Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Tools, 2 jacks, 21MM deep socket with extension, gloves, safety glasses and BFH.

step one:
Clean your garage so your not on the ground in all kinds of crap! :popcorn:

Set your E Brake and block off your front wheels.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Step 2:

USe each jack on either side of your the shock mount/ leaf spring hanger.

Make sure you square them up, keep the jacks just inside the edge of the shortest leaf. jack them up so the leaf pack is flat.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

pic of above post. This will allow the the threads from the two U bolts to be long enough for you to slide the new brackets on. Make damn sure you don't let your shock push the bracket down. USe a ratchet strap to hold that in place. I just turned my Rancho shocks to one and they stayed.

Once you get the leafs jacked up safely, pull your tire. YOu get way more room. YOu may want to slide the tire under there if you don't have jack stands for a safety

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Step 3: Go back in house and put bandage on your finger. :mad:

I did make the mistake on the first one. I let the shock push the U bolt off. Those bolts have preassure pushing outward about 1/4" It;s not easy getting them lined back up either. That's when I learned to use two jacks on the leaf springs.. (just enough room to get your plate on too).

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

It;s really an easy install if you use the two jacks. The stock shocks will no doubt be more of a challenge. You may consider taking the top of the shock mount off to make it wasier. The stock socks have more resistance then the Rancho shocks set to one.


DISCLAIMER: THese are only guidelines!!!!! If you mess up your truck or yourself, it's your fault!
...not mine.;)

FWIW- These thing are built strong!!!! I don;t think I've seen any skid this rigid before. I cannot wait for Moab. The otehr skids will be welded on this week sometime.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Once the other skids get welded on, I'll post the finished picks.:perfect10s:

Great Job HUNNER!

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Good thread Tim, I welded the fronts on today & putting the rears on tonight, thanks for your ideas.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

please post a pic of the front ones. how do they line up with the gas tank sheild? i hope i have not all ready knocked everythin around too much.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

I was looking at this too. Since my gas tank shield is sooo bent up and out, I'm not sure how I'm going to mount that side. It seemd that you have to build up one side before mounting. Where you are supposed to mount them it isn;t a flat surface all the way accross.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Nope, it's not all flat, frame is overlapped there...hold them in place with a magnet & weld tight to where it is touching, then build up around it some. Also weld down outer frame edge. I didn't bother welding on fuel tank skid side, they are held on nice & tight with just those two edges. Plate will extend a little further outside frame (not quite centered), just line up straight & go. That frame is some hard steel, turn up the voltage!

Great call on the ratchet strap idea, it holds the shock compressed so everything stays together, thanks!

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

[quote=Cris Burkhalter]Nope, it's not all flat, frame is overlapped there...hold them in place with a magnet & weld tight to where it is touching, then build up around it some. Also weld down outer frame edge. I didn't bother welding on fuel tank skid side, they are held on nice & tight with just those two edges. Plate will extend a little further outside frame (not quite centered), just line up straight & go. That frame is some hard steel, turn up the voltage!

Hunner, that's me wrote
yeah what he said! TIG would really work better with the frame butt if a frog had wings...........you didn't get any of that splatter on ye didja??

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Hmmm having server problems or sumpthin

Hunner, that's me wrote
yeah what he said! TIG would really work better with the frame butt if a frog had wings...........you didn't get any of that splatter on ye didja??

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Have the rear plates in for powder coat so I'll be installing in a few days. What is the correct spec for the u-bolt torq? Info would much appreciated.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

DONE!!!! :jump:

One more item checked off the list. :excited:

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Do we get to see???

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

We're not takin' any more pictures 'till MOAB!!!!

All our sh!t will look better there, with red-rock scars on it.

I know you couldn't wait for powder-coating, Paul...it's on the bottom, anyway. That's what rattle-cans are for.

10 days & counting!

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

No time for photos, to much left to do , to little time to do it in....

See Ya in MOAB Bebe....

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

1965 IH Scout 80, fully restored with winch, lockers, Dana 44's...holds it's own to an H3.:)


thats one sweet ride you got there :beerchug: :perfect10s:

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

X2 :iagree: :giggling:

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

You don't know how bad I want to bring it, too! Gimme a V8 in an H3 & I'll tow it out next year!

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

We looked this up for an 06 and 07 hit the print button on the 07 but they are the same.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

I think I remember someone here had Amstar ones put on by a dealer and was told they had to replace the U bolts too be cause they stretch when installed.
Something to look into.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Whatever the individual decides. If that gives someone piece of mind by all means do so. They probably would if ask not recommend you go offroad and bash about over rocks and run the vehicle thru gritty mud and sand as well. I believe GM built the H3. I have noticed Amstars web site is still back under construction. Local spring shops are the best source for ubolts replacement. I had about 3000 miles on mine when I installed the skids. I did not replace mine. The springs have not fallen off.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Thanks for info Hunner... I torqed them to 60 the other night so a littel over spec.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

Hey guys, thanks for the write up Tim. Going to put them on today, finally got my H3 back. I printed out you write up and I should be a big help.

Re: Hunner's Skids Install made simple
 

I got to see them in action on Hunner's truck Saturday.. I was following him on a trail at Superlift and he nailed a big rock in the middle of the trail.. Left rear tire lifted up and the skid rolled right over the rock.. After seeing that I had enough sense to stop, walk up and roll the rock over to the side before following on.. :jump:

Of course by then he'd disappered around another corner and we didn't have a clue which trail he'd headed down.. We decided it prolly wasn't the one rated 5...