Greetings every one I am Curious ? Over here in Australia .. RHD .. I have 2 XJ's a 96 Limited and a 99 Sport Recently I had the fuel tank out to replace a fuel pump and transmission cooler on the 99, I watched a few youtube video's as you do .......
I did the work as you do being a XJ owner ...... So in all the videos I watched fuel pump and tranny cooler / back and front was there any mention of having to remove the factory skid plates ?
Both my XJ's have them ? although I cant say about the rear/fuel tank on the 96 it has a LPG (Propane) cylinder with custom skid plate a smaller fuel tank is in front of the axle
Do you have these Skid Plates? .... are they a Export thing? .... Accessory ?
Like I said I am Curious

 

You asking about the skid plates?
Some Jeeps from the factory came with them.
There are 3. Front, Transfer Case, and gas tank.
Thinking your tow hitch is not factory.
What is that small piece to the left of the gas tank?
Cover for the fill and vent hoses?
Just looks a little different then I thought.
Unless there is something under the lower right corner of it on the ground.
Making me think that it is part of the piece. LOL.

 

Mine has the box around the fuel tank. I don't know if it is factory or after market. Mine has had multiple owners and mods before I got it. I do not have a front or mid plate.

 

My 2000 HAD a tank shield, but it rotted away because it was so thin. The aftermarket skid plates are 1/8" or 3/16" thick and will bounce off a rock! Transfer case skids were optional from what I've heard.

 

My 98 came with the factory skid plates -- one for the front, transfer case and gas tank. They are pretty beefy. Also came with a factory tow hitch, you'd definitely have to take the gas tank skid plate off to remove the hitch on mine.

 

On mine the hitch mounts over the shield. After all, it's just a gravel guard, not a bash plate. I have to be careful backing up now because the plastic tank is fully exposed. The hitch broke off when I backed into a high curb.

 

You're probably right about the order of removal for the skid and hitch. I was thinking that they shared bolts but looking at that picture above they may not

 

Gulp. I've got a '98 Sport. No skid plate protecting the tank. Is it possible it came that way from the factory?

 

Its my understanding things changed in 97

my 96s have a very solid steel bash plate over a steel tank

a solid middle skid

only my Limited has the front protective plate...it is too flimsy to be of much use imo, and has been taken down to allow easy access for front end work

My intention is to reinforce it somewhere, and mount it (and a Tow hook), under the front of modified DD Sport

 

They are mounted with the same bolts. 6 1/2" bolts, 3/4 heads.

 

the skid plate and tow bar as we call them are factory and share the same bolts .... although on either of my xj's none has the transfer case skid plate ? go figure/

 

Normally, they wouldn't have. Only the tank shield is required for safety reasons. Any other plates are options, although they might be part of a package, IDK.

 

as far as I know, the "transfer skid plate" is also referred to as the "transmission mount crossmember"...so you have that

 

Skid plates were an option. You could order whatever you wanted, or the Dealer did it when ordering inventory.

No Unicorn stuff here. It was an option.

 

My 99 (service model) has them. IF they are factory ones, they are the beefiest factory bash plates I've ever seen. The one on the front of mine is so thick I would easily guesstimate it weighing in at over 25KGs. I remember taking it off to do front end work on mine and I was like DAMN...you could roll over a live landmine and be okay. I haven't had the back one off yet, but it seems like it's a stronger than average one too. If they aren't factory, a shop did one bang up job making them look good.