Skid Plate-Slider question . . .

[Boaz]

OK, I just wanted to be sure before I posted anything. But here's the website of the company that is developing the front skid plate.
http://www.oe-accessories.com/
They should be out after the first of the year. You can put in an inquiry on their web site, and that might speed things up if they see interest.

Should be similar to my Mantec non-winch one (below), but with some design / aesthetic differences.

 

[Mr.BigsLR3]

OK, I just wanted to be sure before I posted anything. But here's the website of the company that is developing the front skid plate.
http://www.oe-accessories.com/
They should be out after the first of the year. You can put in an inquiry on their web site, and that might speed things up if they see interest.

Let's hope they are reasonable with their pricing. So far, OE has not impressed me. Call me a cheap bastard. But, if the pricing is too high, I will be looking abroad to find parts. I just contacted a group in New Zealand about a rear bumper spare carrier. To save a buck or two, I don't mind having to wait for the parts.

 

[davidfkon]

Boaz,
that isn't their skid plate on yor LR3 is it?

Mantec is ~$550
Rasta ~$290 . . .

 

[davidfkon]

Mr.Bigs . . . what's your issue w/OE . . . .

BOAZ - I saw some proteection . . . but not much info . . . sill only? Goes to frame? How do tey connect?

 

[davidfkon]

OE's sill wraps are $1250 . . . offroving's stage 1 are the same and stage 2 $1395 . . . the look a LOT beefier then OE's . . .

 

[Mr.BigsLR3]

Mr.Bigs . . . what's your issue w/OE . . . .

BOAZ - I saw some proteection . . . but not much info . . . sill only? Goes to frame? How do tey connect?

Only price. They are VERY proud of their products.

 

[Mr.BigsLR3]

OE's sill wraps are $1250 . . . offroving's stage 1 are the same and stage 2 $1395 . . . the look a LOT beefier then OE's . . .

My point exactly. RS sliders are better built. Quality fab, IMO. Those plates look mean. OE's protect the sills with less material for the same price. Go fig.

Maybe it's the cool logo that makes up the difference.

Side note - I am an Industrial Designer by trade. I know what it costs to make this stuff. When I can fab up custom made control arms for a Porsche for less than $1000, I think these guys could make something a bit more in the real-world price brackets.

 

[nwoods]

I have to say, I am absolutely stunned at the prices for sliders on this rig. My FJ Cruiser's ARB sliders cost me half as much as anything I have seen for the LR3. Granted, each truck is in a different price bracket...still. Talk about highway robbery.

I know a fabricator that helped me develop this. I wonder what he could build for me on the truck.

Its funny how many people say this, then they see the sliders and go, Oh, now I understand. The Sliders for an FJ are completely uncomparable to the RS sliders. First, the FJ is a mass produced vehicle, that costs a fraction of the value of an LR3. So what? So many more people go wheeling with the FJ, there are litteraly tens of thousands more buyers to ammortize the cost of a product. Not so with the LR3.

Secondly, the FJ sliders are basically tubes. The RS sliders are complex plates, with compound curves, laser cut steel, dozens of welds, and about 75 pounds more steel. The sales price of the RS Sliders is basically the fabrication price.

 

[Mr.BigsLR3]

Its funny how many people say this, then they see the sliders and go, Oh, now I understand. The Sliders for an FJ are completely uncomparable to the RS sliders. First, the FJ is a mass produced vehicle, that costs a fraction of the value of an LR3. So what? So many more people go wheeling with the FJ, there are litteraly tens of thousands more buyers to ammortize the cost of a product. Not so with the LR3.

Secondly, the FJ sliders are basically tubes. The RS sliders are complex plates, with compound curves, laser cut steel, dozens of welds, and about 75 pounds more steel. The sales price of the RS Sliders is basically the fabrication price.

Nathan - No disrespect intended. As I mentioned, I understand the implications of the FJ being an entirely different vehicle.

All laser cuts are, are CNC machining. Easy peasy. I respect the fact someone actually thought through what was needed. However, once design & R&D is complete, type up some code and rock n' roll. Price it right - you sell more. Simple as that.

I come from the Porsche side of the motoring world and even designed, fab'ed and sold my own parts. With some Porsches, there are even less cars out there. In fact, the one I showed was one of 1200 or so ever brought to states. But even then, there are shops that price work accordingly and some that don't.

I'd be real curious to see what the margins are on the RS Sliders, Mantec plates, etc. Believe me - I will be visiting my guy who fab'ed up that cage for me. He is one hell of a fabricator.

 

[nwoods]

Go for it! The best possible thing that could happen to the LR3 market is more choices.

But you sorta phased out on the expensive part of the RS Sliders. More material is required, and significantly more labor than other traditional designs. As for margin, its nil. Everyone involved in making and distributing them has lost money. This is primary due to shipping debacles (sent to wrong country, or impounded by Customs, etc...) and customer service related fulfillment challenges (LR's quality control, related to the subframe members leaves a lot to be desired!) that have erroded the profit margin.

THere are much less expensive options out there, such as HighCountry and SafariGard (as soon as Casey gets back from Iraq), but they do not compare to the RS product in feature in or execution. You aren't driving a Toyota anymore.