Full belly aluminum skid plate comparison

[Drooler]

I also just installed the Asfir engine and t-case skids. Very nicely build and they provide more than enough protection for my JT.

Thanks for sharing. Any updates re the performance over the last 18mths?
Hopefully u were able to take it off road and have some real world experience.

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[Drooler]

Does anybody have any updates on their AL skid plates?

Ideally after taking it rock crawling and having to slide the belly somewhat over rocks and other obstacles

 

[fourfa]

Definitely got a good curve going in my Next Venture alu + UHMW diesel tank skid after getting very high-centered on the Back Way To Crown King. UHMW did its job though - where there used to be a hellacious deafening screech whenever the stock skids make contact, now it’s just silent. Winch out of the stuck was way easier than usual.

 

[bd100]

Quadratec aluminum engine and transfer case skids w/ steel braces, stock height. Brushed against the ground while going down some general two-track. That's the ground clearance thing there. Otherwise haven't gone offroad enough to test it. In general I like having the steel cross braces, stronger than the originals.

The braces are rusting though. I have a new rule that anything I add to the truck gets an extra coat of paint first. Aftermarket powder coat doesn't seem to last well.

I added anti-seize to the bolts. Nothing has backed out yet that I know of. I replaced the oil access port bolts with flat head allen bolts. They stay put, and come out easily every time. The large access port makes it trivial to change the oil. No spill to speak of. But the large port may not be as strong as the rest of the plate.

 

[Artec]

Doing some research on full belly skid plates. I'm focused on aluminum, rather than steel. So this list purposefully omits all still. Question at the bottom on ground clearance impacts and installation experience.

Brand	Material	Cost	Weight	Installation	Finish	Transfer Case Area Coverage*	Notes
Artec	1/4" 6061 Aluminum	$$$	+10 lbs	Remove gas tank skid; drill one hole	None	full	1.5" lift required
Asfir	1/4" 5052 Aluminum	$	+64 lbs	Bolt on	None	partial	Difficult hidden nut on install
M.O.R.E. (Mountain Off-Road	1/4" Aluminum	$$$	TBD	bolt on	None (can be color powder-coated	partial	Suggest 1.5" lift for driveshaft clearance; could not determine weight
Next Venture	1/4" 5052 Aluminum	$$$$	+20 lbs	Remove gas tank skid; cut one bracket	None	full
Quadratec	5052 Aluminum	$$	+123 lbs	bolt on	None	partial	Likely ¼" thick, but could not confirm
Rock Hard 4x4	1/4" Aluminum	$$$	+180 lbs	bolt on	Black powdercoat	full	Has replacement steel cross members

*Transfer Area Case Coverage: These products differ most in their approach to covering the transfer case area (the mid-section). Some are full-width and others are focus on the transfer case itself.

I don't have specific numbers in for cost... because they fluctuate. But I think that the relative rating might be helpful.

The Rock Hard is notable in that it's the biggest weight differential. Likely due to the replacement steel cross members, presumably beefy, given RH4x4's reputation, but not weighed separately; and because RH doesn't remove the OEM gas tank skid

The installs all look comparable, with maybe the exception of the Next Venture: cutting a bracket is a bigger deal than drilling a hole (Artec)

One factor that's very unclear is the difference in ground clearance LOST by these various skids.

Presumably, the Artec and Next Venture kits give up the least clearance, at least near the gas tank, because installation removes the OEM gas tank skid. But it's hard to determine specifics.

Additionally, Artec and M.O.R.E. have statements about requiring lift. It's unclear (from web info) if the additional hight on a JTR gives sufficient clearance. My guess is "no" but I'm not an expert in the subtle differences between JTR and other JT* suspensions.

Does anyone has thoughts/experience on the topic of ground clearance? And/or installation?

Just to inform as of Nov 2023 All artec bellypans do not require the lift any longer

 

[Artec]

Does anybody have any updates on their AL skid plates?

Ideally after taking it rock crawling and having to slide the belly somewhat over rocks and other obstacles

Here is one of the Artec Alpha series belly pans on our Red JT running out Soon to be released Triangulated longarm rear suspension on a SD60 and Sterling 10.5 on 42's she's a heavy rig but the skids are holding up great to mainly 7 and 8 rated trails they just glide right along the rocks !

 

[Drooler]

Thanks to everybody for sharing. Especially with the pics.

I had a Rock Hard 4x4 steel skid plates on my JKU Rubicon that took a lot of beatings with no issues in Moab and Ouray over the years.

Have decided that I don’t off road enough and the Gladiator EcoDiesel will mostly be used on pavement except once a year trip to Utah / Colorado.

So leaning very heavily towards the AL route this time.

Am trying to decide if I should just suck it up. And Pay once, Cry once.

Will post pics once I get the mods done (winch, lift, 37” tires, truss and gussets, re-gear, skid plates, etc.).

Can’t wait. Thanks to this excellent community / forum for sharing your knowledge base.

 

[Griff21]

Arte

Does anybody have any updates on their AL skid plates?

Ideally after taking it rock crawling and having to slide the belly somewhat over rocks and other obstacles

I will vouch for the Artec skids just went through the Rubicon during the Jeepers Jamboree no damage and only a bolt got loose. Probably some of the best money I spent on my Gladiator and would do it again.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I don’t think it really matters what skids you end up with, as long as you have some sort of protection on there. I couldn’t argue with the price of the Asfir stuff for my diesel, less than 1000 bucks shipped from Israel and they’re holding up just fine. My biggest concern was the fuel filter but I sprang for the whole kit. I’ll be testing their limits at Moab in 4 weeks.

 

[Drooler]

I don’t think it really matters what skids you end up with, as long as you have some sort of protection on there. I couldn’t argue with the price of the Asfir stuff for my diesel, less than 1000 bucks shipped from Israel and they’re holding up just fine. My biggest concern was the fuel filter but I sprang for the whole kit. I’ll be testing their limits at Moab in 4 weeks.

Have fun in Moab. Let us know that trials you take + how those skid plates hold up.

I can’t wait to go to Moab again. With a much longer overhang compared to my JKUR, I’ll definitely have to be more careful.

If only I am rich enough to afford two Jeeps.

 

[Camaroboi13]

Have fun in Moab. Let us know that trials you take + how those skid plates hold up.

I can’t wait to go to Moab again. With a much longer overhang compared to my JKUR, I’ll definitely have to be more careful.

If only I am rich enough to afford two Jeeps.

I’ll be doing Fins n things, poison spider, top of the world, hells revenge, and either chicken corners or onion creek. Have not decided on the last one yet.

Trust me, it’s not easy keeping up with two Jeeps

 

[Free2roam]

Does anyone besides Asfir make just a fuel filter/transfer case skid?

 

[Artec]

Does anyone besides Asfir make just a fuel filter/transfer case skid?

You can get the Fuel tank/ Tcase skid from artec as a Unit

 

[Free2roam]

You can get the Fuel tank/ Tcase skid from artec as a Unit

Link?

 

[Artec]

Link?

Diesel : https://artecindustries.com/collect...-case-fuel-skid-dpf-only-3-0l-diesel-aluminum

Gas: https://artecindustries.com/collect...iator-t-case-fuel-skid-kit-only-3-6l-aluminum

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