Transimission pan dangers off road?

[mgroeger]

I'm new to owning a LJ (just over a week now) and already modifying it
I will be taking it off road very soon and the trails have some rock climbing spots, anywhere from easy to "no way am I going there in this Jeep".
I have the following...
2" OME lift
1.25" JKS body lift
1" motor mount lift
I have the factory "holy cow that is one ugly and low" transfer case plate.
My question is I see that the tranny pan is REALLY exposed and I fear hitting that on the trail. I don't know that I can tuck the transfer case much if any. I heard the LJ has a little more wiggle room before needing a SYE and double cardan driveshaft.
I'm leaning toward getting a transfer case/transmission combo skid plate over screwing with tucking the TC. However I think there are skid plates that may slightly lift the TC. Any thoughts on which is the best way to proceed?

 

[TJ_2000]

Check out Undercover Fabs. Their intro high skid is awesome. You are on the right track with the motor and body lift.

 

[JDS123]

Go off-roading first and then decide what to do. If you end up needing tucking the transfer case, you'll know pretty quickly when you get into some of the tougher trails. You may find that you need some other modifications before you worry about the transfer case skid (like lockers).

 

[mgroeger]

Thanks guys. I have a Detroit locker in the rear and an Eaton locker up front. My fear is that I'll find out the hard way and damage the transmission pan. There is no way I am doing a tummy tuck, too expensive, but the skid plates offer the protection of the transmission.
Is it common for TJ/LJs to damage transmission pans on rocky trails and rock climbing?

 

[Alex01]

As far as engine / transmission skid goes I bought the skid row armor for mine since I had the same concerns with having a rock dent my oil pan.
I linked the one below that I bought (the link is for your year not mine) I already have a mark on it so it was money well spent.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AAWN3ZG/?tag=wranglerorg-20
A bit cheaper at quadratec https://www.quadratec.com/products/12529_106_07.htm

 

[JDS123]

Thanks guys. I have a Detroit locker in the rear and an Eaton locker up front. My fear is that I'll find out the hard way and damage the transmission pan. There is no way I am doing a tummy tuck, too expensive, but the skid plates offer the protection of the transmission.
Is it common for TJ/LJs to damage transmission pans on rocky trails and rock climbing?

I've bashed into my skid pretty hard and didn't have too much of an issue. The most common place to hit is the front of the transfer case skid. The skid plate will bend pretty good if you hit it hard enough, but I don't think you could cause any lasting damage. Most people upgrade the transfer case skid simply for clearance (and some added protection comes along with those upgrades).


As mentioned above, you should definitely have an oil pan skid.

 

[Jorge Bolivar]

Hi,
The LJ comes with the low transfer case plate, it should has another skid that cover the tranny pan but is equally low and the way the brackets mount to the frame is the reason of why maybe is not there.

You can tuck the transfer case up, why not? Since you have the BL already this important step is already climbed. The LJ are more forgiven with the pinion angle but this no means that you no need the SYE.

Since you mention that tummy tuck does not fit the current budget I will suggest to do your homework the same way, research for the Tummy tuck transfer case skid you want to use if doing the job right now. Then pick the Motor and tranny skid that goes with it, that way you no have to maybe end up buying a new one.

Do you have rear upper adjustable control arms?

I will suggest to get it in aluminum skid (trust me you will be removing this more than what you think) and select one that covers the motor pan as well your transmission pan. Does not mess with the transfer case skid unless you are going to tuck it, trust me is better save up and doe it correct once for all. Besides you no need to ultra tuck it, with a raise of 2 to 2.5" you will be fine. The LJ disadvantage is the break over angles. You will need 4" or more of lift or over 19" transfer case skid clearance to be able to not drag the belly too much.

With all of the equipment above described seem to me that your next need it upgraded is the Tummy Tuck.

Follow this link, Official Tummy Tuck Guide it will gave you and idea of the tummy tuck work nightmare. Honestly is a true pain but so far the best mod I have ever does to my LJ. No regrets on suffer this pain so far!

BTW
I went with UCF ultra low skid system. Not designed for 42RLE transmissions, if you like UCF and decide, I suggest go with the UCF deep cover.

Now, on the LJ world the Savvy skid system is mentioned quite often, I have never seen one before beside on their website that does not shows what I'm interested on and that is probably why I does not have one.

 

[luk4mud]

I am researching the same issue right now, so your thread is very interesting to me. My past experience building offroad rigs has taught me:
-Keep it as light as possible. For that reason, I am going to add an aluminum oil pan/ tranny skid, probably from Savvy, and bolt it to the factory transfer case skid (need to drill a few holes per Savvy). I'm in the rocks a few times a year, and the aluminum skids have served me fine over the years.
-Modify as little as possible. Doing a tummy tuck entails a MML, BL and perhaps more on the driveline. I'll wait to see if the oil pan/ tranny skid works well enough. If i'm hanging up the stock belly pan on stuff, I'll do the tummy tuck too.
-Build with a plan. I have too often bought a similar part twice (or more) because I didnt see step 1 leading to step 3. If I decide to do a TT later, I know I can add the Savvy skid to the above and have a complete lightweight system. I bought & installed the Terflex oil pan skid, only to realize, like you, how exposed the tranny is. I could go with all Teraflex from here, but the weight gain will be substantial. I'd rather sell the TF oil pan skid and go with an aluminum plan from here, realizing I will eat a few $ selling the TF used in a few months.

HTH

 

[Chris]

I recommend the Rokmen or Savvy skid plates (I run Rokmen). I wouldn't take your LJ in the rocks at all unless you have under armor. That transmission pan is an accident waiting to happen.

Even with 35s and a 5" lift, I still would worry about mine!

 

[mgroeger]

@Chris Thanks! That is what I was thinking. I have a question for the thread... the one poster said that the LJ has a lower stock TC skid plate. Is that true? If it is does anyone have a comparison pic of a normal TC plate and the LJ? The one on my LJ seems to hang low even though it is bolted to the frame and it has one heck of a lip on it. I'm half tempted to take a grinder and cut the lip off.
Looks like for around $350 I can get a tranny/oil pan skid plate that bolts up to the factory TC plate.

 

[Chris]

@Chris Thanks! That is what I was thinking. I have a question for the thread... the one poster said that the LJ has a lower stock TC skid plate. Is that true? If it is does anyone have a comparison pic of a normal TC plate and the LJ? The one on my LJ seems to hang low even though it is bolted to the frame and it has one heck of a lip on it. I'm half tempted to take a grinder and cut the lip off.
Looks like for around $350 I can get a tranny/oil pan skid plate that bolts up to the factory TC plate.

The 03-06 models (which include the LJ) have a lower hanging skid plate than the 97-02 models. This was done to accommodate the Rubicon transfer case which is significantly bigger than the standard 231 transfer case. However, even the non-Rubicon models got the same skid plate, and this was likely just to save costs. So yes, your LJ has a lower hanging skid plate, but all 03-06 models do, even standard TJs.

Yes, $350 should get you the armor, you'll just then want to have it powder coated ideally, though mine was only $100 to powder coat and took them a day.

Be aware though that there's a lot of other stuff that goes along with tucking the transfer case which you can find more info on here: The Official Tummy Tuck FAQ Thread

Maybe you're aware of all that already, but just incase you aren't!

 

[mgroeger]

Oh yeah, I've read that thread and I really don't want to go down that path. I think I'd get away with not needing a SYE because of having an LJ if I read that right. I read where one member spent a fair amount of $ and then later lamented tha he would have taken a fraction of that $ and plated the bottom and been done with it.
That's where I'm at, get some good armor and call it a day. It's not like I'm wheeling every single weekend on boulders.
The only question I have left is should I keep that TC plate or get a more low profile one? Does a low profile on raise the TC at all? If it does a little bit I would think I'd be ok with that due to the BL and MML.
CRAZY question... has anyone ever cut that lip off the factory plate?

 

[Chris]

Oh yeah, I've read that thread and I really don't want to go down that path. I think I'd get away with not needing a SYE because of having an LJ if I read that right. I read where one member spent a fair amount of $ and then later lamented tha he would have taken a fraction of that $ and plated the bottom and been done with it.
That's where I'm at, get some good armor and call it a day. It's not like I'm wheeling every single weekend on boulders.
The only question I have left is should I keep that TC plate or get a more low profile one? Does a low profile on raise the TC at all? If it does a little bit I would think I'd be ok with that due to the BL and MML.
CRAZY question... has anyone ever cut that lip off the factory plate?

Depends on how much you tuck the transfer case. Tucking the transfer case 3" is the equivalent of adding another 3" of suspension left. At 2.5" already, my guess is you will actually need a SYE, even on an LJ.

The low profile transfer case skid (tuck) is one of the best things you can do IMHO. It gives to a considerable amount of extra clearance. Even with lighter wheeling, I still found that my stock transfer case skid got caught on pretty much everything. That thing is just a low, low hanging shovel.

You could cut the lip off, but I don't see what good it will really do.

If you do a tummy tuck, be prepared to get a SYE, adjustable upper arms, a CV driveshaft, modify the exhaust, a MML, etc., etc.

It takes some money to do it right, but IMHO, it's one of the best mods you can do.

 

[mgroeger]

Ugh... I have the adjustable upper control arms and the MML. I really don't have the money or desire to go all the way. I think I'm going to go with the low profile TC skid and tranny/oil skids. I might start with the tranny/oil skid first and then get the TC later when more $ is available. Obviously I need to plan that one out to make sure the low profile future purchase can bolt up to the existing tranny/oil skid I buy.

 

[Chris]

Yep, if you plan on doing this and going through with it, I'd set aside money for a SYE and DC driveshaft, as you may get away with not having one, but I'm betting you'll need one.

 

[mgroeger]

No no no... I don't plan on doing it, I meant planning out the skid plating system.

 

[mgroeger]

@Chris
Wait a second I just realized something. Even with a tummy tuck that large transmission pan is still exposed. The TC gets a skid because it is needed to hold everything in place put the tranny is just as exposed all be it much higher and between the frame rails. You have a tummy tuck AND you still plated, correct?

 

[Chris]

@Chris
Wait a second I just realized something. Even with a tummy tuck that large transmission pan is still exposed. The TC gets a skid because it is needed to hold everything in place put the tranny is just as exposed all be it much higher and between the frame rails. You have a tummy tuck AND you still plated, correct?

Yes, you need en engine / transmission skid: https://www.rokmen.com/jeep/armor-p...-duty-engine-and-transmission-skid-plate.html

Most people do that at the same time as the tummy tuck.

 

[luk4mud]

Yes, you need en engine / transmission skid: https://www.rokmen.com/jeep/armor-p...-duty-engine-and-transmission-skid-plate.html

Most people do that at the same time as the tummy tuck.

I communicated with Rokmen. Their view is that the oil/tranny skid is connected to the transfer skid, and they all have to be done together. Issues with that:
-That's about 100 lbs net increase in weight, subtracting out the factory belly skid
-You get into all the interconnected issues of doing the TT

With the Savvy aluminum oil/ belly skid, you pick up 16 net lbs and can add it to the existing belly skid. You can decide to do the TT later with a Savvy belly skid and will lose net lbs in the process.

 

[mgroeger]

OK, I'm a little confused by your last statement @luk4mud.
I saw the aluminum plate stuff too and was def leaning that way. The thing that is confusing me is that I thought I could remove that monstrosity of a TC pan and replace it with a moderately more low profile one WITHOUT having to do a tummy tuck. Am I missing something here? I've seen a few TC skids that by no means sit flush and would appear to be a straight swap with the terrible, horrible, Frankenstein shovel we also refer to as the TJ TC plate.