Skid plates and Ground Clearance
JK Newbie
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Gold Coast
The other advantage of an after market skid plate is how "slippery" it is. We are not as lucky down here in Oz as you guys, our government has pretty strict laws about lifts. The legal limit is 2 inches, anything over that and we need an engineers certification that the lift is safe. pretty crappy really. same with tyres, can only go 5% larger diameter that the factory options. So we all live with lower underbellies.
I have 33's with a 2inch OME lift in my diesel 4 door with 5 speed auto and have done a suitable amount of remodeling of my the cross member and bash plates. And this is where I come back to the "slippery" bit. The stock items are bash plates, you bash em and they protect the vital bits. But the way they are pressed and formed catches on things and has hooked me up a few times. A simple recovery to get me unhooked allowed me to keep going. A smooth skid plate would have allowed me keep moving without the recovery. I drive with a bunch of guys in TJ's, XJ's and older classics that have larger lifts and skid plates are less of an issue for them. it only makes sense.
The stock plates do a great job of protecting the underside of the JK. I am not looking for more clearance, just something a little slippery. So that is why skid plates are on my list for Xmas.
What brand? To be honest they all look pretty good. We do have to be careful with certain kits as the right hand drive diesel with 5 speed auto things have some slightly different clearances and fittings. But even with the Aussie dollar doing alright at the moment the cost of shipping and customs from the US (on the heavy items) make this job a homemade affair.
On the weight comments, don't forget that the factory items do a good job because they are a decent weight themselves. You are not adding the total weight on an after market skid plate, just the difference.
I have 33's with a 2inch OME lift in my diesel 4 door with 5 speed auto and have done a suitable amount of remodeling of my the cross member and bash plates. And this is where I come back to the "slippery" bit. The stock items are bash plates, you bash em and they protect the vital bits. But the way they are pressed and formed catches on things and has hooked me up a few times. A simple recovery to get me unhooked allowed me to keep going. A smooth skid plate would have allowed me keep moving without the recovery. I drive with a bunch of guys in TJ's, XJ's and older classics that have larger lifts and skid plates are less of an issue for them. it only makes sense.
The stock plates do a great job of protecting the underside of the JK. I am not looking for more clearance, just something a little slippery. So that is why skid plates are on my list for Xmas.
What brand? To be honest they all look pretty good. We do have to be careful with certain kits as the right hand drive diesel with 5 speed auto things have some slightly different clearances and fittings. But even with the Aussie dollar doing alright at the moment the cost of shipping and customs from the US (on the heavy items) make this job a homemade affair.
On the weight comments, don't forget that the factory items do a good job because they are a decent weight themselves. You are not adding the total weight on an after market skid plate, just the difference.
