Highest Clearance Belly Skids? Pics?

[GavinH]

Looking for the highest clearance belly skids to maintain ground clearance and would love to compare what everyone’s running. Noticed some bolt on top the factory skids while others completely replace it and are you running steel or aluminum?

Edit: 2.0 w/ Etorque. 4 Door. Already have Rusty’s engine skid, wanting to complete rest of belly but worried about weight, heat, and clearance.

Update: I’ve purchased the rest of the Rusty’s skid system for a few reasons and will list my pros and cons below. I’ll list measurements and more pictures once fully installed.

Pros:​

- Made in America!​

- Price​

- True, fully connected belly system​

- Strength​

- Maintains lower COG, if anything it lowers it​

- Higher clearance than stock​

- Best Etorque protection on the market​

​

Cons:​

- 75lbs overall added weight vs stock skids (not horrible imo)​

- Comes raw, have to prep & paint​

- 4 bolts are not countersunk​

- Heat retention vs aluminum​

​

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[Buddy Lee]

I have been happy with Artec. It covers the entire underside and only adds 10lbs to the Jeep. All of the factory skids come off. Their skid plate also raises the fuel tank up about an inch over the stock location. I hardly notice it from the side of the Jeep.

 

[Ratbert]

If clearance is a primary concern then focus on those that replace the tank skid.

Note that you'd need to specify your engine and number of doors to get relatively meaningful responses.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I doubt there's any meaningful difference in ground clearance between the top brands.

 

[Vinman]

I have been happy with Artec. It covers the entire underside and only adds 10lbs to the Jeep. All of the factory skids come off. Their skid plate also raises the fuel tank up about an inch over the stock location. I hardly notice it from the side of the Jeep.

I also have the Artec full aluminum skids, couldn’t be happier, especially due to the lack of added weight.

 

[Ratbert]

I doubt there's any meaningful difference in ground clearance between the top brands.

At least with diesels, the NVM skids gain you half an inch of clearance while most of the others reduce clearance.

 

[dragoneggs]

I doubt there's any meaningful difference in ground clearance between the top brands.

Yes there is… do your research.

 

[Terrymo]

I have Metalcloak. Regarding the gas tank skid, Rustys eliminates the factory gas tank skid in exchange for theirs. Metalcloak’s gas tank skid covers the factory gas tank skid which loses an inch of clearance compared to the Rusty’s gas tank skid.

 

[zouch]

same with the Artec; there's a tiny bit of additional clearance gained in breakover (at least on the Diesel), and they get the Fuel Filter a little further up out of the way.

pretty happy with my Artec stuff so far. wasn't inexpensive, but it's not cheap.

At least with diesels, the NVM skids gain you half an inch of clearance while most of the others reduce clearance.

 

[73TAWM]

I have been happy with Artec. It covers the entire underside and only adds 10lbs to the Jeep. All of the factory skids come off. Their skid plate also raises the fuel tank up about an inch over the stock location. I hardly notice it from the side of the Jeep.

What fenders are those? Thought it might be a chop from the front but the rear is throwing me off.

 

[JEEP4U]

If you still live in Florida, do not due cover the entire underside..... it's not needed....and will trap heat.

Do install a oil pan and transfer skid.

I have a 2021 JLU 3.6L man and utilize Westin oil pan skid and an aluminum Mountain Offroad transfer case skid plate.

 

[Buddy Lee]

What fenders are those? Thought it might be a chop from the front but the rear is throwing me off.

Factory chop with Cavfab liners and Quake led brackets.

 

[Organic Gasoline]

I have the Rustys, I choose these because the ground clearance is better than Metal Cloak. They are solid, and I have no regrets. Rusty is great to work with.

The only thing I dont like about these is that they leave the exhaust down pipe somewhat exposed.

They are going to get torn up anyway, I'd just assume leave them unpainted... I coat mine every year with Surface Shield. Works great for other areas as well. Good practice if you use your jeep on trails like it was made for!
https://blasterproducts.com/product/surface-shield/

I have a friend running the Metal Cloak and his are bent into the exhaust pipe resting on it. I'd rather not have that to be honest. Plus Rusty's are cheaper, get the whole kit with the gas tank skid, the factory one is not strong enough for wheeling.

If your focus is on clearance, I would assume you are going to do some wheeling. I ran aluminum for a while, but they dont hold up well. Mine bent in all kinds of undesirable ways. it got the point where I had to take them off the jeep and hammer them out with a sledge every other time I went wheeling....

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[73TAWM]

Factory chop with Cavfab liners and Quake led brackets.

Those rears look metal, that's what was throwing me.

 

[Philly_]

I have the Rustys, I choose these because the ground clearance is better than Metal Cloak. They are solid, and I have no regrets. Rusty is great to work with.

The only thing I dont like about these is that they leave the exhaust down pipe somewhat exposed.

They are going to get torn up anyway, I'd just assume leave them unpainted... I coat mine every year with Surface Shield. Works great for other areas as well. Good practice if you use your jeep on trails like it was made for!
https://blasterproducts.com/product/surface-shield/

I have a friend running the Metal Cloak and his are bent into the exhaust pipe resting on it. I'd rather not have that to be honest. Plus Rusty's are cheaper, get the whole kit with the gas tank skid, the factory one is not strong enough for wheeling.

If your focus is on clearance, I would assume you are going to do some wheeling. I ran aluminum for a while, but they dont hold up well. Mine bent in all kinds of undesirable ways. it got the point where I had to take them off the jeep and hammer them out with a sledge every other time I went wheeling....

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Which aluminum skids did you use? It does matter, because Artec is the only brand (that I've found) using 6061, which is much stronger and better for this application.

I have the Artec skids, and put them to work in the rocks at AOAA a couple weeks back and they performed beautifully. The front edge over the transfer case has a bit of gouging, but I think it's because it's about the only hard edge on the whole system and I was stuck on a rock. The rest of the skids show no signs of damage or deflection aside from some scratches and rub marks from other rocks.

I don't have pics of the underbelly post trails, but here is one from just after the install. Fit and finish is amazing, and you do gain a bit of ground clearance.

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