[Shorepoints]

I haven't quite found a good answer to this so I figure I'd just ask it outright. I want to make sure my underside is properly protected. I have a JKU Rubicon and I know it has some stock skids. So.....

1. Which stock skids are adequate, if any?

2. Which stock skids are best replaced with something non-OEM?

3. What skidage should I add on top of what comes on the Rubicon? The Evap skid is at the top of the list. Anything else?


TIA! Happy holidays!!

 

[steve79]

My buddy has full RR skid and uses them regularly, I have a rubi with some pretty decent scrapes on my gas tank skid! Not really sure if it's worth it or not depending on what u plan on doing with your rig. A few times wheeling up in PA I have came close to catching the oil pan on tree stumps but nothing yet!

My $.02 would be really analyze what kind of wheeling and where then go from there! I did make an evap skid just to protect it from rocks on the road not really anything else!

For piece of mind I thought about going all out and doing aluminum for everything eunderneath but not sure if it is truely needed! If your planning on alot of mud romping remember you have to try and clean ontop of all the skids you install and you gas tank!

Not sure if this helps but at least it's a bump to the top!

Merry christmas !

 

[Mr.RonGilbert]

Depends on what you want to do with it really. The aluminum is a good option because weight adds up quickly (bumpers/meats etc..)

I went with the RROR skids (full) and am very happy. If I had it to do again I would do the RROR aluminum setup with the replaceable UHMW wear plates. http://www.riverraider.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=38&product_id=65

Lots of good options out there.

 

[Thisguyhasadd42]

I have the full RROR and love it it has saved my ass a few times

Hit up Jason at KOR he can get you what you need

 

[SlowMo]

The stock skids are pretty good. My transfer case skid is still working good. Have not hit the oil pan yet. Ripped the stock transmission skid off on a rock somewhere....
Trans pan has some dents and slow leak...need to replace with rock krawlers deep sump pan asap. evap. can is still good too which is hard to believe.

I really dont want to add more weight.

Gonna spend my $ on 40's to clear the rocks

If your not gonna wheel big rocks dont worry about it

 

[AvnxScout]

I have bench mark oil pan and rock krawler tranny pan. Gas skid has done its job and then some, one of these days Im going to beat it back flat and do something better

Sent by Droid

 

[SoK66]

Some guys say the stock Rubi skid system is adequate, just needs to be supplemented with something for the oil and trans pans, like the M.O.R.E. skid. I have the Poly full system, plus Rock Hard 4x4 fuel tank skid. I added the latter after beating the crap out of the stock tank skid. The Poly system is tough as nails, you can lift the entire rig on it. However, it makes servicing the trans difficult (has to be completely removed) and it adds over 170 lbs with the Rock Hard. One of our club memebers has added a Poison Spyder cross member and a MORE skid, leaving the stock transfer case and tank skids.

 

[badpunkin]

I added protection to the flowing areas and have had no issues

Rugged Ridge E-disco skid

Benchmark Designs Rock Crawler oil pan

Benchmark Designs Evap Skid

I have scrapes on every skid on the underside, but no damage beyond paint and have not damaged any mechanical part of my jeep. I play in rocks, mud, water and woods.

 

[RODICON]

Running Poly performance on mine & poison syder evap skid.

 

[peanut]

A lot depends on the kind of wheeling you plan to do. Guessing in VA? The RR aluminum skids will probably be a great choice for you. Save the weight and add a little protection.
IF you are really worried about the strength the only one I had an issue with in aluminum was the one that connects to the gas tank for the tranny. Get that one in steel and the rest in aluminum.
I installed the gas tank skid over my stock skid and it worked perfectly in the rocks I would not add the weight of steel. Just my .02
Good luck on your choice!

 

[DaK]

Replace it all with ROCKHARD and be done with it.

 

[nj-rubi]

I recently installed a full set of rror aluminum skids... I can say the went in great and to date have protected me on more then one occasion. I will be adding the wear plates in the future. Mainly because the aluminum does not like to slide all that much.

 

[coilrod]

The rr aluminum are strong enough for most non hard wheeling. Any steel ones are going to be able to better handle sharp rocks. Steel might also help give a lower cog. The rr trans skid will crack/bend and rub on the exhaust cross pipes. The edges where they are stamped with the logo can dig into the pan itself if you whack it hard enough. Surprisingly, even great skids don't makeup for poor driving. Ask me how I know.
The gas tank skid is good in aluminum for me (it's light and fit over the stock skid) but I will eventually have steel for the rest.

 

[merlin4979]

Replace it all with ROCKHARD and be done with it.

^^^This.
There's a big debate between steel vs. aluminum skid plates (weight of the steel versus the aluminum "sticking" to the rocks). Like it was said above, it all depends on what you're doing with it, and where you're offroading. If you are going to be limited to just gravel roads and fire trails, then the stock skids are fine. If you're planning on doing a bit more rock crawling and such, then the Rock Hard 4x4 skid setup is great. (...or River Raider)

You'll also want to swap out for a heavier-duty set of diff covers.

My list includes:

Rock Hard full skids (they're not really that color)

Poison Spyder Evap skid

Poison Spyder Diff Covers

 

[RRauzer]

Some of the full systems do a nice job at protecting the crossmember before you bash the heck out of it (depending on what terrain you are doing/your driving style).

The OEM transmission skid can catch on a rock do to it's design and it hangs a bit lower than the aftermarket ones. Because of that I ended up choosing RR's oil/tranny skid.

IMO, the OEM transfer case skid does it's job pretty well. (I cut those ears off to make it flush with the RR). I'm putting that skid money towards other things.

Gas skid takes a beating, But can be hammered out. A RR skid is somewhere (way down) on the list of upgrades though.

Evap - that's easy: skid it, move it or lose it. I moved mine vs skidded on the off, off chance that a boulder would hang me up in front of a skid or throw me off my line.

 

[Nukeman]

Check out http://www.tntcustoms.com/jkbellyarmor.aspx

 

[walker111]

RROR steel..

 

[20JK10]

I have G/2 front and rear aluminum diff covers, Rugged Ridge evap skid and rear control arm skids, Rancho oil pan skid and JKS front control arm skids.

I'm not a rock crawler, just a trail rider and my set-up works for me.

 

[Topgun863]

Good thread. I'll probably end up doing the RROR Skid System (steel) as theres a ton of big rocks out here in SoCal. Its heavy but at least I have a 2dr and the weight will be down low so it shouldn't be horrible.

 

[Shorepoints]

Great stuff folks....thanks! Yeah, I won't be doing any major rock crawling here in VA. But i'll have the chance to scrape my belly on something.

Someone brought up a good point....protecting the crossmember. I see that PS just came out with something for that. Is that overkill for a lite wheeler?

TC