How many people are using?

How many of you guys are using the stock XJ front skid plate? Is it a good idea to have it? I have 2 of them, i was just wondering if I should install it.
Same goes for the factory gas tank skid, I have 2 of those and 2 of the factory transfer case skids. (Install them all or not)

I had one on my junk and it got ripped off going over some rocks, totally mangled and bent the tie rod in the process. Needless to say I decided to do without.

Mr.G & Family said:

How many of you guys are using the stock XJ front skid plate? Is it a good idea to have it? I have 2 of them, i was just wondering if I should install it.

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Front skid offers some rigidity to the front end but if you got a good aftermarket bumper you wont get anything out of it. In regards to its skid properties.. well, on a lifted rig all your linkage ends up going below the skid level anyways so it's useless for the most part.

Same goes for the factory gas tank skid, I have 2 of those and 2 of the factory transfer case skids. (Install them all or not)

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I like the factory skid. Works good enough, and just needs couple whacks with a hammer about every year to two years.

So you are saying install the transfer & gas tank skids, and sell the front skids.

Mr.G & Family said:

So you are saying install the transfer & gas tank skids, and sell the front skids.

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Yup. Also before you put the tcase skid on, look into welding some reinforcement to it. I took some flatstock strips and welded them on (edge to the flat surface) along the tcase skid to make it less prone to bending. Worked miracles

Sorry for posting in your chapter, but protection knows no boundaries.

I like my front skid. I have a 3.5" RE lift and 31" tires, and use a JCR Offroad front bumper. The skid gives the front a finished look and a place to hang my JKS sway bar end links when disconnected.

I believe the skid benefits are different for lift size and model year. I have heard the earlier skids (or was that aftermarket???) can contact your steering linkage after hard hits. If that is the case, I would not run one either.

I don't think I follow that logic on my '99, but then again I don't expect to severely contact a rock on the trail that fast, either. I have tested the skid on some hairy conditions and have not had a problem yet. Yeah, that is the dilemma; it would be too late at that point.

A taller lift = more aggressive trail conditions = higher risk of impact.

A smaller lift = a need for more protection = closer to the ground = higher risk of impact.

:dunno: You got me, man. I dunno which is better, but I like the look.

I'd be interested in one of your front skids.

Oh yeah how much?

Kejtar said:

Yup. Also before you put the tcase skid on, look into welding some reinforcement to it. I took some flatstock strips and welded them on (edge to the flat surface) along the tcase skid to make it less prone to bending. Worked miracles

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Sounds interesting, Can you show me a picture of what you did.

I did something similar where I welded two factory gas tank skids together, after crushing a single skid and my tank so badly I lost 5 gallons of capacity.



http://www.shadowco.org/~cal/4x4/techstuff/gasskid/

Mr.G & Family said:

Oh yeah how much?

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$20

i use the stock gas and tcase skids. for the tcase skid i mounted mine fluch on the Xmember so it wouldnt catch rocks and i also like the looks of the stock front skid too. when i had mine i mounted my tranny and PS coolers to it. kept'em safe and out of harms way.

bluejeepkid said:

i use the stock gas and tcase skids. for the tcase skid i mounted mine fluch on the Xmember so it wouldnt catch rocks and i also like the looks of the stock front skid too. when i had mine i mounted my tranny and PS coolers to it. kept'em safe and out of harms way.

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Sweet I might do the same. Thanks!

Interesting idea, but mine got in the way of just about any time I went to work down there.

Now it protects a shel in my garage. Anyone that want to swap it for burger and beer at the San Fernando M&G, let me know and I'll bring it.

bburge

just my two cents about the front skid. I've gotten crap from lots of people for still running it but I have my reasons:
1. I get better gas mileage on the highway with it installed. atleast 1 mpg gain
2. Yea it doesnt protect as well for the 6" lifts but because I DID have it, it prevents my tie rod from getting SEVERLY bent. if the skid wasnt there, that big arse rock would have bent the tie-rod even further

djblade311 said:

just my two cents about the front skid. I've gotten crap from lots of people for still running it but I have my reasons:
1. I get better gas mileage on the highway with it installed. atleast 1 mpg gain
2. Yea it doesnt protect as well for the 6" lifts but because I DID have it, it prevents my tie rod from getting SEVERLY bent. if the skid wasnt there, that big arse rock would have bent the tie-rod even further

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yeah I might just end up installing it and see how it looks.

I ditched mine, as well, because like Remi said, just about anything it protected was now below the thing lol! I think I still have mine somewhere, maybe not.