SKID PLATE QUESTION

This topic has prolly been beat to death but it looks like I am going to be putting skid plates on my rzr. The Spring ride did a number on my factory skid plate. My question is ALUMINUM or THICK PLASTIC.....my thinking is the thick plastic ones would not dent and also slide over stuff better than aluminum....I found the plastic ones on e-bay for around 280.00. Aluminum are close to the same. Any info would be helpfull...thanks.

I put aluminum skid plates on my Teryx. My thinking was that the aluminum ones were less likely to rip / puncture when passing over / getting hung up on sharp rocks (not saying this is necessarily true, but that was my guess). I'm happy with them, but I will say that the engine noise in the "cockpit" was noticably louder after I installed the aulminum skid plates. I surmise that the metal is just reflecting engine noise, whereas the plastic stuff the aluminum skid plates replaced was either absorbing sound or at least reflecting less sound.

I have run the full aluminum skids from EMP for 2+ years now with no complaints at all. These babies are heavy gauge, (3/16th of an inch), and hold up great to abuse. Roughly $100 more than the plastic ones you mentioned but well worth it in my opinion.

http://www.extrememetalproducts.com/RZR/c38/p145/RZR-Full-Belly-Skid-Plate-Set/product_info.html?osCsid=31ba5147830c1ea05f07c297f3249099

[quote=]" I'm happy with them, but I will say that the engine noise in the "cockpit" was noticably louder after I installed the aulminum skid plates. [/quote]

I love the sound of that V-twin in the Terex so to me it'd be an improvement!

Well your in luck. I have alum on the rzr and plastic on the commander. I have had some riding with both.

I decided to try out the plastic and yes it does slide better and it s bit lighter. It is pretty tough stuff.
The bad part of it....I DID NOT like how it mounted up. When you tighten it up in some areas that are not flush with the bottom it will start to warp inward at the bolt. I was worried about the hard impact of a rock at 20 to 30 mph and not so much the sliding over rocks. I dont feel they protect as well in a hard harsh impact as the plastic. All in all I give them an 7. There ok but I have not been too excited about them.
Now onto the Alum. I always by Ricochet. The fit and finish is really nice. They take that direct hit alot better. Now when you go over rocks, it does tend to grab it a little more than plastic. It slides but nowhere near as well. It has scratches in it after two years but still straight and I have hit HARD a few times from a high speed impact. It stayed straight where the plastic will bend some.
They do weight more than the plastic.
If that commander was not being made up to be very quick I would of done the alum. ricochets.
Here is one big thing to think about as well. Lets say you are offroading and you do damage either one. Well that plastic you throw away and get you another. That Alum you can take it to a recycle center......get ya 100 dollars for it then go buy another new set. From what I have seen from both I have seen that the alum can take that high speed hit better in my opinion. I still drive carefully with the plastic even though its tough stuff.

Just something to think about. I still need more time with the plastic set. I have only been on two long rides with them. If you have any questions or need help just give me a shout.

I can't decide either. I've been thinking aluminum because I would rather pull cable than have the engine case, or gas tank tore up. But, one the other hand, I don't drive like I have something to prove either. Maybe driving style means more than the terrain you ride when it comes to picking the right skids.

I have aluminum, I dented the poop out of it and the holes don't all line up to change the fluids so I pull it of once a year to change fluids and for a good cleaning in the winter. It's amazing what gets caught up in there even after spending alot of time rinsing it out ahead of time.

I went through 2 plastic skid plates in no time. I tore a basketball sized hole in the second plate right below the motor. I will never again have anything plastic for protection on a $10,000 plus machine. There is just way to much invested to protect it with plastic. I have run EMP aluminum skid plates for over 2 years now and they have held up great. I can't begin to tell you how many bolts i've ripped out that hold the skid plate. Other than the bolts i've had no trouble and i'm very happy with the EMP skids!!!!

Fiberskins is the new stuff ray ray. Supposed to be the ticket. I have HCR aulm work well.nice bolt protercion.

Yamabeast wrote:

I can't decide either. I've been thinking aluminum because I would rather pull cable than have the engine case, or gas tank tore up. But, one the other hand, I don't drive like I have something to prove either. Maybe driving style means more than the terrain you ride when it comes to picking the right skids.

Bull Crap ... I've seen you drive like a man on a mission before!!!!