So i picked up a 97 zj with the factory skid plates. I was just wondering how strong the factory skids are.

 

Stronger than not having the skids.

 

Having skid plates help divert the blows your under carriage would receive.no matter how strong they are they'll still receive damage. But I rather the skid plate get dinged up the other parts of the jeep. So unless you have skid plates made out of pop can metal I think factory skies are fine for light to moderate wheeling.

 

If your just starting out off road on light trails the factory ones are fine,Once you get in to the harder trails and they take a beating i would go aftermarket because they are thicker.