Who wants underbody skids? I have had a solid conversation with BudBuilt!!!

[Rupert]

OK, I just hung up with Bud. He is totally willing to design and prduce full underbody skids for the Gren. Calling all North Carolina owners. He needs a truck for a day or two and he is in (Hudson, NC) near Hickory, NC. Is anyone willing to part with their Gren for a couple days to allow him to take measurements and build a prototype? Please let me know ASAP. If all the NC guys are not interested, I will ship mine up there, but this is a fallback position. Please let me know.

I have had BudBuilt skids on two of Toyotas (4R and LC) and they are totally bulletproof. DM me or respond. I will be glad to get you my cell so we can discuss the details. Please go check out his work. He has been in business now for 25 years.

BudBuilt - Toyota Skid Plates, Rock Sliders, and Bumpers for Offroad and Overland Adventures

 

[terdrocket]

OK, I just hung up with Bud. He is totally willing to design and prduce full underbody skids for the Gren. Calling all North Carolina owners. He needs a truck for a day or two and he is in (Hudson, NC) near Hickory, NC. Is anyone willing to part with their Gren for a couple days to allow him to take measurements and build a prototype? Please let me know ASAP. If all the NC guys are not interested, I will ship mine up there, but this is a fallback position. Please let me know.

I have had BudBuilt skids on two of Toyotas (4R and LC) and they are totally bulletproof. DM me or respond. I will be glad to get you my cell so we can discuss the details. Please go check out his work. He has been in business now for 25 years.

BudBuilt - Toyota Skid Plates, Rock Sliders, and Bumpers for Offroad and Overland Adventures

I was just up there 2 weeks ago

 

[Tom D]

There are supposed to be factory ones coming out at some point.

 

[Rupert]

There are supposed to be factory ones coming out at some point.

Any ideas what the factory ones are going to be made of? What's the delivery timeline on these? I am still waiting on blanking plates for the RAI....Typically, the factory ones are not strong enough to support the vehicle's entire weight. These are solid, 3/8 steel. He also offers aluminum, great for weight reduction but they will still bend. My biggest concern is the plastic transmission pan, fuel and brake lines that are exposed. I like the additional weight low as it allows some offset to a RTT or anything else that might be high on the vehicle. Sure, it will impact MPG, but it's a give and take. I'd rather burn more fuel and get home than worry about getting home, hiring a tow truck to pick me up in the dark corners of the earth is a different level of cost.

 

[Rupert]

Wow, 78 views and nothing? Bump!

 

[Jiman01]

If I had a truck, I’d be happy to do it from upstate, SC

 

[anand]

FWIW, another NC company has a vehicle currently and is in the process of the same (and other products)... Plenty more coming soon from stateside vendors!

 

[Bruce]

Budbuilt kit is solid. I wish Shrockworks out of Houston hadn't gone belly up during lockdowns.

 

[anand]

Budbuilt kit is solid. I wish Shrockworks out of Houston hadn't gone belly up during lockdowns.

Definitely, no disrespect to BudBuilt, definitely a strong name

 

[Bruce]

No disrespect sensed, @anand. Coming from Toyota you'd know their history. I am curious who you are working with though!

 

[Rupert]

PM me as well please. I’ll most likely go with BB but always curious about what’s out there.

 

[Tom109]

I like the idea of 3/8 steel plate. I wonder if they plan steel diff guards?

 

[Rupert]

I like the idea of 3/8 steel plate. I wonder if they plan steel diff guards?

I will get that in the works as well.

 

[Rupert]

Anyone have a Gren in North Carolina? Please reach out as we need to see if we can get this set up.

 

[Rupert]

OK I am going to give it about another month then I am shipping mine up to Bud Built. I hope that in the next month, some of you that are interested will go the https://budbuilt.com/ site and take a look at the thickness, steel quality, and read some reviews on their performance. Google “Budbuilt skids” see what you can find out. I will tell you that aluminum will not adequately protect the undercarriage of the Gren. I am not talking about Rock Crawling. I am talking about standard trails in Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and several other states. Rugged trails that are used every day. Good luck, and happy trails.

 

[Rupert]

https://jwbmgallery.smugmug.com/Cars/2020-LAND-CRUSIER/2020-LAND-CRUISER/i-wjLWqrP

 

[Rupert]

https://jwbmgallery.smugmug.com/Cars/2020-LAND-CRUSIER/2020-LAND-CRUISER/i-JDGP7Nb

 

[Krabby]

Those links ask for login credentials

 

[Rupert]

I’ll try and figure a workaround. Can’t recall the PW.

 

[Jiman01]

I’ll try and figure a workaround. Can’t recall the PW.

This is what it says on Smugmug when I hit, “Need a hint”: Hint: first two san carlos grandmothers nickname last two ….not sure if that helps you