Anyone using Rough Country Diff Skid Plate?

[LooselyHeldPlans]

I have the front one and have hit it a couple of times already. Just scuffed the paint a bit. Really works nicely. Just wish it would work with an ARB front cover.

On a side note, I ended up with two of these and have a brand new RC front diff skid cover for the Rubicon axle. Shipping would make it crazy, but if anyone is the Denver area let me know. I travel down to Co Springs weekly as well.

I know this is old, but do you still have it?

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[MadDog27]

I know this is old, but do you still have it?

He doesn’t, I ended up buying it from him.

 

[SARGEJLOM]

Anyone tried installing diff skid plates with Teraflex diff covers ?

 

[blink9cd]

So I tried installing this today on a '21 with the redesigned M186 with no diff drain plug. This skid no longer seems compatible without modification.

Here's installed from the front on the cover, which is good / no issues. Note the books/dolly
were my extra set of hands, but at this point of the picture the bolts are hand tightened and are no longer balancing the skid:

However, the back comes nowhere near flush to the diff:

At least in my case, this is because the skid hits the driver side fin too early, and there's no play to make it not hit and move up farther:

I know I had read somewhere about the fins being extended here and making diff skids incompatible -- @RanchoShocks confirmed their's didn't in another thread to me (and made a new D44 version, but no new D30 version). Found these quotes on Extreme Terrain / Quadratec about the RC skid now:

"I have a ‘21 2dr Willy’s and the easy install wasn’t as easy as expected. I guess the ‘21 M186 front diff has a longer wider “fin/gusset brace” that interferes with skid. I cut the section of skid plate off that was interfering with the gusset. After that was done 20 minute install. "

"Front skid plate wont' fit 2021 JL, as diff has a small plate behind. You need to cut it or strip off about 1" from one side."

Unfortunately I read these after I purchased, though several sites (Extreme Terrain, Quadratec) listed as compatible, and even answered a question that it was, and also @Rough Country Suspensions told me it was too via email.

I'm hoping I'll be able to get a refund, as I don't have the tools/space/skills to make that kind of mod for what's listed as compatible with 18-22 JLs (ET/Q) and 18-21 (RC themselves).

 

[blnewt]

So I tried installing this today on a '21 with the redesigned M186 with no diff drain plug. This skid no longer seems compatible without modification.

Here's installed from the front on the cover, which is good / no issues. Note the books/dolly
were my extra set of hands, but at this point of the picture the bolts are hand tightened and are no longer balancing the skid:

However, the back comes nowhere near flush to the diff:

At least in my case, this is because the skid hits the driver side fin too early, and there's no play to make it not hit and move up farther:

I know I had read somewhere about the fins being extended here and making diff skids incompatible -- @RanchoShocks confirmed their's didn't in another thread to me (and made a new D44 version, but no new D30 version). Found these quotes on Extreme Terrain / Quadratec about the RC skid now:

"I have a ‘21 2dr Willy’s and the easy install wasn’t as easy as expected. I guess the ‘21 M186 front diff has a longer wider “fin/gusset brace” that interferes with skid. I cut the section of skid plate off that was interfering with the gusset. After that was done 20 minute install. "

"Front skid plate wont' fit 2021 JL, as diff has a small plate behind. You need to cut it or strip off about 1" from one side."

Unfortunately I read these after I purchased, though several sites (Extreme Terrain, Quadratec) listed as compatible, and even answered a question that it was, and also @Rough Country Suspensions told me it was too via email.

I'm hoping I'll be able to get a refund, as I don't have the tools/space/skills to make that kind of mod for what's listed as compatible with 18-22 JLs (ET/Q) and 18-21 (RC themselves).

Hopefully you can get a refund, should be a pretty easy fix to weld another arched plate, but that's not something you should have to deal with. I have the stuff to fix that so in my case I'd probably just do that. Rough Country is pretty good about answering calls and trying to make things right, hopefully they will take care of you, and make the future skids compatible for the newer M186 setups. Since you have an email as proof that they stated compatibility you should have an easier time getting a refund. G-luck!

 

[blink9cd]

Hopefully you can get a refund, should be a pretty easy fix to weld another arched plate, but that's not something you should have to deal with. I have the stuff to fix that so in my case I'd probably just do that. Rough Country is pretty good about answering calls and trying to make things right, hopefully they will take care of you, and make the future skids compatible for the newer M186 setups. Since you have an email as proof that they stated compatibility you should have an easier time getting a refund. G-luck!

Yeah it's a bummer it doesn't work. Unfortunately I live in an apt and have no real welding/cutting tools, so not modding stuff for me. Wish it was just the upper bracket and I could find something else to go on top, rather than having to cut the bottom.

I actually bought it from Extreme Terrain, so hoping they understand/process the refund. I'll be looking into other diff skids soon, probably post my finding in the diff skid thread since that one is getting out of date.

 

[Remorseless]

Yeah it's a bummer it doesn't work. Unfortunately I live in an apt and have no real welding/cutting tools, so not modding stuff for me. Wish it was just the upper bracket and I could find something else to go on top, rather than having to cut the bottom.

I actually bought it from Extreme Terrain, so hoping they understand/process the refund. I'll be looking into other diff skids soon, probably post my finding in the diff skid thread since that one is getting out of date.

It'll take a while, but a Dremel with one of their hardened cutoff wheels will probably get through that skid. Used a Dremel on my JK to cut through the factory rock rails to clearance for 37s. I can imagine it would be a similar experience with the RC skid. If you don't already have a Dremel, good time/reason to get one IMO. It was a great compact tool for apt living but still wanting/needing to work on my Jeep.

 

[blink9cd]

It'll take a while, but a Dremel with one of their hardened cutoff wheels will probably get through that skid. Used a Dremel on my JK to cut through the factory rock rails to clearance for 37s. I can imagine it would be a similar experience with the RC skid. If you don't already have a Dremel, good time/reason to get one IMO. It was a great compact tool for apt living but still wanting/needing to work on my Jeep.

I don't have a Dremel, but have though about about getting one before. The skid is cheap enough to where it'd almost be worth the experiment to me, but Extreme Terrain accepted the return right away without any fuss (I did leave along explanation in the comment box). I think I would consider it if there was a lack of Jeep projects for me to work on, but I wonder if that day will ever come

I also was in contact with Rough Country and sent them pictures. Kinda hoping they revise their site/customer service advice, and then Quadratec, Extreme Terrain, etc. revise theirs so other people don't buy and have this happen. For now I'll be happy with getting my money back, my posts here making sure the community knows, and researching new skid solutions.

 

[blnewt]

I don't have a Dremel, but have though about about getting one before. The skid is cheap enough to where it'd almost be worth the experiment to me, but Extreme Terrain accepted the return right away without any fuss (I did leave along explanation in the comment box). I think I would consider it if there was a lack of Jeep projects for me to work on, but I wonder if that day will ever come

I also was in contact with Rough Country and sent them pictures. Kinda hoping they revise their site/customer service advice, and then Quadratec, Extreme Terrain, etc. revise theirs so other people don't buy and have this happen. For now I'll be happy with getting my money back, my posts here making sure the community knows, and researching new skid solutions.

Glad to hear you had no problems w/ the return. Rough Country (as well as several others) aren't as up to date w/ the Jeep revisions as they should be, making them aware of the situation is all you can do, but hopefully they will adjust their compatibility guides and hopefully make that skid available for that model.
Good on you!

 

[JeepinJason33]

Rough Country has been surprisingly good about returns. I did not like the fit of the rear and they returned it without a problem. The front is the best value out there. I also have their shock mount skid plates as well. For the rear I ended up with the Metalcloak skid.

 

[blnewt]

Rough Country has been surprisingly good about returns. I did not like the fit of the rear and they returned it without a problem. The front is the best value out there. I also have their shock mount skid plates as well. For the rear I ended up with the Metalcloak skid.

Yeah, they are good about answering their phones and answering questions & customer concerns. Had some questions regarding some scratch & dent items on their ebay site and they were very quick to answer and had good info that they provided. I have had the F&R diff skids on my Sport and they've held up well and have been hit pretty good a few times. Also have their 9" LED headlights and they've been a very good purchase as well.

 

[blink9cd]

Glad to hear you had no problems w/ the return. Rough Country (as well as several others) aren't as up to date w/ the Jeep revisions as they should be, making them aware of the situation is all you can do, but hopefully they will adjust their compatibility guides and hopefully make that skid available for that model.
Good on you!

The email customer service got back to me this evening and said there's no available skid for the M186 redesign. Took them a while, wonder if I got forwarded to a specialist. At least feels good to have my install pain acknowledged haha

 

[blink9cd]

Rough Country has been surprisingly good about returns. I did not like the fit of the rear and they returned it without a problem. The front is the best value out there. I also have their shock mount skid plates as well. For the rear I ended up with the Metalcloak skid.

I also did Metalcloak on my rear. No issues that one so far. Wish their front one didn't require a cover replacement

 

[JeepinJason33]

I also did Metalcloak on my rear. No issues that one so far. Wish their front one didn't require a cover replacement

The RC give far better coverage than the Metalcloak and that is why I went that direction on the front. The RC front gives enough protection that I did not see a need for a beefier diff cover that would potentially interfere with the steering.

 

[blink9cd]

The RC give far better coverage than the Metalcloak and that is why I went that direction on the front. The RC front gives enough protection that I did not see a need for a beefier diff cover that would potentially interfere with the steering.

Ah yeah that makes sense. RC really did seem to have good coverage and for a good price. Nice having all the options with the Rubicon though...unfortunately really slim pickings for the redesigned D30/M186. Outlined in another thread, but so far the only diff skid I found for it at all is made by Asfir (not that there were many for the D30 anyway).

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