Im new here and to jeeps and off-roading in general. Are skid plates really worth having? I've seen them for the gas tank, oil pan, differentials and they probably have them for other parts. How many of you guys use them and if you do, which ones?

 

depends what kind of wheeling you do. i have one on my gas tank from a zj just because the gas tank is plastic and i dont want it getting punctured from something flying off or slipping off of a log or rock and gashing it.

not to sure what people normally add for skids, but ive kind of been looking at getting a front skid to protect some of the linkage.

 

I just drive rocky logging roads, I bought used factory front & transfer case for $40 off of craigslist.

Bought a factory fuel tank skid @the JY for $80.

Lots of guys like the factory XJ fuel tank skid. Aftermarket seems popular for the others.

I gather the XJ doesn't really need an engine skid as it isn't too vulnerable.

 

hmm, i dont recall seeing any xj's with skids at the JY, i might have to go take another look and see what i can get.

i got the zj gas tank skid for $25 which i thought was a great price due to what they charge for other crap there... if someone doesnt mind modifying the zj gas tank skid a little bit, its not to hard of a mod. just gotta open the holes up a bit and cut the stock xj heatshield between the exhaust and gas tank a tiny bit.

 

Depends what you do with the XJ. Skids can save your *** out on the trails. I came down hard off a rock once (thought it was longer) and put a decent dent in my gas tank. It didn't puncture, but it was close! I invested in a skid shortly after.

Being in "rock-land" PA, I'm guessing if you wheel at all, you do rocks ... I'd say everything is important. Diff skids, t'fercase & LCA bracket skids. Rocker sliders come in very handy, in fact at anything from blue trails up, you should have sliders. Of course a beefed up crossmember will help protect the tranny. My first armor was diff skids, then rails. I have since added everything I mentioned before, plus body armor.

No wonder the XJ is such a fat pig ...

 

XJ's with the up-country pkg. came with factory skid plates (diff., gas tank, TC, Eng.) Check JY's in area. Or have JY's do a state wide search for some. Should be a lot cheaper than after market.

 

what does the factory diff skid look like? Is it front or rear?

 

There's no factory diff skid that I have ever heard of.

 

at the very least, you want diff skids, gas skid and t-case skid. then the rest when you're ready to do them.