ScoobyCarolanNC
Active Member
I'm just gonna stick this in here for now as a quick review. Maybe I'll come back and add more pictures later. However, if you're considering getting the Hauk Offroad skid plate system for your Gladiator be prepared... It's not easy to install in your drive way.
If you look at the pics from their website its a gorgeous kit. There ere 3 plates: a gas tank skid, transfer case, and engine skid. First thing is that its wicked heavy steel and you get to order it in factory matched powdercoat so its gorgeous.
Here's some of their marketing shots. THIS IS NOT MY TRUCK!
I'm sure its tough as shit. I have a Mohave and its pretty much stock. II wanted this because I noticed I was banging the stock skids up pretty bad and I even had an oil leak which may have been from taking a hit on the pan.
So far though, its been a huge pain in the ass to install in the driveway. The instructions were terrible. I got a 'new' design for the gas tank skid. It was in 2 pieces and the instructions literally said "This skid is so new we don't have instructions give us a call for tech support". I did and nobody ever called me back. I called back a week later and got through and while they were very apologetic and told me the right way to do it, I'd already wasted a lot of time and effort.
If I had my way every hole would be 1/32" bigger and every bolt a 1/4" longer. I'm into Ace Hardware for $20 to replace a ton of them so far. The tolerances are all SUPER TIGHT. There's been a lot of tightening of one bolt and loosening another to whack everything with a dead blow to move it a smidge. I've stripped a few bolts because the threads were dragging on the plate as I put them in, again bigger holes needed.
Anyway, I wanted to put this up just to say that this isn't as easy as it looks. I'm sure its going to be tough as nail and everything that I paid for, but I'm like 7 hours in on this and only got the gas tank and transfer case in so far. This is not an easy install.
If you look at the pics from their website its a gorgeous kit. There ere 3 plates: a gas tank skid, transfer case, and engine skid. First thing is that its wicked heavy steel and you get to order it in factory matched powdercoat so its gorgeous.
Here's some of their marketing shots. THIS IS NOT MY TRUCK!
I'm sure its tough as shit. I have a Mohave and its pretty much stock. II wanted this because I noticed I was banging the stock skids up pretty bad and I even had an oil leak which may have been from taking a hit on the pan.
So far though, its been a huge pain in the ass to install in the driveway. The instructions were terrible. I got a 'new' design for the gas tank skid. It was in 2 pieces and the instructions literally said "This skid is so new we don't have instructions give us a call for tech support". I did and nobody ever called me back. I called back a week later and got through and while they were very apologetic and told me the right way to do it, I'd already wasted a lot of time and effort.
If I had my way every hole would be 1/32" bigger and every bolt a 1/4" longer. I'm into Ace Hardware for $20 to replace a ton of them so far. The tolerances are all SUPER TIGHT. There's been a lot of tightening of one bolt and loosening another to whack everything with a dead blow to move it a smidge. I've stripped a few bolts because the threads were dragging on the plate as I put them in, again bigger holes needed.
Anyway, I wanted to put this up just to say that this isn't as easy as it looks. I'm sure its going to be tough as nail and everything that I paid for, but I'm like 7 hours in on this and only got the gas tank and transfer case in so far. This is not an easy install.
