>I have a copy of the VW VAG Service publication "Technical 
>Recommendation: Journeys under difficult conditions" for the VW 
>Transporter/Caravelle and LT, but they only show plans for skid plates 
>for the motor, transmission, and underbody _behind_ the front wheels.  
>What do you other folks do to avoid damage?  Do synchos have a skid plate 
>in this area?  Derek Drew, maybe you can offer advice (although I've 
>heard the underside of your synchro looks like a war zone)?

Well, actually, Joel sent me the manual in German so I sent him one back in
English that I had got! 

So your copy is probably a copy of a copy of the original that I sent Joel.  :) 

Anyway, there are fine front end skid plates in that manual, but for
Vanagon, not bus, as I recall.

The manual seems to be aimed at air cooled Vanagons, primarily, although
there is some bus stuff too.

I prefer working with aluminum alloy material for skid plates (3/8ths inch
thick T-6 6061 alloy) rather than fabricating skid plates out of steel the
way the Difficult Conditions manual says to do. The aluminum alloy doesn't
rust, is real slippery on the rocks, and is lightweight so you can bolt huge
sheets of this under your vehicle without it getting to heavy.

You bolt it to the underside using countersink stainless steel screws with
allenhead/hex wrench sockets. In order to support the material all around
against the frame, you buy a pile of hockey pucks and drill holes in them.
Then, use as many hockey pucks as neccessary between the aluminum alloy skid
plates and the vehicle frame. 
___________________________________
Derek Drew
drew@interport.net (main address for e-mail)
derekdrew@aol.com (alternate/backup address, checked infrequently)