Hole in resonator - repair/replace or full exhaust upgrade, and how to prevent in the future?

[A Sober Animal]

I noticed this morning when I remote started my Jeep that it looks like I punctured the resonator this past month while off-roading.

(posting from my phone so unable to rotate this, sorry)
Does anyone know the approximate cost to replace just the resonator? Or would it maybe make more sense just at to find a completely new exhaust for some minor HP gains and better sound? If so, any recommendations?

Also, I sure as hell don’t want this happening again - I always thought that the gas tank was supposed to be the most vulnerable below. What skid plates would cover this up so this doesn’t happen in the future?

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[Category5Bronado]

I don’t have my JL anymore but I’m pretty sure mine had the same hole for condensation to drain.

 

[BDinTX]

Ya mine has it too.

 

[mwilk012]

That’s a water drain.

 

[XJfanatic]

Yep mine has it as well

 

[omnitonic]

Most of my experience with vehicles in the last 20 years has been with Fords, but it seems like these holes are an intentional design feature. It may explain why factory exhausts seem to be lasting longer and longer. I don't have long term experience with Jeep, but the exhaust components look about the same in terms of composition and design. I think these intentional weep holes take the place of the rust holes that would have inevitably developed in vehicles of yore. I further speculate that manufacturers have moved in this direction now that vehicles are too expensive to just buy a new one every couple of years.

 

[A Sober Animal]

Well this is just fantastic news, thanks everyone.

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