I'm a hiker/climber, and here in the PNW that means I often end up driving on semi-rough forest service roads. Given the low ride height, a skidplate seemed appropriate to protect against rocks and scraping. I wasn't able to find any skid plate DIYs here, which is shocking given the off-road prowess of the Fit.

I've seen links to the beatrush plate, but it sounded like it was thin and wouldn't provide much protection. I ended up using a 2'x3' 1/8" Aluminum sheet from a metal supply store for $50. And the hardware was maybe $2-3 at Lowe's.

The aluminum sheet seems pretty sturdy, it took the full weight of two people to bend the metal into shape (unfortunately there's a few engine parts that hang down below the frame). I had to cut about 6" off the length as the sheet is a bit too long. I also trimmed the center off the existing black plastic "skid plate", to make room for my new one.

Time will tell if it holds up (or more importantly, survives any rock strikes), but it seems pretty solid so far!

 

Very enterprising! I will be interested to hear your experience with the DIY skid plate. Sounds like a great idea for people who take their Fits on rough roads regularly.

 

 

I doubt very much it’ll hold up to any real rallying. At best, it’ll hold up against the occasional brush/tumbleweed.

If it takes only two people to bend it, then the over one ton weight of the Fit will completely shred it on anything more then bushes. At best, it’ll deform and then break the very thing you’re trying to protect on impact.

 

Yeah for real rallying, you may want to go heavier than 1/8" aluminum.

I've high centered my car on snow on several occasions last winter, as well as hitting a couple rocks/branches, and there is a single small deformation (left side of the photo). I can see it deforming enough to be contacting the oil pan, but it'll take a pretty sharp rock to actually rip into/through it. The convex shape makes it a bit stronger and tends to deflect the car upwards over obstacles.

 

Thanks for the update, I'm going to see if I can get some 1/4 aluminum for mine. I'd like to minimize the way the bolts hang down too. Looks like yours is serving it's purpose well though.

 

You might want to have some beads rolled into that plate to add some rigidity as well. Otherwise that seems like it'll bow and defect, reducing its effectiveness of protecting the vehicle.

Just thinking out loud mind you.

 

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Have you finally finished turning into some sort of spam bot?

 

that post was so dumb, I cant think of a come back

you win