Hey Everyone,

I'm rocking a stock JKU right now and am running into a lot of situations where some additional skid plates are probably a good idea.

What would you consider the most important skid plates to run in addition to the stock plates? What is most likely to get hit?

I have a JKU and the longer wheelbase with lower breakover angle is killing me... I'm thinking Rock Sliders might be the best place to start for #1? My side steps are taking quite a beating.

 

I'd start off with oil pan armor if it's 11' or older, the 3.8 pan sits low. Most other areas you'd want skids, you can still get home without em, a punctured oil pan is going be a different story.

 

Sliders are a good start. Heavy duty diff covers are a must, you'll dent/bend one of those in a heart beat. Then you'll really be stuck.

 

I have a stock 2dr Rubicon so sliders are covered and pretty decent. They aren't bomb proof though, my driver slider is bent a little. The gas tank skid is a joke. Bent mine up so bad I lost about a gallon of fuel capacity. I hate the design so much, I'm doing a custom rear mounted tank. Stock cross member is crap too. It's like 14 gauge sheet metal on the bottom. Bent mine up pretty bad.

I've only wheeled it twice. Once at slick rock and once on the Rubicon, so you'll learn quick what suits your particular needs.

Haven't had trouble with the diff covers, probably lucky. I like the poison spyder covers

 

Rock slider first.

I would relocate steering damper with high lift kit second only because I busted mine.

Relocate your evap canister because it is cheap and fairly easy to do.

Final maybe an oil skid, but the oil pan is tucked up and out the way.

Remember the jks have good factory skids. Just get out and enjoy it.

Cheers!

 

I have a 2013 sport with a 2.5 lift and 35s. My last outing I didn't hit a skid once, but I think I've been getting a LOT better at tire placement. I will tell you what I hit, and what I hit hard--- my sliders. I have the ACE bolt on sliders, and I'm glad I do. I was on those a whole bunch of times.

After that, I'd recommend diff covers. My last trip went great, but I slid my rear diff over a rock. It "peeled back" the stock diff cover just barely, and now it leaks about a drip every few hours at night. I'm going to get Riddler covers during Cyber Monday.

So yeah. Sliders and diff covers. Taller tires will also keep you off your skids more often, so that's a must.

 

Rubi rails will accomplish a lot. Just assume you have those cause they are always for sale for cheap somewhere. After that. Diffs, control arm and flip the stabilizer. I damaged all of those before I put skids on.

 

Did the same to my rear differential twice. Went out on a recommendation and bought , solid brand covers with lubelocker gaskets.

 

All depends what you are using you rig for.Diff covers,oil pan protection,under belly protection,rock rails,control arm bracket skids,shock skids

 

^^^^what he said. If you are not bashing around on rocks I doubt you need any.