Skid plate opinions

Mr. Pink

Mr. Pink

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 17, 2020
Messages
138
Location
Saginaw Mi
I am looking for opinions on skid plates, My Tj will at most only have 33's on it as I don't hard core wheel nor do have a need for larger tires than that. So with that said I was looking at the Barnes 4wd skid plate(steel) and the UCF Steel w/o body lift. My Tj will be lifted 2.5" at most with a suspension lift. I will add a body lift if I decide to go up to 33's. I do know that i would like to replace the factory Shovel skid and gain 1-2" more clearance. I am open to other options as well

https://www.barnes4wd.com/Jeep-TJ-Bolt-On-Skid-Plate_p_867.html
https://undercoverfab.com/no-body-l...eel_plate/62-t_case_shifter-use_stock_shifter
 
I picked up the Barnes skid last year during their Black Friday sale. It is built well and I had no issues installing it.
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I run the Barnes skid too, it's difficult to beat that price. With a body lift the Barnes isn't much of a tuck. Price increases at UCF recently put the Savvy skid allot closer and you get allot more.
 
The engine skid is Savvy. I ended up with gaining 7/8" over the stock skid on my 06.
 
I have the Barnes skid. It is easy to install and gives you about an inch of clearance. Just that inch along with a two inch spring lift resulted in me having to get a DC driveshaft to prevent vibes.
 
I think for a skid plate that doesn't require a body lift, the UCF aluminum skid is a great option. I particularly like it because it's aluminum, and having run a Rokmen skid previously, I know how how heavy steel skids are (enough so that I would never run a steel skid again).

Savvy is in my opinion the best-of-the-best, but only if you're willing to do a body lift. If not, UCF aluminum would be my choice.
 
TurboTJ said:
I have the Barnes skid. It is easy to install and gives you about an inch of clearance. Just that inch along with a two inch spring lift resulted in me having to get a DC driveshaft to prevent vibes.
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I am doing a 1" MML as well, so i am hoping that will be enough. And Chris yea I have been seeing the UCF Aluminum skids too and the 38lbs difference between the Barnes steel and the UCF aluminum one may have just sold me on the Aluminum one lol.
 
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For the same thickness 6061 is about 1/3 the weight. Most people get thicker because otherwise it can bend with the simple UCF design so it's closer to 1/2 the weight. Total steel system might be about 100 lbs so you are saving between 50-65 lbs or between 8 and 11 gallons of gas. The weight difference would essentially be like wheeling with half a tank of gas instead of full for a very very rough comparison.
 
I just installed the Rough Country Extra Clearance skid plate ($259) on mine. I know the thread isn't big on RC, but its a skid. I gained just over 2" extra clearance at the skid (see my build thread). It is designed to work with a 1.25 BL and 1 MML specifically so it lines the shifter back up to where it needs to be and you won't have interference issues. I installed the M.O.R.E engine skid ($300) with it.
 
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pagrey said:
For the same thickness 6061 is about 1/3 the weight. Most people get thicker because otherwise it can bend with the simple UCF design so it's closer to 1/2 the weight. Total steel system might be about 100 lbs so you are saving between 50-65 lbs or between 8 and 11 gallons of gas. The weight difference would essentially be like wheeling with half a tank of gas instead of full for a very very rough comparison.
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That is what I am finding, any weight savings i can get is awesome lol.

Axe, as far as the RC skid I am avoiding anything from them, I have had issues in the past with their products. i actually switched Lifts on my Mk74 Patriot because it came with a RC lift and ended up going with the Rocky Road Lift kit on it instead because of design flaws with the RC.
 
For 33's, mild wheeling, and no body lift, pretty much any aftermarket skid will work. I would lean towards the UCF because of weight savings and the fact that you won't need to worry about much unsightly rust.
 
Weight savings is something that most don’t pay attention to, but the results are dramatic the more weight you can save.
 
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Check Savvy unless you really have something against them, both skids at UCF are between $809-924 depending on thickness. With discounts from Savvy I think the UCF might end up costing more which is nuts.
 
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pagrey said:
Check Savvy unless you really have something against them, both skids at UCF are between $809-924 depending on thickness. With discounts from Savvy I think the UCF might end up costing more which is nuts.
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Savvy is a quite more effort to make fit than the medium or low UCF skid. For his purposes, I think there would be a lot of time and money spent that could go elsewhere on the Jeep. Though if you want the best of the best tuck, definitely can't beat Savvy.
 
You can get the UCF extra clearance skid that requires a body lift along with a 1 inch transfer case skid drop kit off eBay. Install with the drop kit now. If you get a body lift in the future you can take the drop kit off. I think I paid $23 for transfer case drop kit that included 6 1" thick aluminum pucks and 6 class 10.9 longer bolts.
 
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pagrey said:
Check Savvy unless you really have something against them, both skids at UCF are between $809-924 depending on thickness. With discounts from Savvy I think the UCF might end up costing more which is nuts.
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jodomcfrodo said:
Savvy is a quite more effort to make fit than the medium or low UCF skid. For his purposes, I think there would be a lot of time and money spent that could go elsewhere on the Jeep. Though if you want the best of the best tuck, definitely can't beat Savvy.
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yeah i do a lot more trail rides than rocks. my jeep wont be a DD by any means i have my Mk74 for that. Nothing against savvy i just would rather something that is more bolt on for the skid at this point alas my reasoning for the no bl skid from UCF. I may go with the Savvy GTS but unsure on that yet, i may not need much besides the stock GTS. and i am undecided on the engine skid.
 
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Mr. Pink said:
yeah i do a lot more trail rides than rocks. my jeep wont be a DD by any means i have my Mk74 for that. Nothing against savvy i just would rather something that is more bolt on for the skid at this point alas my reasoning for the no bl skid from UCF. I may go with the Savvy GTS but unsure on that yet, i may not need much besides the stock GTS. and i am undecided on the engine skid.
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I've installed both the UCF Extra Clearance and Savvy skids. Of the two, the Savvy is a better design and provides more clearance. That said, installing the Savvy skid is not a simple bolt on. Both of the ones I did required clearancing and exhaust modifications. If you're looking for simple bolt on, the UCF is a much easier option. Just do yourself a favor and install a body lift, then install the UCF Extra Clearance Aluminum skid. You will not be disappointed!
 
Mr. Pink said:
I am doing a 1" MML as well, so i am hoping that will be enough. And Chris yea I have been seeing the UCF Aluminum skids too and the 38lbs difference between the Barnes steel and the UCF aluminum one may have just sold me on the Aluminum one lol.
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Any of the skids plus 2.5” lift will need more than just a mml to cure the vibes. I wouldn’t change out the skid unless you are planning on a sye and DC driveshaft
 
starkey480 said:
Any of the skids plus 2.5” lift will need more than just a mml to cure the vibes. I wouldn’t change out the skid unless you are planning on a sye and DC driveshaft
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i am getting OME 2" springs so at the high end i'll be at 2.5" of lift. i do plan on getting a SYE eventually but it wont be an immediate thing just like the skid, it will be an as i go mod. i am going to wheel it with the stock plate for a few and upgrade as i need to.
 
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