So, after a trip to the JY I found a pre-97 xj with all three skids. At $20 per skid I plan to buy all three. However, the gas tank on the pre-97 is metal. The one on my 2000 is plastic. Will the pre-97 work on my 2000 with little to no modification? Or will it not fit at all. Thanks for any info on this! I plan to get all three mainly the t-case and front skid. If the gas tank won't work, no bigge. However, for $20 I really hope it does

 

I am under the impression that you are SOL with the '96 down gas tank skid on a '97 up. ZJ skids seem to work with minor mods though. Pretty sure you are OK on the front and TC ones from the '96 down. Patience. You will find one. I did. Took a bit I was able to find all three. One at a time. Wish I paid $20 like you can but got a barely scratched TC for $25, found a brand new front with the labels still on it, granted it had been kicking around in a garage for 15 years, off Craigslist delivered to me from the other side of the state because the guy was passing through for $50, and $50 for the gas tank skid I eventually found.

 

Why use a crappy factory one when you can get a thicker aftermarket one ?

 

This guy did it.

I thought there was a better post on here somewhere about this same thing but instead of cut, fold, weld they actually cut the edge off and drilled new holes for the mounting bolts.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/let...k-skids-26524/

I have done A LOT of junk yarding and I have only seen one 97+ gas tank skid but I have pulled quite a few 96-.

 

None of those skids are really protecting anything. Save that 60 bucks for a nice beefy one for the gas tank or the t case.

 

If rock crawling and dropping the rear end onto rocks and boulders than perhaps the stock skid is not ideal. Otherwise it does offer significant protection to tank.
The front skid is effective too if you like bushwhacking or overgrown trails.

 

I've never seen a 97 up gas tank skid plate. The ZJ will work. Just take off your hitch & redrill the skid to match the hitch. I've came down pretty hard on the ZJ skid. It will take a good lick. Its thicker than a XJ 96 down gas tank skid.

 

Eh. My second xj had the factory skids and they were flimsy as hell haha. Not much of a skid imo haha

 

I must have different stock skids on my 96 because they are substantial and effective. But not for boulder hopping.

 

Looking for pics and I guess I never took any of the skids haha. But I believe they were factory. Everything lined up perfect. Idk hahah I didn't care for them.

 

ive got a stock gas tank skid on my 01. i'd say its as good as any aftermarket one out there.

 

Agreed

 

It seems we all agree to disagree.

 

Comparison pics, the newer one is 96- and the older is 97+.

 

It makes more sense now after seeing the above posted pictures. I had a 1996 and the skid seems much more substantial than the 97+ and with better coverage.