Protection for Frame Underneath Wrangler Rubicon?

[JeepinJason33]

Must be some low hanging frames on the Rubicon... I have run it several times without damage to my frame other than some scrapes. As others have mentioned, the only place you can really hit the frame is between the wheels under the doors. Other than that, the frame is high above the wheels and rear bumper. Many of us run belly skids which protect the engine, oil pan, transmission, gas tank, and now secondary batteries. These actually attach to the bottom of the frame and will keep the paint from getting knocked off the frame. However, the skids will take some hits now as they slide over rocks if the rocks are big enough or the Jeep is low enough.

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[Chocolate Thunder]

I believe this is a troll job. I’m going to leave dude to his mission of finding suitable frame protection for the Rubicon Trail . Good luck, my man.

 

[HeavyUser]

You are worrying about something that you do not need to worry about. The frame is stout, you are not going to bend or warp it offroading by sliding on a boulder. Start worrying about when or where your JL is going to randomly break down on you.

 

[JeepinJason33]

You are worrying about something that you do not need to worry about. The frame is stout, you are not going to bend or warp it offroading by sliding on a boulder. Start worrying about when or where your JL is going to randomly break down on you.

Seems to be true on this site. I am hoping to buck the trend with my JL. My TJ never gave me any mechanical or electrical problems even after I supercharged it. Granted the TJ did not have fancy electronics... Another reason I special ordered mine without the extra safety crap.

 

[HeavyUser]

Seems to be true on this site. I am hoping to buck the trend with my JL. My TJ never gave me any mechanical or electrical problems even after I supercharged it. Granted the TJ did not have fancy electronics... Another reason I special ordered mine without the extra safety crap.

I honestly hope you have a mechanical issue free vehicle for many many years to come!

 

[MaineBumpkin]

Must be some low hanging frames on the Rubicon... I have run it several times without damage to my frame other than some scrapes. As others have mentioned, the only place you can really hit the frame is between the wheels under the doors. Other than that, the frame is high above the wheels and rear bumper. Many of us run belly skids which protect the engine, oil pan, transmission, gas tank, and now secondary batteries. These actually attach to the bottom of the frame and will keep the paint from getting knocked off the frame. However, the skids will take some hits now as they slide over rocks if the rocks are big enough or the Jeep is low enough.

One thing has occurred to me as my wife and I plan our 2022 trip out West, many of the videos you see of people traversing the Rubicon trail on 37's where they get high centered, crease a door, break and axle etc. are people choosing more challenging lines. This tends to make people like me overthink things and go buy 12k winches (for example) Plenty of examples of people doing the trail in stock Rubicons with little to no damage. Maybe I'm wrong but choosing the line (and sometimes bypass) is the best 'protection'.

 

[JeepinJason33]

One thing has occurred to me as my wife and I plan our 2022 trip out West, many of the videos you see of people traversing the Rubicon trail on 37's where they get high centered, crease a door, break and axle etc. are people choosing more challenging lines. This tends to make people like me overthink things and go buy 12k winches (for example) Plenty of examples of people doing the trail in stock Rubicons with little to no damage. Maybe I'm wrong but choosing the line (and sometimes bypass) is the best 'protection'.

A stock trail hawk Renegade and Cherokee have completed the Rubicon...

 

[Humvee4us]

A stock trail hawk Renegade and Cherokee have completed the Rubicon...

I don't believe that, I need proof.

 

[JeepinJason33]

I don't believe that, I need proof.

We also saw a few being tested when they first came out. I have pics someplace of the Renegade. They drug it and took all the bypasses. I think they do that so they can call them "trail rated" The cherokees did fine, scrapped the crap out of their underbellies though

 

[Humvee4us]

We also saw a few being tested when they first came out. I have pics someplace of the Renegade. They drug it and took all the bypasses. I think they do that so they can call them "trail rated" The cherokees did fine, scrapped the crap out of their underbellies though

Wow, it's true! Although if they took all the bypasses then it shouldn't really count.
Reminds me of when Land Rover tested their new Defender in Namibia and stacked rocks all along the pass so that the Defender could "make it."

 

[track.n.trail]

As others have said there is no need to protect the actual frame. Rock sliders protect your rocker panels (body under the doors, between the wheel wells) and skid plates protect the stuff between the frame rails (engine and transmission oil pans, gas tank, etc).

 

[Crawldad]

sometimes stuff breaks. i wouldn't worry about your frame. it will be the last thing to go.

what you should worry about: never go 4-wheeling alone. always have a group. look into the safety / equipment checklists.

 

[DirtyCreeker]

If you wanted to protect your frame, you could always weld on some diamond plate or something to it. I wouldn't try to bolt it on though, I'd think anything you'd hit that would potentially damage the frame would just shear a bolt.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

If you’re doing something that might damage the frame I suggest buying an old JK and just modify the heck out of it rather than destroying a $50,000 JL.

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