I'm looking to add a gas tank skid to my jeep, I don't do any hardcore rock crawling, just want to add a little protection to it, I found the stock OMIX plates for about $200. How heavy of a gauge are they? Will they take any kind of abuse? I can't find hardly info on them. I also found the tomken ones, but I HATE how they mount, to the tank J bolts? What happens if you get hung up on something? You rip the bolts out or break them, then you have a gas tank dragging..

I like the JCR one because it's decent thickness and it mounts to the frame. Are there any out there like that but not $300+?

 

I run Tomken, and many others do as well. Unless you're into some serious stuff where heavy amount of body damage are likely, you're not going to rip out anything.

Are JCR and the like nicer? Sure.

Is Tomken cheaper and enough for most? Yep.

I backed mine with 1/2" UHMW to help with sliding and impact clang.

 

Or you could make one for about $30 dollars worth of metal.

 

Iron Rock Offroad - $239.

Rusty's is $229.

JCR is good stuff.

 

I have a factory ZJ skid plate. Had to open up a hole or redrill one or something, but it works well. It bolts to the trailer hitch area and I've mangled it pretty good but never messed up my gas tank. It was like $30 from the junkyard I think and I beat my Cherokee much harder than it sounds like you will. So my suggestion would be junkyard skid

 

I’ve found a little info on the stock one. It’s around 1/8”. And I can get them for about $180. I may go that route since it’s cheaper, frame mounted and won’t be bouncing it on anything major.

 

I like the iron rock one. But Freaking $70 shipping.

 

You should not even pay close to $180 for a used factory XJ skid.
Thinking not even $100.
Pretty sure I paid $50 for mine.

 

I have a stock early model skid plate that came stock on my '88. It's abut 1/8" thick, stamped to add rigidity and strength. It bolts up to the hitch bolts with 4 bolts total. I used a sheet of 1/8" plate to add to it, welded it to my 3/16" bumper outer braces that sandwiches the uniframe between the 1/4" tie in brackets and the outer brace brackets. I would look around local craigslist and facebook posts for one cheap. Also later years are for sure stronger and thicker than the earlier versions.

 

Thts for a new omix plate

id take a straight used one cheap. But there’s none in the yards around here. Or on Craigslist/facebook

 

Did not realize that you could buy a new "Factory" type skid. Live and learn.

Here is the thing. There are none that you can find yet.
Spending time here can be detrimental. LOL.
About 5 years ago I got it in my head that I wanted my Jeep to have all the factory options she did not come with.
Came about from seeing pictures of other peoples Jeeps here.
Saw a picture of an overhead console in a Jeep and said I want that. Etc.
My point being that you just have to be patient and keep looking.
I have sourced almost every factory option that a XJ could come with over time.
Sure it takes some effort. I practically stalk Craigslist and Ebay.
But it has paid off.

 

My $.02

First, even tho I may never need it, xtra beef if needed is or might be one day great to have

Second, I’m goin with a Bumper with Nate’s 4x4 tie in brackets. The skid will sandwich the frame or unibody and the brackets

Third, the tank in the rear is a Ford Pinto waitin to happen. The skid and the bumper beef takes this worry away.

And last, LOOKS! My XJ sits a little high in the rear so the xtra weight mat level it out😂

 

Last I heard a couple months ago Nates shut down.

 

Yeah I have the tie brackets from Nate’s already. I ordered them way before I would need em because I knew it would take a while to get em. Actually think I got some of the last ones they made. Hope they work as good as they look.

Started working on on getting the old OEM bumper off. And as usual removin 8 bolts became a monumental task. Now I have an old tie in bracket that the old hitch was attached to is being a pain too. A job that should take 30 minutes is goina to be hours. ��

 

Guessing you are talking about the nut strip?
Nut broke free from the strip and now everything spins?
Thinking you have new hardware to go with the tie brackets.
Cut 'em off.