Diff cover or diff skid?

[Jglad15]

Next venture motorsports has a sale until tomorrow night. What seems more popular front diff cover or skid? Is it worth it to spend that much on a front diff cover from next venture, when I could get an arb, Yukon, or dana/spicer for a lil cheaper? I have also read multiple posts on here that next venture’s front diff skid was more than enough and a front diff cover wasn’t needed. I watched a vid a while back of gale banks talking about how diff covers were shaped and making sure the diff fluid was coating the gears properly and some do it better than others. Anyone care to offer their take?

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[drewcnit]

If you go with the Nextventure Skid, be aware it only works with some of the aftermarket covers. Their own cover of course, then I know they mention Motobilt's, and the OEM one of course. I don't believe the ARB or Dana fit due to the shape/size. Motobilt is actually fairly cheap for an aftermarket cover, might make a good compromise so you don't have to pay the Nextventure price.

As for One or the Other or both, I bought both from Nextventure for the front and rear when on sale. After getting the products in hand, both is probably overkill and the skid would have been fine with the OEM cover.
But having both, I now only worry about how broke my wallet is after that purchase. ?

Paging @Summitdan, as I know he has the NextVenture skid with OEM cover.

 

[Jaxmax]

I think the Next Venture skids are the best protection the diffs can have plus protects the driveshaft end also, all the other diff skids just don’t do it as well. The differential covers are not as needed. I have a unique build , not lifting my Mojave , and realize how much I really go off-road where I would need the skid plates, and with member Crash Ed giving my a set of used Dana cast covers I realized the cast fins are like ramps and my diffs are protected enough for my needs and my non lifted Glady didn’t lose the clearance the diff skid would take even if it is 1/4”-1/2”. All that said I am going to get their aluminum fully belly skid as it actually gives you I think 3/4” more clearance and only adds 20lbs.……Jack

 

[Rockabillyroy]

If you go with the Nextventure Skid, be aware it only works with some of the aftermarket covers. Their own cover of course, then I know they mention Motobilt's, and the OEM one of course. I don't believe the ARB or Dana fit due to the shape/size. Motobilt is actually fairly cheap for an aftermarket cover, might make a good compromise so you don't have to pay the Nextventure price.

As for One or the Other or both, I bought both from Nextventure for the front and rear when on sale. After getting the products in hand, both is probably overkill and the skid would have been fine with the OEM cover.
But having both, I now only worry about how broke my wallet is after that purchase. ?

Paging @Summitdan, as I know he has the NextVenture skid with OEM cover.

They sell a spacer required to use with OEM covers.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If you go with the Nextventure Skid, be aware it only works with some of the aftermarket covers. Their own cover of course, then I know they mention Motobilt's, and the OEM one of course. I don't believe the ARB or Dana fit due to the shape/size. Motobilt is actually fairly cheap for an aftermarket cover, might make a good compromise so you don't have to pay the Nextventure price.

As for One or the Other or both, I bought both from Nextventure for the front and rear when on sale. After getting the products in hand, both is probably overkill and the skid would have been fine with the OEM cover.
But having both, I now only worry about how broke my wallet is after that purchase. ?

Paging @Summitdan, as I know he has the NextVenture skid with OEM cover.

Per Next Venture, and I agree after having them on for quite a while, there’s no reason for heavy duty covers if you get the skids. They sell a spacer kit that resolves the thickness issue. I painted the spacers to match the skids. It’s not just washers. It’s a laser cut spacer that matches all six holes in one price of steel. My covers are now so well protected that I doubt I’ll ever even scratch the covers.

 

[Jglad15]

Per Next Venture, and I agree after having them on for quite a while, there’s no reason for heavy duty covers if you get the skids. They sell a spacer kit that resolves the thickness issue. I painted the spacers to match the skids. It’s not just washers. It’s a laser cut spacer that matches all six holes in one price of steel. My covers are now so well protected that I doubt I’ll ever even scratch the covers.

Sounds good! I was waiting to see if you would respond before I made my purchase lol. Thanks! The skid it is!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Sounds good! I was waiting to see if you would respond before I made my purchase lol. Thanks! The skid it is!

I just found a picture from shortly after they went on. If you look closely you can see the spacer. It’s the same silver as the skid.

 

[Jglad15]

I just found a picture from shortly after they went on. If you look closely you can see the spacer. It’s the same silver as the skid.

If you could do it over again would you do it powder coated? Or still the bare steal?

 

[WILDHOBO]

If you could do it over again would you do it powder coated? Or still the bare steal?

Still bare steel, but I’d not be an idiot and I’d paint them black. The powder coat would last five minutes and you’d be painting over it.

 

[chorky]

Per Next Venture, and I agree after having them on for quite a while, there’s no reason for heavy duty covers if you get the skids. They sell a spacer kit that resolves the thickness issue. I painted the spacers to match the skids. It’s not just washers. It’s a laser cut spacer that matches all six holes in one price of steel. My covers are now so well protected that I doubt I’ll ever even scratch the covers.

One thing I have always wondered with these though is if you hit hard enough on them, would it bust the bolts seeing as how the bolts holding on the cover also hold the skid?

But I agree that a skid is a much better option than a cover, for protection.

 

[drewcnit]

Still bare steel, but I’d not be an idiot and I’d paint them black. The powder coat would last five minutes and you’d be painting over it.

I agree, I rattle canned mine with some VHT Wrinkle Black, that way any scratches just need touch up paint.

 

[WILDHOBO]

One thing I have always wondered with these though is if you hit hard enough on them, would it bust the bolts seeing as how the bolts holding on the cover also hold the skid?

But I agree that a skid is a much better option than a cover, for protection.

I can’t see how. The bolts are protected by the skid, and it shares 6 of them. I’ve slid the weight of the Jeep on the rear several times. They don’t budge.

 

[chorky]

I can’t see how. The bolts are protected by the skid, and it shares 6 of them. I’ve slid the weight of the Jeep on the rear several times. They don’t budge.

I wasn't thinking of direct hit, more of sheer strength. but maybe the skid is fully butted up against the bottom of the diff! anyway, good to hear your input here.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I wasn't thinking of direct hit, more of sheer strength. but maybe the skid is fully butted up against the bottom of the diff! anyway, good to hear your input here.

Anything is possible, but I’ve driven the diff straight into boulders that stop forward motion. So far they done their job.

 

[Jglad15]

@Summitdan of course the damn discount code won’t work when I type it in now…… I guess I’ll call Monday and see if they’ll honor the price. I took a screen shot of it as proof. I’ll try again later as well.

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