I'd say, T-case, Gas tank Skids and rock rails..

 

That would be my top three.

 

What is a decent gas tank skid, that does not cost an arm and a leg? Thanks!

 

If I were to get aftermarket I would go with this.
http://jeepinoutfitters.com/scripts/...?idproduct=948

However I am running OEM.

 

That one is for 1997 and newer. Will it fit my 1987 Waggy?

 

Nope, it won't fit. Pioneer models seem to be the best/ most common source for finding the skids.

 

I beleave bang for but a Rusty's would be the best choice, I have one of there's on my ZJ and it's strong...

 

in my experience, if you were to have any skid make it a nice full belly skid. alot easier for one big flat piece of metal to slid over stuff than a bunch of smaller things. get one that either replaces or protects your crossmember if possible.

up next would be rock rails, overlook those and one obstacle could bend your jeep (yes bend it)

then i would vote gas tank skid. there is nothing fun about having to stop every 70 miles on a 400 mile trip home for gas. and if it leaks your in even more trouble.

next would be rear diff cover (most factory units are scary thin) followed by front diff cover.

i see no need for an oil pan skid. its tucked up above the front axle and any rock that finds its way up there isnt gonna do any damage, when stock i dragged my oil pan on some rocks but since lifted havent even touched it. one thing thats more prone to damage is your tranny, but i have never even touched it and never got a skid for it. might be in the plans though

 

????

 

Same here. For the price Rusty's had the best deal on a gastank skid. Man that thing is heavy.

 

I do the same type of wheeling as the OP. I banged up the oil pan on the very first trip out and it was by crossing over a log. I purchased rusty's oil pan skid which doesn't seem to fit too well and i will have to modify it to fit.

i also invested into a transfer case skid on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-...spagenameZWDVW

Well made, comes with all hardware and is beefy. Worth every penny.

The front skid would protect the front end but is not really neccessary. It does help though.

Rocker protection is a MUST. My short-wheelbase wrangler's rockers got alot of abuse in the woods.

In the 4 years i had the tj (we 4wheeled every weekend) i never dented or harmed the differental skids so i don't really consider them neccessary for this type of wheeling. In rocks, YES.

 

Rocks:
1. Definitly Need rock sliders, absolutely.
2. Cross member skid would be a good idea, but only get that if youre getting a bumper. IE get it with the bumper
3. T-case skid. AAbsolutely 100% neccesary.
4. Engine skid. This isnt that neccesary and most are very expensive ($275 for mine from skid row versus my $150 t-case skid, also from skid row). The cool think about an engine skid is if you get one from the same company as a t-case skid they work well together, mine has one massive peice now basically - it will pretty much just slid over anything.
5. Gas tank skid. In my opinion these are a waste of money, Ive bounced mine on a ton of crap never once had a problem.
6. Differential skids. Also dont seem very useful to me. If youre gonna do diff protection, get a completely new cover, like if you have an 8.8" rear those covers are like tin foil so id replace it, other wise I wouldnt.

All in all, if your doing mud and woods, and only going on 3.5" and 31"s.... Id say a T-case skid is the only one you need 100%. If you got an engine skid with it it would help keep your bottom end sliding without getting hung up, but not really protecting a whole lot. Rock sliders are very good to have, even if oyu dont hit rocks, beleive me your gonna wanna be able to open your doors when you get back. No cross member, gas, or diff skids are neccesary in my opinion. Personally id day just get a t-case skid and use the rest of the $$ for a 4.5 RE lift instead of 3.5....

Oh, and by the way DO NOT make hte mistake of thikning a front diff skid protects you from forward ramming or anythign like that, they really dont do a whole lot, if it gets hit hard enough to dent the diff cover, most likely your control arms and axle mounts are going with it.

 

try saying that to my last 21 gallon tank that held 8 gallons

diff cover is very nessesary, peeling up diff covers gets REAL old, i have also seen stock covers with holes poked in them, and dents big enough so it hit the ring gear. factory front covers are generally thicker than their rear counterparts, and i would say those can stand up to some mild rock hits, but most factory rear covers are generally weak.

another thing im gonna point out is steering. even hitting tree stumps or logs will fold your tie rod in no time.

 

yea thats a good point, a ZJ tie rod would be a good way to go.

 

Even more so then that, do it once and do it right. Think 1ton or the like.