Cypher
Well-Known Member
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I just returned from a multi state off-road adventure where I spent a few days at Sand Hollow state park in St. George Utah in the sand and slick rock, then a few days in Vegas and on the Rocky Gap trail outside Red Rocks Canyon and wanted to Post a review / damage report on my parts after the trip and my use here in AZ over the last few months.
Here is what I have installed for protection:
Rock Hard Lower Control Arm Skids
Rancho Front differential skid
Metalcloak rear differential skid
Motobilt Full underbelly skid system
Roam frame mounted rock sliders / side steps.
I always pick my lines knowing where my skids are, and where the vulnerable spots remain such as my exposed steering stabilizer. I have a 2020 JLUR with no lift currently and I am back on the factory Falcon M/T 33" tires.
The Metalcloak rear differential skid took some hits, but did not move. With the coating they use, while there are some scratches from the rocks, overall it is still in great shape. @Metalcloak
All 4 of the Rock hard LCA skids did their job. After multiple hits (they are the low hanging fruit lol) they held up amazing. No bends, and the finish held up well. I will touch them up a bit, but overall they are in good shape. @ROCK HARD 4X4
The Rancho front differential skid also has a decent amount of scrapes, but no big gouges or dents etc. the finish on the Rancho is not as durable As the Metalcloak, or even the Rock Hard LCA skids but it is still acceptable. Some red touch up and it will be good as new. @RanchoShocks
The ROAM frame mounted sliders / Side steps also took some scrapes, but held up amazing. These were used as true "rock sliders" and they did not budge. Not only did they protect my Jeep, they made getting in and out easy the entire trip. With my Artificial knee This is a must for me. I was a little worried that they were not a dedicated rock slider, but you would never know. A little touch up and these will be good as new. I found that black epoxy paint matches the powder very well. In the snow and mud, these also did an amazing job keeping things from hitting the side of the jeep. I am very impressed with how well they performed. @ROAM
Lastly is the Motobilt full underbelly skid system. I saved this for last as this is the only thing I had issues with. A month or so ago on a dirt hill climb with deep rugs I bottomed out. This caused the passenger side of the engine skid to warp, pushing into the passenger side exhaust tube. I needed to have something for this trip, so I used a grinder to clearance out about 3/4" where the exhaust tube is so I could keep using it until I can get a replacement. I was told the skids should not bend, and should not have any more issues with them so I decided to give it a shot. Fast forward to this trip. After the second day, I was hearing the tell tail sound of the skid rubbing on the exhaust tubes again. However this time it was much louder. After stopping and looking, it was now majorly bent and hitting both sides of the exhaust tube. The engine skid bent so bad it almost put holes into both the driver and passenger side of the exhaust tubes. So on the trail, in 35 degree weather I had to remove the engine skid so I could keep driving the trails as we had a few more trails and climbs to hit. I with all of the skids I have installed, only the Motobilt has taken so much damage it can no longer be used, and in fact damaged my JLUR. To be fair, Motobilt has sent a replacement engine skid out to my local shop who installed it. It has not arrived yet, so I can't say if it is any different, or will end up having the same issues. I thought the local shop mentioned that it may have been redesigned to keep it from bending like it did, or contacting the exhaust if it does. I will update this post when I find out fore sure. Other than the engine skid, there are also lot of deep gouges and dents throughout the rest of the skid system. I am a little surprised at how soft they seem being steel. They are almost acting like Aluminum with how easily and deep they scratch. @Motobilt
On my prior JLUR I ran the full Metalcloak Undercloak skid system, I had a lot harder hits on it, and it never dented, or warped etc. I liked the look of the Motobilt with the way the sides angle up as my plan was to also run the Roam MK3 boat sides in the future so I would have no hang up points and closed off from the underbelly up to the sliders. I will give the updated / new engine skid a chance to see if it is any better, but long term I may be swapping back to the Metalcloak Undercloak skid system as it just held up better for me. I am big on trying out new products, so I do not regret my purchase, but for those who plan to push your jeeps my experience is that the Motobilt does not hold up as well as the Metalcloak and the design can actually damage the exhaust if it does bend.
I just got home and only have a few pictures of the bent skids and a side view of the roam sliders. I will take some pictures after I finish cleaning everything up in the next day or so.
Here is what I have installed for protection:
Rock Hard Lower Control Arm Skids
Rancho Front differential skid
Metalcloak rear differential skid
Motobilt Full underbelly skid system
Roam frame mounted rock sliders / side steps.
I always pick my lines knowing where my skids are, and where the vulnerable spots remain such as my exposed steering stabilizer. I have a 2020 JLUR with no lift currently and I am back on the factory Falcon M/T 33" tires.
The Metalcloak rear differential skid took some hits, but did not move. With the coating they use, while there are some scratches from the rocks, overall it is still in great shape. @Metalcloak
All 4 of the Rock hard LCA skids did their job. After multiple hits (they are the low hanging fruit lol) they held up amazing. No bends, and the finish held up well. I will touch them up a bit, but overall they are in good shape. @ROCK HARD 4X4
The Rancho front differential skid also has a decent amount of scrapes, but no big gouges or dents etc. the finish on the Rancho is not as durable As the Metalcloak, or even the Rock Hard LCA skids but it is still acceptable. Some red touch up and it will be good as new. @RanchoShocks
The ROAM frame mounted sliders / Side steps also took some scrapes, but held up amazing. These were used as true "rock sliders" and they did not budge. Not only did they protect my Jeep, they made getting in and out easy the entire trip. With my Artificial knee This is a must for me. I was a little worried that they were not a dedicated rock slider, but you would never know. A little touch up and these will be good as new. I found that black epoxy paint matches the powder very well. In the snow and mud, these also did an amazing job keeping things from hitting the side of the jeep. I am very impressed with how well they performed. @ROAM
Lastly is the Motobilt full underbelly skid system. I saved this for last as this is the only thing I had issues with. A month or so ago on a dirt hill climb with deep rugs I bottomed out. This caused the passenger side of the engine skid to warp, pushing into the passenger side exhaust tube. I needed to have something for this trip, so I used a grinder to clearance out about 3/4" where the exhaust tube is so I could keep using it until I can get a replacement. I was told the skids should not bend, and should not have any more issues with them so I decided to give it a shot. Fast forward to this trip. After the second day, I was hearing the tell tail sound of the skid rubbing on the exhaust tubes again. However this time it was much louder. After stopping and looking, it was now majorly bent and hitting both sides of the exhaust tube. The engine skid bent so bad it almost put holes into both the driver and passenger side of the exhaust tubes. So on the trail, in 35 degree weather I had to remove the engine skid so I could keep driving the trails as we had a few more trails and climbs to hit. I with all of the skids I have installed, only the Motobilt has taken so much damage it can no longer be used, and in fact damaged my JLUR. To be fair, Motobilt has sent a replacement engine skid out to my local shop who installed it. It has not arrived yet, so I can't say if it is any different, or will end up having the same issues. I thought the local shop mentioned that it may have been redesigned to keep it from bending like it did, or contacting the exhaust if it does. I will update this post when I find out fore sure. Other than the engine skid, there are also lot of deep gouges and dents throughout the rest of the skid system. I am a little surprised at how soft they seem being steel. They are almost acting like Aluminum with how easily and deep they scratch. @Motobilt
On my prior JLUR I ran the full Metalcloak Undercloak skid system, I had a lot harder hits on it, and it never dented, or warped etc. I liked the look of the Motobilt with the way the sides angle up as my plan was to also run the Roam MK3 boat sides in the future so I would have no hang up points and closed off from the underbelly up to the sliders. I will give the updated / new engine skid a chance to see if it is any better, but long term I may be swapping back to the Metalcloak Undercloak skid system as it just held up better for me. I am big on trying out new products, so I do not regret my purchase, but for those who plan to push your jeeps my experience is that the Motobilt does not hold up as well as the Metalcloak and the design can actually damage the exhaust if it does bend.
I just got home and only have a few pictures of the bent skids and a side view of the roam sliders. I will take some pictures after I finish cleaning everything up in the next day or so.
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