Looks like we have choices in US for Diff Skid Plates

[ColoradoMike]

Did you ask them for install instructions? Please pass them at along when you get a chance. A grand seems like a lot of money to install skid plates. Unless it is a lot more involved than I think. I’ll have to look back at the videos that they have posted to get any clues as to if in the install, they are welding in brackets or some other craziness. I’m wondering if they just have some kind of formula as to list price and install cost.

ETA: are you paying to have them shipped to you, or can you pick them up at the Denver location? Is there a difference in shipping cost between the two?

I did ask on the install instructions. They say that they will ship with the plates and SHOULD have a video out at the time of shipping. I asked about how hard the installation is and the fella at Owl says it is not hard and involves zero cutting or strange issues. He also stated that the plates and plastic plates are all in stock but are in Anaheim CA. They anticipate shipping out in the next week or so.

You cannot pick up at the Denver location yet so the $99.00 flat rate worked for me

Not certain how they come up with the installation costs though.

Hope that helps

 

[MileHigh]

I did ask on the install instructions. They say that they will ship with the plates and SHOULD have a video out at the time of shipping. I asked about how hard the installation is and the fella at Owl says it is not hard and involves zero cutting or strange issues. He also stated that the plates and plastic plates are all in stock but are in Anaheim CA. They anticipate shipping out in the next week or so.

You cannot pick up at the Denver location yet so the $99.00 flat rate worked for me

Not certain how they come up with the installation costs though.

Hope that helps

I reached out to find out what they would quote me. Based on two data points- this and the underseat air-compressor, it seems that they just charge 40% of the materials price. $1000 is what, like 4-5 hours of shop time? Especially here in Denver. Or does it take two people? It’s not like it’s electrical. Maybe because it’s new and they haven’t done it?

Looked at getting a pair of ramps, but it seems like at Autozone ramps are either $100 and plastic that cracks, or a couple of grand for real metal ones.

I forgot to ask what these plates will do for maintenance. If it’s $1k of labor to get them back on….

 

[anand]

I reached out to find out what they would quote me. Based on two data points- this and the underseat air-compressor, it seems that they just charge 40% of the materials price. $1000 is what, like 4-5 hours of shop time? Especially here in Denver. Or does it take two people? It’s not like it’s electrical. Maybe because it’s new and they haven’t done it?

Looked at getting a pair of ramps, but it seems like at Autozone ramps are either $100 and plastic that cracks, or a couple of grand for real metal ones.

I forgot to ask what these plates will do for maintenance. If it’s $1k of labor to get them back on….

$1000 to install skid plates?!

 

[Itsdchz]

I did ask on the install instructions. They say that they will ship with the plates and SHOULD have a video out at the time of shipping. I asked about how hard the installation is and the fella at Owl says it is not hard and involves zero cutting or strange issues. He also stated that the plates and plastic plates are all in stock but are in Anaheim CA. They anticipate shipping out in the next week or so.

You cannot pick up at the Denver location yet so the $99.00 flat rate worked for me

Not certain how they come up with the installation costs though.

Hope that helps

UGGH! I was order #1, they NEVER stated they had them in stock in Anaheim… I was there all Memorial Day weekend and could have picked them up, had I known!!!!

 

[Tom109]

$1000 to install skid plates?!

I’ll do it for 500

 

[CRH]

I reached out to find out what they would quote me. Based on two data points- this and the underseat air-compressor, it seems that they just charge 40% of the materials price. $1000 is what, like 4-5 hours of shop time? Especially here in Denver. Or does it take two people? It’s not like it’s electrical. Maybe because it’s new and they haven’t done it?

Looked at getting a pair of ramps, but it seems like at Autozone ramps are either $100 and plastic that cracks, or a couple of grand for real metal ones.

I forgot to ask what these plates will do for maintenance. If it’s $1k of labor to get them back on….

Good point about maintenance, being 1 part will be a nightmare to remove to check for leaks on the drive shaft and other minor work.
I thought they looked a good idea but UK shipping would be astronomical

 

[MileHigh]

Owl has been very responsive. They said that the install is fairly time consuming. It takes about six hours of labor. You do have to remove the crossmember and install a new one.

Uninstalling it myself, I’m wondering what the difficulty in manipulating that one big plate would be. I assume it’s a two person job at least, and much easier on a lift, but maybe we could do it on some ramps.

I have asked what level of maintenance would require removing the skid plate. And if maintenance is pretty much limited to the dealer, how does that figure into all this?

 

[anand]

And if maintenance is pretty much limited to the dealer, how does that figure into all this?

You pay the dealer whatever hourly time they want to charge to R&R the skids...

I got hit with this last year with our Sprinter for a front diff and transfer case fluid service at a dealer where they charged me 3.5hrs to R&R the skids... The shop that installed them charged me ~1hr for the initial install (at a fraction of the dealer's hourly rate).

 

[Itsdchz]

Owl has been very responsive. They said that the install is fairly time consuming. It takes about six hours of labor. You do have to remove the crossmember and install a new one.

Uninstalling it myself, I’m wondering what the difficulty in manipulating that one big plate would be. I assume it’s a two person job at least, and much easier on a lift, but maybe we could do it on some ramps.

I have asked what level of maintenance would require removing the skid plate. And if maintenance is pretty much limited to the dealer, how does that figure into all this?

This is odd- The 2 people I have spoke to said it was fairly easy and not near the 6 hours you have been told. They also originally told me it would ship last week….

 

[MileHigh]

I’m starting to get cold feet on them. I do agree that by the engineering they sound like the “best“ solution. And I think they would be good for the Rocky train out here. But on the other hand, I’m not sure for my use case that I need The absolute ultimate in protection. And when the install is near the price of a set of plates from other people, and you think of them more as consumables rather than lifetime body armor, I wonder if they’re right for me. I’m definitely in the buy once, cry once, but I’m concerned that for maintenance, I’ll keep on crying every time we need to get underneath this set of plates, at dealer time and rates , though I guess I could take them on and off when I needed service. Hopefully the new X member doesn’t have to come off very often.

 

[ColoradoMike]

I’m starting to get cold feet on them. I do agree that by the engineering they sound like the “best“ solution. And I think they would be good for the Rocky train out here. But on the other hand, I’m not sure for my use case that I need The absolute ultimate in protection. And when the install is near the price of a set of plates from other people, and you think of them more as consumables rather than lifetime body armor, I wonder if they’re right for me. I’m definitely in the buy once, cry once, but I’m concerned that for maintenance, I’ll keep on crying every time we need to get underneath this set of plates, at dealer time and rates , though I guess I could take them on and off when I needed service. Hopefully the new X member doesn’t have to come off very often.

I wouldnt think the cross member would have to come off much at all tbh....just depends on the service you need.

For me the benefit of having the skids just made sense for me, especially where and how I wheel. I think the Owl design with its entirely flat bottom along the skids is great!

I will be sure to let everyone know how my install goes....if it gets to insane (hard to see how it could) I will report back with my experiences in another thread. I have two options now as far as my install goes:

1. Bring it to the Auto Hobby shop to get it up on the 4 poster lift and crank it out - or -
2. I do it in the garage by putting it up on my quick jack.

There are pro's to each way I go.....when they arrive I will make the call!

 

[Jiman01]

Owl has been very responsive. They said that the install is fairly time consuming. It takes about six hours of labor. You do have to remove the crossmember and install a new one.

Uninstalling it myself, I’m wondering what the difficulty in manipulating that one big plate would be. I assume it’s a two person job at least, and much easier on a lift, but maybe we could do it on some ramps.

I have asked what level of maintenance would require removing the skid plate. And if maintenance is pretty much limited to the dealer, how does that figure into all this?

For the crossmember, I’d think you could use a floor jack to aid with the weight if you’re doing it at home. To your point though, if simple oil maintenance requires complete, or near complete removal, that’s a deal breaker for me. I hope that’s not the case and Owl has thought through the impracticality of that.

Looking forward to hearing about @ColoradoMike experiences

 

[DaneJa]

There does appear to be a hole under the engine, I assume for oil changes. Also why would you remove the cross member for maintenance? When have you ever had to remove a cross member for maintenance? Worst case is you would have to remove the forward aluminum plate and the rear screws on that UHMW plate -- I'm reasonably confident there are at least two aluminum plates based on the doubled bolt pattern on their cross-member. Or just add a Fumoto valve on the next oil change.

 

[ColoradoMike]

When I spoke with Moto at Owl HQ he said to me that it was not a hard job to DIY. I have 3 jacks at the house as well as the Quick Jack 7000 SLX so I am "leaning" towards doing the install at home. One... because I can crank my tunes and work all night if I want (Auto Hobby Shop on base hrs are like 10 to 7pm). Two... I swear like Ralphie's Dad in "A Christmas Story"...ALOT! (the swearing helps the assembly process!)...and Last but not least, I love having a few cold beers when needed...LOL!

From looking at the Owl Video I love how the new cross member tucks the skids up higher than factory so that is a bonus in my book!

 

[ColoradoMike]

There does appear to be a hole under the engine, I assume for oil changes. Also why would you remove the cross member for maintenance? When have you ever had to remove a cross member for maintenance? Worst case is you would have to remove the forward aluminum plate and the rear screws on that UHMW plate -- I'm reasonably confident there are at least two aluminum plates based on the doubled bolt pattern on their cross-member. Or just add a Fumoto valve on the next oil change.

Agreed it does look like the hole in the front plate is for oil changes. Fumoto valves are GREAT! I installed one on my 2019 Tacoma and it was well worth putting it in!

 

[wagons]

I just pulled the trigger on the owl skids as well. Glad I’ve been watching this thread the last several days.

 

[ColoradoMike]

I just pulled the trigger on the owl skids as well. Glad I’ve been watching this thread the last several days.

NICE! Are you installing yourself?

 

[MileHigh]

When I spoke with Moto at Owl HQ he said to me that it was not a hard job to DIY. I have 3 jacks at the house as well as the Quick Jack 7000 SLX so I am "leaning" towards doing the install at home. One... because I can crank my tunes and work all night if I want (Auto Hobby Shop on base hrs are like 10 to 7pm). Two... I swear like Ralphie's Dad in "A Christmas Story"...ALOT! (the swearing helps the assembly process!)...and Last but not least, I love having a few cold beers when needed...LOL!

From looking at the Owl Video I love how the new cross member tucks the skids up higher than factory so that is a bonus in my book!

If you need an extra set of hands or at the very least a cheering section, I'd be willing to help out with the instal to get an idea of what's involved.

My comment about the new X member wasn't properly fleshed out. Yes, it might get in the way of some access, but probably not much more than the standard one. What I was thinking more is that getting off the old one and putting on the new one won't be included in taking off the skid plate if needed. Also, once the plastic filets are attached, they would probably stay attached and that would be less time. So, some oddities on install that probably won't be applicable for taking it down if needed for maintenance. I would assume that for most mundane work, the skid can stay in place, I just want to make sure.

 

[Itsdchz]

I called them yesterday and could not get a commitment to any of our above concerns. No confirmation or denial of install woes, ease, or time. No comment on shipping estimate, even though I was first order. No validated response that these were even in stock in Anaheim location, or at all, yet. No acknowledgment of why it’s 2 weeks in packaging, if they are completed and ready, especially since I ordered raw with UHMW. Too many unknowns for the price and potential annoyances when installing in my garage… I’ll wait it out. I cancelled.

 

[anand]

I called them yesterday and could not get a commitment to any of our above concerns. No confirmation or denial of install woes, ease, or time. No comment on shipping estimate, even though I was first order. No validated response that these were even in stock in Anaheim location, or at all, yet. No acknowledgment of why it’s 2 weeks in packaging, if they are completed and ready, especially since I ordered raw with UHMW. Too many unknowns for the price and potential annoyances when installing in my garage… I’ll wait it out. I cancelled.

That doesn’t instill confidence in general… but also not overly surprising. Perhaps a downside to being bought out at the end of last year