Underbody Guards

[dew1911]

ok I'm going to start the off road mods going by investing in some decent underbody protection. Anyone got any Recommendation as to the following:

Steering This One £49.50

Axle Needed

Diff This  One £18.74


Tank Needed

Quality wise I'm looking for something that'd stand up to some abuse, but I do have a limit of about £150-£160 total, unless I can make major savings in some areas and then invest that into others.

Thanks,
David

[Ollie]

I have a version of this type of steering guard, find it acts like a plough/anchor if being recovered backwards in the slop.
I would, if given the choice again, go for a Dan-Bar, it's much lighter too!

Cheers
Ollie.

[Edge]

Tank guard..... not sure i would use one on Trug.... not unless i was gonna race offroad.
Steering guard/diff guards are a definate must have.
Dan bar..... yeah i'm gonna get one of them.

Redlinemike has some damn good axle guards.

[dew1911]

ok, what is a Dan-bar, how much and where would I get one hehe.

I agree some guards arew a must-have, hence I'm looking for them before I plan to off road it. I'd rarther spend £50 on a steering guard then spend a lot more and have it off the road for days while I rebuild the steering.
Cheers.

[clbarclay]

A dan bar is a thick wall tube that fits over the steering track rod to give it extra strength. Depending on the nature ot the terrain and the driving a steering guard is not grantied to protect the track rod so a strengthend track rod is a good option.

[Jimbo]

I've been looking for something to protect the track rod and drag links - one of the bars that fits over the existing tubes has grease nipples (the grease stops the bar rusting itself to the tube), but you are supposed to remove the nips before off-roading............so you end up with mud and crud in the hole where the nip was  :shock: . Personally, I think that I'll be going with the solid total replacement bars (can't think who makes them or what they're called right now) - as they seem to be a 'fit and forget' type of thing.

[Henry Webster]

Sumo bars do the same job and can be had from QT or 4AllFours etc.
Basically strengthened track rods and drag links.  IMO if you have these you will not need a steering guard and you are less likely to get hung up on it.  What the steering guard does give you though is towing/jacking points as well, but may not protect the steering all that well.

Wouldn't bother with an axle guard (again imo - sorry Mike! ) or a tank guard unless you are getting really serious!  Diff guards are not essential but useful - again I like the QT ones, but have just welded some steel on to the diff pan on the racer instead.  I don't have any protection on the Discovery that I use to set up/ drive round events with.

H

[Jimbo]

Sumo bars - that's what I was thinking of !

[Jim-Willy]

I have a version of this type of steering guard, find it acts like a plough/anchor if being recovered backwards in the slop.
I would, if given the choice again, go for a Dan-Bar, it's much lighter too!

Cheers
Ollie.

Seconded, i have bent the steering twice with a guard on.  Sumo bars are high on my list of future mods.

[dew1911]

What's everyones opinion on These as I am considering.

Cheers.

[Jim-Willy]

What's everyones opinion on These as I am considering.

Cheers.

well the stock bumpers are 20 quid that is 300 :shock:

No way I would spend 300 notes on summat that gets clouted as often as a front bumper.  You after a winch then? they are a loda money and insurance hassle for summat that won't get a lot of use.

[Xtremeteam]

a fair few have staited that you wouldnt have an axle guard but would rather fit a dan bar or a sumo bar,fair doo's,fit an axle guard & it protects the diff & the trackrod

















(still got some for sale £90 delivered)

[DaveDavies]

Get the slider type diff guards, QT do them and there's similar on eblag

Don't bother with the wrap arounds, you'll feel every bump you catch rather than sliding over..

[SteveG]

This is the order I would do it in..

Good recovery points front and back
Diff Guards
Side sill bars
Protection bars for steering and track rod
Fuel Tank Guard

Diff Guards I second Dave's view and go for the wrap around type. QT are best in my view, but you are talking 100 pounds just for them. Paidia 4x4 do a pair of similar ones for 45 pounds

Side sill bars Go for galvanised, britpart, paddocks etc do a pair for 110 pounds

Protection bars for steering and track rod I prefer Sumo, but lots of people like Dan bars too, a pair will set you back about 90 pounds

Fuel Tank Guard Southdown seem to have best here, but there are cheaper versions

Save on postage and some money by visiting billing and get all or some at show prices (hopefully :roll: )

steve

[Edge]

Just had a look at Redlinemikes fathers axle guard..... they are like a giant ski :D ..... no need for diff or track rod protection.... as its impossible for anything to get anywhere close to them with an axle guard fitted. "Liftman" has one fitted.... go to "new members" and view his post.

 Yes....after seeing one close up & how much they cover.... ive ordered one :D  :D

[DaveDavies]

Just had a look at Redlinemikes fathers axle guard..... they are like a giant ski :D ..... no need for diff or track rod protection.... as its impossible for anything to get anywhere close to them with an axle guard fitted. "Liftman" has one fitted.... go to "new members" and view his post.

 Yes....after seeing one close up & how much they cover.... ive ordered one :D  :D

I am told the trouble with axle guards is they lift the front wheels and you get stuck very easy :(

[extreme90]

dont get paddocks steering guard, reasons why, you hit sommet, it bends easily, and another, if you have fully dislocating suspention i.e rediculous travle  youll bend your drag link cus it fouls badely on the guard
tank guard wise, paddocks is gr8, looks good, takes 3/4 hour to fit and is b***** strong take it from me, well used and abused, saved me a few tanks

[Edge]

I am told the trouble with axle guards is they lift the front wheels and you get stuck very easy :(

I'll soon find out...... as Redlinemike is here and ive handed over the cash.

Can't see how i'll get stuck "easy" though :?: , the rear wheels will still have traction and the axle guard being flat and angled at the front and rear (like the front of a ski at both ends) should slide off anything it hits.

I now have a front diff guard free, to collector. Its near new and never bashed a rock. That was quick.... its gone

[SteveG]

you get stuck in mud because it acts like a plough and digs in preventing forward motion.

Know plenty of people that have bought axle guards and then sold them on.

Some swear by them though, so ignore me and see how you get on with it! :)  :)

Steve

[dew1911]

Well I don't get payed till the end of the month and I can't afford anything till then, but I think it'll be the Paddocks steering guard above to begin with, and then maybe some Diff guards (Perhaps QT, but at that price!!!) and we'll see how it goes from there.

dont get paddocks steering guard, reasons why, you hit sommet, it bends easily, and another, if you have fully dislocating suspention i.e rediculous travle  youll bend your drag link cus it fouls badely on the guard
tank guard wise, paddocks is gr8, looks good, takes 3/4 hour to fit and is b***** strong take it from me, well used and abused, saved me a few tanks

I was looking at that guard purley as it was cheap, no way can I afford to spend £90 on one piece, looking at £50-60 max. Plus I only have standard suspension (and don't see any change in the immidiate future)


Cheers,
David.

[Ollie]

I wouldn't bother with a tank guard for the 110 unless you are removing the rear towing assembly, as that does a pretty good job of it already.

The downside is it acts as a plough at the rear, and can be a little tedious at times as when dropping off a rock/incline, it can bottom out sending a horrible jolt through the chassis. Whilst not damaging, annoying, (to me )

I have opted to remove the towing assy and fit a Southdown tank guard with integrated/removable towing assembly.

Going to collect it from Billing, and will let you know how I get on 8)

Ollie

[dew1911]

tbh Tank guard wasn't high on my list of priorities anyway, I was just brainstorming and it happened to pop into the ideas stew.