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Do I need additional skid plates?

Ratbert

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I call bs. Metalcloaks skids are steel and some of the thickest on the market. According to them the full system weighs 149lbs. Unless your skids are made of helium you aren't saving "hundreds of pounds". The metalcloak system also replaces some of the stock skids and crossmember/bash bars. They likely add 120lbs total. Most of the aluminum skids are thicker (because they need to be) and therefore likely save 50-70lbs at most.
Did you actually follow that link for the MetalCloak skids? For a diesel they state that theirs weigh 235 pounds. That's apparently before adding the DEF skid.

Artec is 65 pounds. ASFIR is 70. Next Venture Motorsports (mine) comes out to 30 after replacing the fuel cell steel skid. MetalCloak advertises theirs as being 235 pounds. 235 friggin' pounds.

What, exactly, about what I said was bullshit? Do they somehow replace 205 pounds of stuff?
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Zandcwhite

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Did you actually follow that link for the MetalCloak skids? For a diesel they state that theirs weigh 235 pounds. That's apparently before adding the DEF skid.

Artec is 65 pounds. ASFIR is 70. Next Venture Motorsports (mine) comes out to 30 after replacing the fuel cell steel skid. MetalCloak advertises theirs as being 235 pounds. 235 friggin' pounds.

What, exactly, about what I said was bullshit? Do they somehow replace 205 pounds of stuff?
I don't think I'd trust a skid that replaces all that the metal cloak skids cover that weighs 30lbs, is it made from aluminum foil? With the metalcloak skids you could remove the fuel tank skid, 2 of the bash bars, and the stock tcase skid , same as the next venture. You won't be adding 235 lbs but more like 180. The NV skids don't weigh 30lbs, they factored out the ~50lbs you remove. No, that's not hundreds of lbs different, it's 175lbs at most. Creative marketing aside, what does their full set actually weigh? I'd bet its closer to 100lbs and now the difference is closer to 100lbs than 200.


Edit...."The weight of our system is 125 lbs" According to NV, all the parts we remove add up to 95lbs. Even still, the difference isn't hundreds of lbs it's 110lbs.
 
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Ratbert

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I don't think I'd trust a skid that replaces all that the metal cloak skids cover that weighs 30lbs, is it made from aluminum foil? With the metalcloak skids you could remove the fuel tank skid, 2 of the bash bars, and the stock tcase skid , same as the next venture. You won't be adding 235 lbs but more like 180. The NV skids don't weigh 30lbs, they factored out the ~50lbs you remove. No, that's not hundreds of lbs different, it's 175lbs at most. Creative marketing aside, what does their full set actually weigh? I'd bet its closer to 100lbs and now the difference is closer to 100lbs than 200.
The NVM skids weigh 117 pounds. They replace 86 pounds. Simple math comes out to 31 pounds.

The MC skids weigh 235 pounds, apparently without the requisite DEF skid. Do they document how much weight they replace?

100 pounds more? 204 pounds more? How much does their DEF skid weigh to make it even worse?
 

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The NVM skids weigh 117 pounds. They replace 86 pounds. Simple math comes out to 31 pounds.

The MC skids weigh 235 pounds, apparently without the requisite DEF skid. Do they document how much weight they replace?

100 pounds more? 204 pounds more? How much does their DEF skid weigh to make it even worse?
They replace the same parts, so you're comparing 117lbs to 235lbs and calling the difference "hundreds of lbs"?
 

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If you’re asking this, I suspect you have not been doing any off-roading. Drive your Jeep, learn how it handles, read
Mark A. Smith’s
Guide to Safe, Common Sense
Off-Road Driving, and think about how you plan to use your Jeep.
 

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J.Ferreira

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I have stock under-protection on my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. I plan on exploring some of the easier difficult trails in CO. Can I get away with the stock skid plates? Somebody told me I should get some additional protection for the oil pan and maybe the transmission. I'm on a budget. Would prefer not to spend over a $1000 since the other items on my list are adding up quickly. Recommendations?

Thanks in advance,

-Peter
I live in Colorado and have done a fair amount of easy/mild/difficult trails.
Nothing like Holy Cross difficult, but up there.
The only aftermarket skid that I bought was one from M.O.R.E. that protects the engine and transmission.
But generally, just being careful to keep your lines to the sides where the tires are will do ya pretty good.

https://mountainoffroad.com/products/jeep-jl-oil-pan-transmission-skid-plate-3-6l-2021-current
https://www.extremeterrain.com/more...CZ7FmlqjuVzB1fKSGwgaApF0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


They don't break the bank, and they're fucking hefty pieces of metal.
I scraped mine up much more in Moab than I ever had in Colorado.
Also be sure to buy the right one! Slight differences between 2 door and 4 door, and even differences in model year for mounting locations.
 

Ratbert

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They replace the same parts, so you're comparing 117lbs to 235lbs and calling the difference "hundreds of lbs"?
No, they do not replace the same parts.

From their installation instructions:

Note: The stock gas tank skid will
not be removed
. The MetalCloak
UnderCloak Gas Tank Skid will fit
over the stock skid plate.
That's where the majority of the NVM weight savings comes from. The thing that MC explicitly states that they do not replace.

And, of course, it looks like their 235 pounds doesn't include the DEF skid, so it's most likely significantly heavier than 235 pounds. Compared to 31 pounds (after replacing the fuel cell skid) for the NVM skids that include the DEF skid.

About 200 pound difference, no?
 
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PeterInCO

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I live in Colorado and have done a fair amount of easy/mild/difficult trails.
Nothing like Holy Cross difficult, but up there.
The only aftermarket skid that I bought was one from M.O.R.E. that protects the engine and transmission.
But generally, just being careful to keep your lines to the sides where the tires are will do ya pretty good.

https://mountainoffroad.com/products/jeep-jl-oil-pan-transmission-skid-plate-3-6l-2021-current
https://www.extremeterrain.com/more...CZ7FmlqjuVzB1fKSGwgaApF0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


They don't break the bank, and they're fucking hefty pieces of metal.
I scraped mine up much more in Moab than I ever had in Colorado.
Also be sure to buy the right one! Slight differences between 2 door and 4 door, and even differences in model year for mounting locations.
Yup. Thank you. Those are the ones I'm getting. Will be sure to get the right ones for my '21 JLUR
 

J.Ferreira

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Yup. Thank you. Those are the ones I'm getting. Will be sure to get the right ones for my '21 JLUR
Also check out this stuff. I go through periodically after scrapes on the trails, apply. Wait 24 hours, and then paint with some matte black paint out of a rattle can.
Just helps to stop rust in its tracks and not spread.
 

Ratbert

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I live in Colorado and have done a fair amount of easy/mild/difficult trails.
Nothing like Holy Cross difficult, but up there.
What's in the ballpark of Holy Cross? Independence Trail is pretty intense, but, of course, you can only do the first section in a Wrangler.
 

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Zandcwhite

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No, they do not replace the same parts.

From their installation instructions:



That's where the majority of the NVM weight savings comes from. The thing that MC explicitly states that they do not replace.

And, of course, it looks like their 235 pounds doesn't include the DEF skid, so it's most likely significantly heavier than 235 pounds. Compared to 31 pounds (after replacing the fuel cell skid) for the NVM skids that include the DEF skid.

About 200 pound difference, no?
You could remove the gas tank skid, I'm guessing it's so they can market easy diy install. The bash bars and stock transmission/tcase skid still have some good weight to them so I'm still not buying the hundreds of lbs. Even if you keep the gas tank skid ~30lbs are coming off easy. 235-30 vs 117-86 is still a 174lb difference, substantial but short of hundreds of lbs. I don't own a diesel, so the difference is significantly less on my JLU. In my case the metalcloak skids don't weigh hundreds of lbs by themselves so clearly you can't save hundreds of lbs unless your running negative weight skids which was the point of my original comment.
 

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What's in the ballpark of Holy Cross? Independence Trail is pretty intense, but, of course, you can only do the first section in a Wrangler.
Oh I haven't done anything that difficult. lmao
Just a bunch of 6's. I tried to mean it more literally like NOTHING as difficult as holy cross.
I don't think my Jeep in it's current state can do much more. I'd be willing to try a few 7's this year.

Redcone, Middle St. Vrain, Coney Flats are the most notable from this past year. Coney Flats was the first time I got stuck on a trail and really had to study lines and figure out my shit. Trashed my passenger side rock slider on that one.

Metal Masher and TOTW in Moab were probably both a bit more difficult honestly. Tried a few more optional lines there, aside from the ones that I literally couldn't do just cause of approach angle. Banged my front bumper a few times even just trying to do things. :CWL:
 

Ratbert

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You could remove the gas tank skid, I'm guessing it's so they can market easy diy install. The bash bars and stock transmission/tcase skid still have some good weight to them so I'm still not buying the hundreds of lbs. Even if you keep the gas tank skid ~30lbs are coming off easy. 235-30 vs 117-86 is still a 174lb difference, substantial but short of hundreds of lbs. I don't own a diesel, so the difference is significantly less on my JLU. In my case the metalcloak skids don't weigh hundreds of lbs by themselves so clearly you can't save hundreds of lbs unless your running negative weight skids which was the point of my original comment.
You seem to have neglected to add in the weight of the DEF skid, which brings the difference into the ballpark of a couple hundred pounds. No bullshit.

MetalCloak's non-diesel skids, however, aren't anywhere near as insanely portly. They're 149 pounds (non-392 or 4xe). A mere hundred-ish pounds more than mine. Again: no bullshit.
 

Ratbert

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Oh I haven't done anything that difficult. lmao
Just a bunch of 6's. I tried to mean it more literally like NOTHING as difficult as holy cross.
I don't think my Jeep in it's current state can do much more. I'd be willing to try a few 7's this year.

Redcone, Middle St. Vrain, Coney Flats are the most notable from this past year. Coney Flats was the first time I got stuck on a trail and really had to study lines and figure out my shit. Trashed my passenger side rock slider on that one.

Metal Masher and TOTW in Moab were probably both a bit more difficult honestly. Tried a few more optional lines there, aside from the ones that I literally couldn't do just cause of approach angle. Banged my front bumper a few times even just trying to do things. :CWL:
I was a bit shocked when I came up to that river on Coney Flats. I looked at it and thought: "Wow, that's a gorgeous lake. I wonder where the trail goes?" Then I realized that there were Jeeps on the other side and that we had to cross it!

I'm looking forward to opening Red Cone with our club this year. Pretty sweet trail, especially if you continue on Radical Hill.
 

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I was a bit shocked when I came up to that river on Coney Flats. I looked at it and thought: "Wow, that's a gorgeous lake. I wonder where the trail goes?" Then I realized that there were Jeeps on the other side and that we had to cross it!

I'm looking forward to opening Red Cone with our club this year. Pretty sweet trail, especially if you continue on Radical Hill.
@Krondor and I did just that over the summer!
Red Cone to Radical Hill.
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