Noticed on my window sticker and than after crawling under my jeep that it came with some armor covering the gas tank etc, how durable are these or are they worth upgrading and just tossing away?

 

The gas tank "skid" is really more of a gas tank "hanger". I've never had a 2dr so I can't speak to how often it takes abuse on that wheel base. On the 4drs it's something you land on all the time and they dent like heck....to the point that you can lose a bit of fuel capacity. It also sucks to drop the tank and bang back to flat. IMO, even a cheap gas skid (they pretty much all overlay the factory skid) is a good idea and doesn't cost much. I do think it's a good idea to add a tranny skid considering the rocks you are in out there, and for that matter, a heavy duty cross member is nice to have. The TC skid is adequate unless you're just going with a full system that you want to match. All just my which can't even buy you a gumball these days.

 

As the driver of a 2-door JK, I can tell you that my tank has a little bit of trail rash from the previous owner, but I have never hit it myself... I've had vastly more issues with hitting the rear lower shock mounts than I have the gas tank skid, but I am still running on 33" tires though I have lifted my Jeep 3 inches; so the gas tank has moved up but the shock mounts have not since I have not added bigger tires yet. That said, I ran it once on the trails at Southern Missouri Off-Road Park prior to my lift but after my 33"s and I did not hit it then either... I am shifting my focus to skid plates now and plan on getting many from Rock Hard here in Nebraska, but the fuel tank skid will be literally the last one I replace.

 

Not to get off track, but how did you like that park? It's a decent ways from me but there are times I get close to it when in northern AR.

 

Thanks for the input fellas, i will probably go with a full underskid system and since i am starting to add up the extra poundage i'll be adding in armor, fenders etc i may end up going with a 3.5 or 4" lift to compensate. I was surprised to see that extra added option on the window sticker for skid plates under the rubi as my previous TJ had nothing to speak of under there.

 

To be very clear, I have only been to two off-road parks in my life - SMORR and Hot Springs ORV. That said, SMORR is AWESOME! Both parks suffer from not having enough signage to navigate the trails super easily in every instance; however, at least the map for SMORR is not hand drawn so GPS software can accurately interpolate you where you actually are relative to the trails. Additionally, SMORR's facilities (e.g., bathrooms, showers, etc.) are AMAZING! I did not expect much so I was blown away when I found marble decorated bathroom facilities in extremely good repair. Hot Springs felt more like a KOA, which is fine to my taste, but my wife noted missing the amenities of SMORR. I would highly recommend SMORR!

 

The rubicon has no more under armor than any other mode, it was not an option. Your TJ had the same type of skid on its fuel tank and had a full transmission and transfer case skid.Full skid packages are a waste of money and just add a bunch of weight.

 

Interesting I saved my transfer case and rear gas tank numerous times on my previous TJ with the aftermarket under armor i installed on it.

 

If you say so.

 

The belly pan skid hung down an extra inch from the previous owner installing spacers due to the lift, if you don't think adding armor and tucking that transfer case up and out of the way was worth not getting hung up on the rocks than i don't know what to tell you.