We put a small dent in the oil pan the second time out with our 2 Door Plain Jane Wrangler (Automatic) so armoring the underside was an easy decision.

I got the Skid Row unit and I would do it again, but while some may put one on in 20 minutes that is not my experience!

I installed the left and right front brackets in about an hour. The Passenger side was nothing, the drivers side required some serious cranking on the motor mount bolt to get it loose. Once that was done then cinching it up was not very difficult.

On the automatic you have to remove the stock cross beam and skid plate. Easy enough to do and it weighs only a bit less than the Skid Row Unit so the weight gain turns out to be minimal.

Then the fun began

The exhaust crosses over in front of the transmission cross brace. On mine the exhaust pipe hangs just 1/8 inch or so below the bottom surface of this brace and its to that surface that you bolt the back of the skid row unit. So unless you want vibration noise you have to reposition the exhaust pipe a bit.

You have to loosen the exhaust pipe in two places then bend the pipe hanger up until the exhaust clears then re cinch the exhaust pipe then proceed with the install of the plate.

I could not, for the life of me, break the second nut on the exhaust pipe. I don't have an air wrench at home and no other form of leverage I could put on this thing would work. I have not wrenched for a living for many years but I have not forgotten everything.

So I mounted the front hangers to the skid plate, threw it in the back of the jeep with the remaining four bolts and went to Midas.

I told the Midas guys what I needed and asked if they would hang the skid plate as long as I was here. No problem.

They tweaked the pipe and raised it a good 1/4 inch above the base of the tranny bracket.

Then we went to get the plate put in. About an hour later we had it done, but we had to do some customizing of the hanger brackets to get it to fit. A little bend here and there and we got them to fit. But bending parts this heavy requires a good vice just so you know. This shop let me under the jeep with the mechanic and between the two of us we got it done.

But, and this may be my 50+ year old self barkin, getting this done at home without the benefit of a floor jack would be very tough. Air tools would make it much easier compared to regular wrenches. I do have a 50 pound vice and a couple of tool boxes of stuff but I still fell short. I like to do things once and get it done correctly so I don't have to fool with it later.

The Drivers side hanger has a pretty good press on the tranny cooler lines but thats mostly because they supply you with a rubber hose to put over them so they don't get rubbed through. I will just keep an eye on this and see how it holds up. Worst case is I will re route the lines.

Would I do this again? Absolutely! Once its on it gives you the protection that Jeep should have provided for your oil pan. The metal is very heavy and the fabrication is very good.

I have also found that Skid Row has apparently modified the brackets to make install easier. So some of what you see written up and pictured on the web may not apply to your kit.

In any case I am sure the unit will perform well and I have not read any substantial complaints from current owners. But do give yourself the better part of a day just in case you need to make a side trip to the muffler shop!

 

The exhaust portion of the install was difficult for me as well. I had a hard time loosening and tightening the exhaust bolts. I ended up having to replace them by the time I f'd them up!!

I also do not like the pressure that the support bracket puts on the automatic transmission lines. I am keeping an eye on it.....but think it will be ok with the rubber tubing skid row supplies to help protect the lines.

Once installed this is a very nice skid plate. I have gotten hung up on it pretty good and it just laughed!!

 

I will keep a frequent eye on the lines too. That is the one area that I have a bit of concern over. But its easy enough to inspect.

It does have a solid feel to it!

 

I second that. I'd do it again any day! But - the installation was a pain in the a**! And was all alone, just me and my floor jack. And the installation sheet was really bad, the pictures were just a blurry mess of black and white.

Finally got it working though, and now I feel more confident out in the bushes!

 

i guess im lucky because i have a manual

when i installed the plate over a year ago, i did it in about 20 minutes

no rubbing (although close to the exhaust) and no problems at all

 

nice, but i think i like other company offering better for my own purposes.

does it hold water/mud at all? getting it packed full of slush/ice etc. is a genuine concern here for me, other skids i have looked at dont seem to have the whole pan effect. I am not sure if it would be a problem, just a curious observation.

 

Happy, It does collect stuff but it also washes out pretty easily. Have had RubyDoo's on for almost a year now.

 

yeah thats my experience too...But I am removing this thing and will be putting on the TREX under armor system....That system looks more thought out and not just slapped together.

 

I was thinking about buying on from a guy without hardware. I would have to purchase hardware. Are these pieces I could get from a hardware place? Are there brackets and other pieces that come with the hardware? Any help?

 

I plan on picking one of these up, if they have made the install easier.