Is the transmission skid required?

limitz

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Got a 2.5" suspension lift done on my LJR, driveshaft was coming into contact with t-case skid. Took off the small skid plate to finish the install, but suffice to say the plate is gone now.

Trails I'm running in the next few months are mostly forest service roads, wondering how "mandatory" it is to have for protection. What's a good alternative skid if I was going to buy aftermarket?
 
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I take it you mean the front driveshaft? Your transfer case skid supports your trans and transfer case so it is required to have mounted. Can you supply pictures of your setup?
 
Thought there was a small skid plate attached to the main transfer case skid
 
I take it you mean the front driveshaft? Your transfer case skid supports your trans and transfer case so it is required to have mounted. Can you supply pictures of your setup?

Just edited the thread title.

It's this crossmember skid, I think it's only on autos:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...oving-transfer-case-skid-on-03-rubicon.21633/
1652134791772.png

This pic is from the thread, and is the piece I no longer have
 
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That’s not required and I removed mine for the same reason. I now run an aftermarket one that does mount to the frame so it doesn’t interfere with your front driveshaft.

Which one did you go with?
 
Which one did you go with?
I have terflex skids. Every skid except the steering skid. I personally wouldn’t recommend them. They are super heavy, super expensive for what you get and from what I’ve read not that stout. I went with them because I got the whole set for practically free from a part out.

There are several brands that offer a oil pan and trans skid in one. Off the top of my head is savvy. There’s a few others out there as well like UCF.
 
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I modified the cross member with a hoop that goes over the driveshaft.
Some just cut the one side off. There's no real weight on it, and it will still protect the trans.pan.

skid.jpg
 
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The skid isn't mandatory at all if you drive with the understanding it's not there. If you don't hit the belly skid much or at all you probably wont ever need one. The frame mounted versions are all constructed very similar so their strength is pretty much proportional to their weight. They protect the oil pan as well which can be important depending on how you use your Jeep. Barnes makes one as well along with Skid Row. Forest Service roads don't really ask much of a Jeep, nothing wrong with that but generally I wouldn't worry about not having a skid for that kind of use on my Jeep and mine is probably a bit lower than yours. If you start to tackle very difficult trails with smaller tires the skid becomes much more important, with bigger tires less so. There is no best all-around, it's about how you use your Jeep.