Invest2m4

Careful with those diff covers, there are clearance issues with certain track bars.

The down side to the one piece systems is that have a tendency to collect trail debris - which can be dangerous if it catches fire. Also, you are worrying about stuff that sits higher than almost all of the drivetrain and suspension. If you are sliding on some of that, you will probably be winching yourself off the rock.

Stubicon

I guess I should have explained what I'm sliding on... I don't do any kind of true rock crawling. Most of my wheeling is done on my family farm and similar trails found in VA. Mainly muddy trails, creek crossings, some hill climbs, etc. Having said that, I have noticed I'm getting hung up occasionally on my crossmember and occasionally dragging the rear diff. A lot of the trails are rutted out to the point that my tires drop in and my underside drags along. I know with larger tires I'll address some of that but thought some skid plates couldn't hurt.

mikeJKUR

Yeah I am in NOVA. I have been to shoecreek a few time but it has been probably 4 years. I was at red cloud a few weeks ago. I also put a dent in the oil pan there. Lucky it was just a dent.

silversurfer575

You may or may not know this, but to my knowledge, lower control arm skids on the FRAME side have not been developed. The synergy weld ons go on the axle end, but to date, the frame end is still a risk..

ade

You loss more than 1/4" airing down. So that is nothing to be concerned about for a diff skid. We all have our own ideas of what is wheeling hard, but if I may quote CALIJK who built the BEAST and probably wheels harder than 99% of us.

Stubicon

Are you referring to the Riddler covers or diff covers in general? And I see what you're saying about debris. My stock transfer case skid collects mud, gravel, etc as it sits right now. I'm hoping larger tires will give me the clearance I'm needing. And eventually I'll probably end up getting 1.5 or 2.5 springs.

Invest2m4

I'd say I wheel hard. So far this season I've blown up new Synergy ball joints, front and rear wheels bearings, a drag link, 4 bead lock rings, a driveshaft... And two weekends ago, I blew up my front D44 ring and pinion and my rear pinion bearing. And all my stock brackets are beyond repair, which I am cutting off and welding beef on for the new owner.

Clearance is important to me, as you will see if you watch my build thread where I am doing a front and rear stretch, double triangulated 4 link, all brackets at or above frame and axle level, close to flat skid belly, etc. I'll have a nice fat Sterling 10.5 out back and no diff cover

I'm just saying it is 85% snake oil, but won't hurt anything. I got mine for free and was about to give it away until a friend said people pay money for them. Even with the trail abuse, I got $185 for it! As they say, one mans trash is another mans treasure. Really though, I could make one for less than $50.

Invest2m4

Yes, certain aftermarket diff covers have clearance issues with track bars. The Riddler's as I recall, are more prone than most. Poison Spyder is the same issue. Just confirm before you buy. I had contact issues back when I had Poison Spyder covers and stock track bars.

ade

Breaking things is not a sign of wheelin hard. IMO it is a sign of too much skinny pedal or trying too many times on the wrong line or your rig is just not up to it. The majority of the aftermarket parts could be made for a fraction of the cost to purchase, it is whether the person has the skills or mind to do so.

Will check out your build thread.

Invest2m4

It's actually big tires on beadlocks in the rocks that did all the damage. The constant stress of wheeling weekend after weekend and several week long trips, takes its toll. I don't use the skinny. It's a manual. I put it in first and it does the rest. Wrong line? hahaha. Whatever you say, man.