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Bash plates

The strongest, lightest and best designed bash plates.

We are the only known supplier of bash plates made from high strength Aluminium alloys for mainstream manufactured passenger and commercial vehicles. We use strengths of 215MPa and above which are typically at least twice as strong as the Aluminium grades competitors use plus have greater hardness. This facilitates thinner plates for even lighter weight or thick plates for extreme strength.

Designed and manufactured in Australia

Design features raise the overall strength

Maximum ground clearance

Optimised angle of attack and slide over

Coverage of all vulnerabilities, including front lower wishbone mounts

Original airflow for cooling is matched or improved

High corrosion resistance

Premium visual styling

High tensile bolts supplied.  Original bolts may not be high tensile

Fully deburred

3 year warranty

Buy Now (A-Z)

There are four material options

4.0mm thick 5083 H116 marine grade 215MPa -- easy care mill finish, as strong as 3mm mild steel (250MPa) and 4mm stainless steel (205MPa) and 6mm low grade Aluminium (105MPa), as light as 1.4mm steel.

5.0mm thick 5083 H116 marine grade 215MPa -- easy care mill finish, as strong as 4mm mild steel (250MPa) and 5mm stainless steel (205MPa), as light as 1.7mm steel.

6.0mm thick 5083 H116 marine grade 215MPa -- easy care mill finish, as strong as 5mm mild steel (250MPa) and 6mm stainless steel (205MPa), as light as 2.1mm steel.

6.1mm thick 6061 T651 aircraft grade 242MPa -- machined easy care finish, as strog as 6mm mild steel (250MPa), as light as 2.1mm steel.

The high strength-to-weight ratio of Aluminium alloys results in a lower mass than when other materials are used, weight savings of 50% are common. The natural corrosion resistance of Aluminium usually obviates the need for expensive protective coatings and their maintenance. The low elastic modulus of Aluminium results in lower stresses from impacts than steel.

Which material to choose?

None of the bash plates are weak and none are heavy. You can't go wrong. The decision is very much up to you. The design is the same for all, the only differences are the thickness and material grade.

The 4mm thickness 5083 H116 is the most popular and typically the option you might compare to our competitors. There is still a big difference to competitors though. If GVM is of critical concern and every single kilogram counts you might choose towards our thinner plates.

The 5mm 5083 H116 plates coupled with the design features that aid strength are typically unquestionably more resistant to failure than all competitors in all or most respects (it may be that this could be said about the 4mm option but there isn't enough evidence yet to make this claim).

The 6mm 5083 H116 and the 6.1mm thickness 6061 T651 are the strongest bash plates I can find anywhere in the world for mainstream manufactured 4WD vehicles. They are typically stronger by a large margin. They are often four or more times stronger than a typical 3mm steel bash plate.

Our bash plate designs

RHS Offroad Engineering bash plates offer an unparalleled degree of design optimisation, coverage, strength, lightweightness, ground clearance, corrosion resistance, airflow and style.

The use of high strength Aluminium alloys means thinner and hence lighter plates can be used for the same material strength, or thicker plates can be used for greatly increased material strength.  Removal of original equipment splash guards, bash plates and bash guards means any weight increase is less than the weight of RHS bash plates.  Saving weight reduces stress on components, increases vehicle acceleration, and reduces fuel consumption, which reduces your carbon footprint.

Material strength however is only one factor towards the overall strength of a bash plate. Design features can make or break a bash plate.  Every bash plate made by RHS Offroad Engineering has a long list of 'strength features' by design.  In some cases this can mean it is much more costly for us to manufacture a bash plate, but this is the kind of dedication we apply in order to supply the best bash plates on the market and best meet your needs. For example, RHS bash plates transmit loads directly into the crossmembers where possible in order to reduce stress on any vulnerable mounts. Another example is the front lower wishbone mounts are protected when vulnerable to damage, damage can affect their ability to be wheel aligned.  Bash plates also strengthen and protect crossmembers, linking them together and preventing objects from entering their space and applying large horizontal loads.  Excellent protection is given for all vulnerable underbody components.

Airflow to radiators, intercoolers, differentials, sumps, oil coolers and fuel coolers is maintained or improved.

All plates are fully deburred for safe and easy handling.