[thomas.pryer]

Hey guys, Im new to this page. I've just bought myself a swb Suzuki Escudo and I'm wanting to put some bash plates on so I don't destroy the underside, what sort of thickness should I be using for the metal, and what would the measurements/angles be, Im wanting to get one that covers the front section of the vehicle, one that covers the middle of the vehicle and one that covers the rear of the vehicle. I would be cutting and bending the metal myself as im able to get access to the tools required.
Cheers ☺️

[Qthefun]

I am no expert but anything over 3mm plate is going to be heavy and anything under 5-6mm will be useless in my opinion (ex sandblaster) so fully plating is extreme. That being said maybe just protecting the moving parts and sills might be a better option (no idea about angles or what to use) I recon no taking away from ground clearance would be the best bet. Hard question to answer as it would be a matter of trial and error with any type of protection for any sort of 4x4 (doubt there is a cookie cutter one size fits any under side).

sorry if this adds more questions than answers but in my former line of work (industrial sand blasting) we had some epic problems often sorted by giving into cost vs practicality

[fordem]

The first thing to understand is saying you have a short wheel base Suzuki Escudo doesn't tell us very much - Suzuki has used the Escudo name across at least three generations of vehicle - the year of manufacture (if you know it), might help some, otherwise, a picture is a good idea. Once you have figured out which generation of vehicle you have, we may be able to assist further - I know of a couple of websites with "documented designs" for the SQ series vehicles (98~05), I'm sure someone else can provide links to the other generations.

Regarding Qthefun's comments on thickness - the strength of a bash plate (or any form of "body armor") does not necessarily lie in the thickness of the material - in fact, that is a very crude (and heavy) way to go about it - a properly designed, folded sheet bash plate will be significantly stronger than a flat sheet of the same thickness - the challenge lies in designing one that can be cost effectively produced in small quantities (ie. without expensive tooling) - something as simple as folding a 10mm lip along the edge rather than leaving it flat can significantly increase the rigidity - try it with a piece of corrugated cardboard.

[christover1]

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=26413&hilit=bash+plates

[christover1]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=33201&hilit=skid+plates

[thomas.pryer]

Its a 1993, chassis- TA01W, engine number- G16A
Thanks for all the replies so far

[Gwagensteve]

3mm is plenty with some ribs/folds etc added. The objective isn't to create an impenetrable barrier able to take enormous hits without yielding, in the case of a Vitara/escudo, it's really about providing a ramp for the front crossmember to slide over - this is about the only bit of the car (other than the fuel tank) that's vulnerable to damage.

[vet 180]

Will it be made of aluminium?

[Qthefun]

Thomas are you going over heaps of rocks? or just light duty bash plates?

[got_bar_work]

aluminium ia the worst thing to use. Its soft .rocks dig in to it and tear rather then sliding over it