  I think this type of X-memeber works best if you plan to flat belly.  If not then I would say Marlin or Sky's.

x2

[lowgeared]

My vote is for Sky.  I weighed all the pros and cons and went with them.  No problems to report as of yet.

[Shoyrtt]

I have Marlin's but we added a little extra protection on the rear passenger side ( a couple of extra plates just in case ). Here is a picture before the extra plates were installed:

The one thing I have noticed is how few times I have actually hit it. I have probably have five trips out with it installed and I think it was hit once. That includes 4 hours on Jack Hammer last weekend. Jack punished my diff armour, sliders, bumpers, gas tank skid and body, but nothing hit the x member.

[Bender]

Budbuilt all the way.  Plenty of protection and great customer service!  If you're in the Sacramento area and want one that will fit with a body lift, let me know. 

[DTB]

Doesnt someone make a dual case crossmember with an e-brake mount of some kind?

All Pro claims the triple x-member  "a skid plate with the highest clearance in the industry"  but it definitely doesnt look as easy to install as the others. Welding IS required http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=106

[crawlerdan]

i ran a fror in my triple case truck and it was a flat belly, never had problems with torque damaging things, even with a 200+ horse motor and 39s. i run the same fror copy in my current runner with a 223.1 crawl and 165hp in the motor, with stock motor mounts i have never seen a twist in the  drivetrain...and we have looked

ffc can attribute to the simplicity and strength in the cross member as she was there for the install..and its been going strong since

[RHG]

I have the sky xmember and I installed 2" bodylift pucks inbetween the skidplate and the frame plates. I nearly have a flat belly now.