Ok here is where I sit

I have to make a decision and prioritize what I need next.....

Do I buy Differential Covers (front and rear)


or

Do Buy ...Oil Pan Skid and Evap skid.



What do you think would be a priority??? which ones come first??


I am thinking Diff Covers first.........thoughts????

 

I would protect in the following order:

oil pan
evap
diffs
lower control arm mounts

I know there are lots of aftermarket skids out there, but it is my understanding that the OEM skids are actually fairly stout. I might have this detail wrong, but WOL and others who hardcore wheel more often than most have all their stock skids still on board...

best of luck...

 

While it is cool looking to have a diff cover there are very few people that have killed there diff with the stock ones.

 

The front differential should be first especially if you "rock crawl", the OEM is okay, but not very strong. Second would be the evap canister, it's difficult to break but definitely something worth protecting. Then I would go for the back dif. cover. I don't understand people that put a skid on the oil pan, it's pretty high up and really difficult to break, not to say that if you hit it, you would probably just bend it, not break it, I have yet to find someone that actually broke one... Instead I would invest in Woods's steering stabilizer relocation bracket:

http://www.jeepswag.com/jeep_jk_stee...kit/index.html

and AEV Differential Skid plate:

https://secure.aev-conversions.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=NTH242

I promise you those two upgrades will be far more useful than an oil pan skid plate.

cheers.

 

I would do it in the order he said also...the oil pan is up high but I saw someone take their stock one out this weekend on some rocks

 

Relocate steering stabilizer* and evap canister: JeepSWAG/Woods kits, $110

Oil pan protection: Rock Hard oil pan protection (not skid), $110

Diffy covers: Riddlers, $99 each

*I realize that you didn't mention the SS, but it and the evap canister are the two most vulnerable items on the bottom of your Jeep. Yes, neither will stop you on the trail, but both will cost you money to replace. Do both together to get the package discount. Also note that for less than the cost of an oil pan skid, you can do the SS and evap canister relocations, AND the oil pan protection ($220 total). Diffy covers are last because it's so rare to hear of damage to them.

 

Matador,
I went for the oil pan protection first and used the Rancho rock gear.
The diffs look a lot heavier duty then the stock oil pan to my eyes
The evap is higher then my gas tank or tranny so.... oil pan first is what I did.

 

I went in the order I broke stuff or felt it was the most in danger. Diff covers first, then SS relocate, evap skid, lca skids along with gussets since they were welding both at the same time then finally oil pan skid. I'm sure that the diff covers could've waited but I didn't want to chance blowing one of them out, they're the lowest part on the vehicle and can't be driven if their internals are damaged.

 

I have the rough country SS so I don't think I need the relocation bracket as it pretty much sits higher up like the bracket from jeepswag....

Oil pan is probably first now after all the advice


Thanks guys

 

I dented the hell out of my stock diff cover, so I did that first. I then relocated the steering stabilizer after I broke it. I have yet to get an oil pan skid, but I will get that soon.