Necessary Skid Plates
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 0
From: LSU-Death Valley, Louisiana
i don't know how you would classify my jk but these are the kinds of rocks i play on.....
and yes, i do play on smaller rocks too....
in the two years of running trails like these every other weekend and with a jk ranging from stock to a budget boost, 3" lift, 4" lift", 6" lift", 32" tire, 35" tires and now 37" tires, i can assure you that the underside of my jeep has been worked and worked hard. during this time, i have knocked off my evap 3 times, hammered on my rocker guards and tapped my oil pan twice. again, relocating your evap is a sound idea if you are sitting low to the ground, rocker guards are in my opinion a must and an oil pan skid is something that i even intend to get someday. HOWEVER, to suggest that a gas tank skid or any other skid for that matter is "necessary" is simply NOT true.
and yes, i do play on smaller rocks too....
in the two years of running trails like these every other weekend and with a jk ranging from stock to a budget boost, 3" lift, 4" lift", 6" lift", 32" tire, 35" tires and now 37" tires, i can assure you that the underside of my jeep has been worked and worked hard. during this time, i have knocked off my evap 3 times, hammered on my rocker guards and tapped my oil pan twice. again, relocating your evap is a sound idea if you are sitting low to the ground, rocker guards are in my opinion a must and an oil pan skid is something that i even intend to get someday. HOWEVER, to suggest that a gas tank skid or any other skid for that matter is "necessary" is simply NOT true.
Necessary.....not necessary??? Either way, KILLER photo's, WOL!!! Down here in the South we only dream of such wheelin!!
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
I wouldn't say that you need any skids other than an oil pan skid and the stockers. I think the main reason to get skids is to get the underside as smooth as possible so that when you do get hung up on the underside you can slide easier without catching anything, but I don't see any advantage protectionwise though.
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: KATY TX
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 3
From: Aurora, CO
Since its been resurrected... Have you guys paid close attention to our oil pans? I've seen one off of a jeep and its pretty stout. Its reinforced from the factory.
The only one really "necessary" IMO is for the evap, or of course relocate it...
The only one really "necessary" IMO is for the evap, or of course relocate it...
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Madera , Ca
I just ordered a skid for the evap 5 minutes ago.....but that's the only skid I believe is needed if you don't want to relocate it (like me) but for the most part I think skids only hinder your wheeling because most of them hang so low that if you didn't have them...you wouldn't scrape in the first place. My 78 bronco had all kinds of skids ( bought it that way) I had to take most off because of getting caught on them . WOL you're the man..I gotta get my rig in shape to go wheeling with you and the gang...Maybe next year
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 0
From: Kzoo, MI
WOL, awesome pictures, quick question, my wife and I went on our first serious offroad trip this past weekend and banged up the skids pretty good even though I took everything very slow, one thing I am worried about is the control arm mounts? Did you ever bang yours up? Seems like a lot of people have. I think I may want to protect them with the EVO or Skid Row control arm skids.
I would agree though, since mine is at stock height with street tires, I hit hard a couple times and the gas tank skid got pretty banged up, but it did hold up fine, pretty impressed for OEM equipment. I still may get a rockhard tank skid and a oil pan skid just for piece of mind, but next time I go I will also have a lift and 35s, so I'm sure that will help ALOT with the basic trails we go on, we aren't anywhere near trying the crazy boulders you play on.
I would agree though, since mine is at stock height with street tires, I hit hard a couple times and the gas tank skid got pretty banged up, but it did hold up fine, pretty impressed for OEM equipment. I still may get a rockhard tank skid and a oil pan skid just for piece of mind, but next time I go I will also have a lift and 35s, so I'm sure that will help ALOT with the basic trails we go on, we aren't anywhere near trying the crazy boulders you play on.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
From: Lake Stevens, WA
A new option for anyone looking to protect their oil pan is our full replacement rockcrawler oil pan. It costs less than most of the other skids, doesn't sacrifice any clearance, and is BOMBPROOF!
Check it out:
http://benchmark-designs.com/product...ne_oil_pan.php
We also offer a great evap skid that is very popular and will take the abuse of rockcrawling. Installation is only a 10 minute job on these.
http://benchmark-designs.com/product...ister_skid.php
Check it out:
http://benchmark-designs.com/product...ne_oil_pan.php
We also offer a great evap skid that is very popular and will take the abuse of rockcrawling. Installation is only a 10 minute job on these.
http://benchmark-designs.com/product...ister_skid.php