Rough country skid plates

[Jerrybizzle]

How do you feel about the losing the front crossmember on the rough country? Just installed mine. Seems solid but you did lose an important part.

I was happy to lose that. Damn thing caught on everything.

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[jellis4148]

I was happy to lose that. Damn thing caught on everything.

LOL, I agree. Jeep seems pretty solid after installing. Damn things are heavy, but they look like they will do the job. Had to use a jack to hold them up while I started the bolts.

 

[jellis4148]

Next question. Does anyone feel like there Jeep runs hotter, especially when having to idle a lot?

 

[Punk'n Willy]

Next question. Does anyone feel like there Jeep runs hotter, especially when having to idle a lot?

I haven't noticed anything different since installing them. The weight was the only thing I have noticed.

 

[Pig-Pen]

Did a rock run last Thursday and I’m definitely glad I had this skid plate and am actually going to add a gas tank skid. If this skid weren’t there the oil pan would have taken a rock to it. It did bend a little but is still not pinching on the exhaust so all is good. The factory gas tank skid took a decent beating so I am going to add a skid there, the problem is after contacting rough country they don’t sell that skid separately for the jl. At $800 for the full skid set it seems like kind of a ripoff as they sell a gas tank skid for the jk at $179 versus the full kit (adds gas tank skid) at $800 (for jl) vs the one I got that was $400 and the only apparent difference is the gas tank skid. So why is it $400 for the jl and $179 for the jk gas tank skid from RC? Who knows but they don’t sell it ala carte anyways and weren’t overly helpful in attempting to sell me one individually, so I ordered a rubicon express one for $240 after taxes on a Labor Day sale. Hoping they match up well enough and will update this thread when it comes in and I get it on.

subbing. did you end up getting/installing the RE gas tank skid? im thinking about doing the same thing very soon. having a sport i have no protection down there. recently noticed that i dented my exhaust pipe pretty good.

 

[Jerrybizzle]

subbing. did you end up getting/installing the RE gas tank skid? im thinking about doing the same thing very soon. having a sport i have no protection down there. recently noticed that i dented my exhaust pipe pretty good.

I have it but haven’t had a chance to install yet. I’ll get to it Thursday and update the thread. Actually bought a couple rustys off road items as well. My sliders finally threw in the towel a bit and bent into the very bottom of the body so I ordered the rusty’s angled up version that mount to the frame more solidly and also their rear bumper fascia kit that protects the body if the rear bumper takes a big hit.

 

[ChattVol]

@Jerrybizzle I installed these skids as well...like them. I've also looked at the Rusty's rear fascia....are you concerned about water/mud getting trapped behind the fascia and causing rust issues long term?

 

[Jerrybizzle]

@Jerrybizzle I installed these skids as well...like them. I've also looked at the Rusty's rear fascia....are you concerned about water/mud getting trapped behind the fascia and causing rust issues long term?

I’m less concerned with water/rust issues than I am concerned about my rear bumper damaging the sheet metal back there. I actually have it at my house but still waiting on the sliders. I will pull it out tonight and see if it looks like it could be an issue. Glad you like the skids so far. For the price they seem great still and mine have been getting some use.

 

[Paramaniac413]

I installed mine a few weeks ago. I couldn’t get one panel to fit flush (I think one of the brackets is bent), but otherwise it’s not horrible. The other thing I noticed is that I think the front drive shaft is hitting the drivers side bracket when I hit a big bump. Not sure what that deal is, but I’ll have the guys check it when I get my lift installed on Monday.

 

[Jerrybizzle]

Well I installed the rubicon express gas tank skid. As with all things Jerry rigged, there’s a chance things will just have to work. Turns out the rough country gas tank skid is longer than the RE one. Instructions were garbage on this skid, but common sense worked. Bolt on the rear is a bad design and I couldn’t flip it in so going to end up cutting it. Overall it will do, but not as great fitting together as expected. There’s a gap where there’s still factory skid. I’ll see how it works as is and maybe fab something up eventually if needed.

 

[ChattVol]

Well I installed the rubicon express gas tank skid. As with all things Jerry rigged, there’s a chance things will just have to work. Turns out the rough country gas tank skid is longer than the RE one. Instructions were garbage on this skid, but common sense worked. Bolt on the rear is a bad design and I couldn’t flip it in so going to end up cutting it. Overall it will do, but not as great fitting together as expected. There’s a gap where there’s still factory skid. I’ll see how it works as is and maybe fab something up eventually if needed.

Good feedback...it's bad business that @Rough Country Suspensions doesn't sell the gas tank skid seperate. They need to fix that..

 

[jellis4148]

I’m not too worried about the gas tank. It already has a skid. I was more concerned the the engine/transmission, and the very small transfer case skid. I’m happy with my rough country so far.

 

[jellis4148]

Anyone else having a problem with front drive shaft hitting the bracket?

 

[ChattVol]

Anyone else having a problem with front drive shaft hitting the bracket?

No...and I've flexed it fully lifting a tire a few times with stock driveshaft and front shocks that extend to 29". The stock rear driveshaft did rub the stock gas tank skid...so I imagine it would rub the RC gas tank skid considering it goes over the stock skid. However, my rear shocks extend to 31.5"...prob a bit too much. (I'm running 37s with 2" bumpstops)

 

[Jerrybizzle]

Good feedback...it's bad business that @Rough Country Suspensions doesn't sell the gas tank skid seperate. They need to fix that..

I messaged them asking that as that’s what I would have preferred. Here’s there response. It’s pretty dumb as their jk gas tank skid isn’t $400 but because it’s a jl it isn’t available and would be $400. Here’s there reply.

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