Do I need additional skid plates?

[newbie5150]

Yes, "tried" being the key word. No Joy with their engine/tranny skid plate, despite multiple installation attempts. I've 30 years experience installing parts and accessories, too.

After providing prima facie evidence of incompatibility, the company went radio silent. They finally responded to my Return Request after I successfully contested the credit card charge. Funny how that works.

I can't in good conscience recommend the brand. I do know that other Jeep owners have had better luck than I.

Thanks for responding. I will stay away from them.

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[Camaroboi13]

Thanks for responding. I will stay away from them.

No need to stay away from them. It’s very possible that one guy was sent the wrong skid and things happen. That being said I love the heck out of my Asfir skids. I purchased the whole aluminum belly with free shipping on my JT Eco for something like $960 to my house. Even in the middle of a war, it barely took a week to get here. Happy with my purchase.

 

[Heimkehr]

It’s very possible that one guy was sent the wrong skid and things happen.

Asfir sent the correct kit, as they insisted when viewing the photos that I provided. They stopped responding after I subsequently challenged them on why, then, the same parts didn't fit. Thus my credit card dispute, which I won...after which Asfir finally acknowledged the issue.

That's not how a legitimate business should do business. Better that the informed member stay away, and select another brand, of which there are several good ones to choose from.

 

[wibornz]

Okay if it ia step process, I would and did buy in this order for my Rubicon. If you remember this and this only about wheeling in the rocks. It will save you a lot of money and hassles.

ALLL OF THE EXPENSIVE PARTS ARE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE JEEP. TIRES ARE CHEAP, RUN STUFF OVER INSTEAD OF TRYING TO STRADLE OBSTACLES. WHEN YOU RUN A ROCK OVER, IT CREATES EXTRA CLEARANCE.


Diff skids. I put on the Rancho Diff skids. They are tough. I have repainted them at least 10 times. They take the most hits.

Rear lower shock mounts. These take the second most hits in the rocks.

The rear bumper and muffler will take a beating too. Can't really protect the muffler, I have cut the bottom of the tail pipe off because it has been crushed so many times. On harder trails, you may be surprised at how often a rear bumper can get hit. Get something strong enough to protect the tub.

Even though I swapped out the stock rock rails. I needed a built in step. (wife has a bad knee). I have wheeled with many running the stock Rubicon rock rails and they have done surprisingly well.

The last thing I added with the oil pan and transmission skid. It has only taken small hits and I believe that the hits it did take would have never made it up to the oil pan or trans anyways.

In Colorado, any jeep....non buggy trail, you can run with the stock skids and then best to add at least the diff skids and the rear shock tower skids. I ran Rancho and they proved to be super strong. I think that diff skids and skids in general are not rocket science to manufacture. So you can buy pretty much what ever you want. As the real difference in quality would probably only show up in extreme situations like racing. I just bought Rancho mainly because they have great customer service.

 

[Jeepeto]

You should be fine with the stock skid plates. Add things as you need them; otherwise you could spend $25k on your rig, getting it ready to wheel, and never leave the garage.

?this.

FWIW, I’m still on factory skids, and ran my last rig on factory skids without issue as well. I wouldn’t expect you to have any issues out in the San Juan tails.

 

[PeterInCO]

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.

Thanks. One more question on that MORE oil pan and tran plate: How does it affect oil changes?

 

[roaniecowpony]

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.

Agree. I went with Artec aluminum skid system for exactly the 120 ish lbs you mentioned. Went aluminum on the front and rear bumpers too. Probably saved as much on the bumpers vs 1/4" steel. A couple hundred lbs is like taking the top off, which I don't do, except the one time. I think the doors were pretty heavy too. I weighed them but can't recall exactly. But if you are weight conscious, you can keep from gaining hundreds of pounds and, for summer wheeling, you can shed a few hundred+ with the hardtop and door removals. The amount of suspension rise was noticeable when I took the hardtop and doors off.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Thanks. One more question on that MORE oil pan and tran plate: How does it affect oil changes?

I use a Fumoto quick drain valve as a replacement to the oil plug. There’s also a company called Valvomax that makes a quick drain. I’d just suggest getting one of those for your next oil change.
If you’re like…some kinda purist that hates the idea of a quick drain, it’s gonna be a mess every time. There’s plenty of room to get your hands around and through the hole to pull the drain plug for sure. But it’s going to be super messy.

 

[AZ Hella]

Has anyone tried Asfir skid plates?

Yes and it has been beat on for 4 years now with no issue. If you use the google search here all the threads will pop up.
I run this setup.

1. ASFIR engine/transmission skid.
2. RC rear diff skid.
3. RC rear lower control arm skids.
4. Rock Hard front lower control arm skids.
5. ASFIR front diff cover guard.

 

[Old Jeeper]

That was my biggest fear: the odd rock flipping up and piercing any of the oil pans... I do small to moderate trails in my area, and one of our trails - it's not really a trail but a rocky forestry road,.

And I'm actually following your road, but with the caveat that my Jeep needs to still be a good daily driver... Moab is in my bucket list, and I'm upgrading my Sahara bit by bit. Last year, RC skid plates (belly, front and rear diff), Xtrem Recon take-off suspension from Marketplace, . the year before, Rubicon sliders, Willys KM3... This year, steel front and rear bumpers, a winch and mod the suspension to compensate the extra weight. Maybe 35s if I have some money left, or I sell a kidney...

As much as I did to my Jeep as outlined above the fact is that it was my daily driver, putting right at 100k miles on it in 8 years. It was never a garage queen. I have the wrapped idea that your off-road Jeep should be your daily driver and driven to the trails no matter where they are. And I did.

NOTE: In my years of off-roading I have noticed that those who Trailer their Jeep to the trails do so because they BREAK on the trails!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I use a Fumoto quick drain valve as a replacement to the oil plug. There’s also a company called Valvomax that makes a quick drain. I’d just suggest getting one of those for your next oil change.
If you’re like…some kinda purist that hates the idea of a quick drain, it’s gonna be a mess every time. There’s plenty of room to get your hands around and through the hole to pull the drain plug for sure. But it’s going to be super messy.

Ha, I called my shop and asked them to go ahead and do an oil change, since it was still on the lift, before I picked it up when they finished my build. This was a little before closing time on a Friday. When I arrived, the main builder had a "look" on his face and seemed like he was in a bit of a bad mood which is unusual for him. I asked him if he was okay and he said it was just a typical bad Friday afternoon. He then said let's go check out your build. We walked out and had to go around a giant oil spill, under the lift by my Jeep. After I finished admiring the build, I asked if the got the oil changed. He said, "yes, that is your oil in the floor, would have been nice if you had of called us before we put the skids back on". I asked if the removable oil pan door helped and once again he pointed at the oil on the floor.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Ha, I called my shop and asked them to go ahead and do an oil change, since it was still on the lift, before I picked it up when they finished my build. This was a little before closing time on a Friday. When I arrived, the main builder had a "look" on his face and seemed like he was in a bit of a bad mood which is unusual for him. I asked him if he was okay and he said it was just a typical bad Friday afternoon. He then said let's go check out your build. We walked out and had to go around a giant oil spill, under the lift by my Jeep. After I finished admiring the build, I asked if the got the oil changed. He said, "yes, that is your oil in the floor, would have been nice if you had of called us before we put the skids back on". I asked if the removable oil pan door helped and once again he pointed at the oil on the floor.

Yeah…they mostly help give you access. Not help you change it. Lmao
Quick drain valves are a god send. Been using them on 3 different vehicles now. They make oil changes super easy and clean.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yeah…they mostly help give you access. Not help you change it. Lmao
Quick drain valves are a god send. Been using them on 3 different vehicles now. They make oil changes super easy and clean.

Yep, my original plan was to have them install a Fumoto Valve but I forgot to get one.

 

[Krondor]

@Krondor and I did just that over the summer!
Red Cone to Radical Hill.

I'm game for another round. Hope it's not as late into the year to open this year too!

 

[J.Ferreira]

I'm game for another round. Hope it's not as late into the year to open this year too!

And to remember snacks! ?

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