he fact is all of those covers will break if a rock hits them just right or caves them into the gears. All we do is try to do what we can to avoid the odds of it happening.

As pointed out as well clearance issues are real with a lot of these covers and should be checked before purchase. My covers are very heavy cast Aluminum covers now but as I always did still carry spares for both and plenty of fluid with me.

 

If you break a Ruffstuff, Barnes, BTF, SOLID, or any 3/8" mild steel cover, props to you. Someone is over thinking this. Buy a nice cover from $65-$120 slap it on and forget about it.

There is no way in hell I would run another little dinky stock cover to protect my original dinky little cover or a half cover.

Here is the solid cover from my 30, 0 worry about it ever breaking. I'll be putting one on my 10.5/60 as well.

 

Believe me, after holding one of these things, you'll be convinced that you will NOT break it.




This is a 14 bolt cover, but the jeep ones are the same thickness. They're beef. Like said before, just bolt it up and don't worry about it.

 

Ok, well... this is convincing. Looks like good bash protection to me.

 

I have a diff guard from RC on the front of mine. It's taken quite a beating thus far

A thick cover would be best, but a guard will not break the bolts if you smack it...

 

I'm sure you got yours used, but with a new RC guard being $60 and the SOLID cover being $65, the choice should be pretty simple, IMO.

 

It's true...I did lol. You know me so well...

 

I thought you did. Lol