The factory skid plate on my 09 JKU is beatup and rusted due to previous owner not hosing mud out of it. Oddly used are hard to find and most of the aftermarket go over the factory plate. Any ideas??

 

That is because the factory "skid" is actually the fuel tank holder. Without it, you'd have a hard time holding your tank up. That is why you don't find people taking them off and replacing with aftermarket and why all the aftermarket skids simply overlay it.

 

Recommend bite the bullet and buy new OEM. And it'll likely be on backorder for a bit. Which is exactly what I'm doing since mine is pretty beat up from doing its job for the last 276,000 miles all over North America. I'm also replacing the transmission crossmember, since it's also pretty beat up, and I had to cut off one transfer case skid plate bolt that was frozen in the hole in it. For that I went with the Synergy product. I ordered both from Northridge4X4.

 

I would suggest, for others worried about the same issue, spraying a mix of oil and diesel inside the plate to slow down the process. Wasn't there a post here recently where someone from NY does that for the entire Jeep and has no rust issues?

 

Mine is a southern Jeep with no rust other than mud caked around gas tank from previous owner. Clay type mud and held the moisture.

I am originally from the northeast rust belt and will tell you Fluid film works awesome. Still use it down here in NC as we are 2 miles from ocean.. boat trailer springs etc...