I have been trying avoid asking because I know the answer is here somewhere. I have searched alot but can't find it,so here it is.

What underarmor is more needed and what armor from the factory needs up-grading?

THanks in advance and sorry but I couldn't find it know where else.

 

No worries, this forum is not about telling people to search but rather giving our members the answers they need when they need it.

IMO all the OE armor needs to be upgraded but if you are running with nothing then OE stuff works a lot better then nothing. The 3 pieces of underbody armor I would suggest would be gas tank, TCase, and oil pan.

 

Yea if any member doesn't want to answer the question asked, they can just go to the next post....Now how easy was that.......................And I agree with Kyle, but the front skid is nice to keep stuff from poking up through the radiator...

 

If you have a decent lift, the front skid isn't necessary. You do need differential protection, either a skid or a HD diff cover. Well worth the money. Also, gas tank, transfer case and rocker guards.

 

Everyone has an opinion but they failed to ask you what type of wheeling you are doing. Are you in the mud or on the rocks(sounds like I'm ordering a drink) or is it desert or a combination like logging trails.
Each requires a little different priorities. Rocks require the most armor but desert requires the least. So what's your poison?

 

Lots of mud and woods. I really ain't got many rocks.

 

Also what size wheel Would be best with 31's?

 

i like 15x8's for 31's. as far as the skids go it is just like the others said. for logs and mud i think you would want a t-case skid, diff covers, and maybe rock rails. but this is my opinion. we got rocks and all i have are my rocksliders and im only 3" and running 31's. I'll break something sooner or later.

 

Stick with 15's they are cheaper and easier to find.

 

For mud and woodsy trail riding a gas tank skid and a T-case skids are MUST haves... I had a piece of log about 4 inches around get stuck between my gas tank and rear axle once. It stuck into the ground and cause my Jeep to pole vault on it. It open an ENORMOUS hole in my gas tank. I could only put about 3 or 4 gallons into it. I had to stop 3 or 4 times to get home 90 miles away.... People looked at me VERY strangely at the gas station when I crawled underneath with the hose and pumped the gas in...

Once you reach about 3 inches of lift the factory style front skid in pretty much pointless except as a place to collect mud and junk. Im also not a fan on 99% of the oil pan skids out there. They tend to collect ALOT of junk from muddy trails and hold it in tight to the motor... Which only serves to raise the temps of your motor.

 

One that 90-95% of people also overlook is a skid for the lower control arm brackets on the axle. The factory bracket is only thin steel, and it WILL bend, and then cause some unusual and hard to figure out handling/alignment issues. (Ask how I know about the thin steel, and the alignment troubles...) The front skid is actually a decent piece, and even with around 5" of lift, I still run mine, all though, mostly as a "ramp" to help with approach angles, and to try to help protect the steering linkages. It is also useful for pushing things under the XJ, instead of the stuff jumping up and nailing the motor.
Hey, I found some pix of some of the armor that I made for my XJ:


If you look closely, you can see that I have plated the LCA brackets.

Owner built brushguard ( I have added mesh inside the center section since this pic.)





This is the driver's side towhook mount/frame brace.

 

the stock tcase skid is great helped me out with only 3 bolts to hold it up lmao. im also doing f&r diff skids and gas tank

 

and lca skids i already bent mine lol

 

In my experience of wheeling Cherokees, Grand and otherwise, has been that I have never came across a situation that would put my engine oil pan in danger. Some may call , but it's true. I do some pretty hard trails and have not found it in danger yet!!There is a lot of crap in the way, and it is pretty well tucked up in the vehicle. As for the OEM skids, I had the Up Country package on my ZJ. It came with all the skids, and I have to say that the gas tank skid was pretty well built. I hammered on it several times and not so much as a dent! Just my $.02 worth, hope it helps!!

 

I say T-case, Diff and rock rails. Gas after you get these and make sure you have good tow points front and rear