Skid Plates

TimG517 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:21 am

So, my 2002 Liberty Limited has the towing / off road package. That means it has all of the available skid plates.

I rarely take it off road (too much time at work lately).

How much weight do you think I could reduce on the Jeep?

With gas approaching $4 / gallon and my 20 mile one way trip to work on the freeway I am looking to improve gas mileage any way I can.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:34 am

prolly close to 100#, but i dont know for sure, I can tell you what the t-case and engine skid weight

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:55 pm

I'll buy them from you! Can I call dibs now?

Yes, extra weight does hurt your mpg. Those are probably sapping about 2 or 3 mpg!

No not really, I don't want to lie to you but I have read that for every 100lbs you loose about 2-3% on your overall mpg. I think that would work out to about one gal less per tank. If you do mostly city driving the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.
the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:45 pm

okay I just weighed the skids I have

Mopar Engine Skid (1/8")=17#
Mopar T-Case Skid (1/8")=11#
Homemade Transmission Skid (3/16")=25.5#

TOTAL=53.5#

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:15 pm

I only have a engine skid. I take it off when I don't need to use it and put it back on when I need it. It only a 5min job taking it off and putting it back on.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:35 pm

I leave all of mine on all the time even that heavy Kilby gas tank skid....why because my time is worth more an hour than what I would save taking them on and off plus you never know whats going to be laying in the road and you have to run over, I like to be protcted all the time!

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

I agree with that. It just amazes me sometimes the things I see lying in the middle of the road, just ready to pounce up and grab your tranny or whatever.

JPaul · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:01 pm

scoobysnax wrote:

I'll buy them from you! Can I call dibs now?

Yes, extra weight does hurt your mpg. Those are probably sapping about 2 or 3 mpg!

No not really, I don't want to lie to you but I have read that for every 100lbs you loose about 2-3% on your overall mpg. I think that would work out to about one gal less per tank. If you do mostly city driving the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.
the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.

2-3% loss on a vehicle that only gets about 15-16 to the gallon (rated, mine gets worse) would only be a loss of at least 0.3 miles to the gallon, not much of a diff, though if you shed 600 pounds it adds up.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:32 pm

JPaul wrote:

scoobysnax wrote:

I'll buy them from you! Can I call dibs now?

Yes, extra weight does hurt your mpg. Those are probably sapping about 2 or 3 mpg!

No not really, I don't want to lie to you but I have read that for every 100lbs you loose about 2-3% on your overall mpg. I think that would work out to about one gal less per tank. If you do mostly city driving the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.
the weight will hurt you more, mostly highway it'll hurt a little less.

2-3% loss on a vehicle that only gets about 15-16 to the gallon (rated, mine gets worse) would only be a loss of at least 0.3 miles to the gallon, not much of a diff, though if you shed 600 pounds it adds up.

A 100-200lbs,not a big deal,but like you said 600+lbs is.I gained major power and mpg's(not to mention braking) when I removed all my armor,over 600lbs,for a few days.

I to leave all my skids and such on all the time,never know when a wheeling itch will hit,not to mention those prius cars that get in my path.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:40 pm

I agree with tjkj you never know when the off road bug will bite, plus why drive a naked Jeep!

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:27 am

The total weight for shipping when I bought mine was 95 pounds, if I remember correctly. But, I agree with Troy and Tom, leave 'em on 'cuz you never know when you're gonna have to run over that Honda... err, I mean that Honda's muffler. :twisted:

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:44 am

snowsport wrote:

I agree with that. It just amazes me sometimes the things I see lying in the middle of the road, just ready to pounce up and grab your tranny or whatever.

Freaking hilarious! :lol:

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:01 pm

If you do take any off, don't take of the fuel tank skid. My parents were zipping down I95 near Richmond, VA the other year...all lanes full of vehicles...large slab of metal appears on road ahead, no where to swerve...Dad hit it, heard loud noise, kept going. A little bit later someone passing them tried to signal them and Dad noticed fuel gauge dropping to E. Yep, the plastic fuel tank was punctured.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

I don't know how many welding rods are in one of those square metal cans, but that's how many suddenly appeared on the road in front of me not long ago. Can fell off a truck, opened, and the rods spread all over the road...

Nope, I'll just leave my skids on full time.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:11 pm

just don't take any of them off, friend of mine just hit a ladder last week and took out the tranny pan. same as above, no where to go to, had to hit it, on vacation in SC, so while they were on the beach, their car was getting a new transmission!!!

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:44 pm

So, how are asfir skids for weight? Obviously you can't tilt over a boulder with them, but for pure protection and the occasional stump, they would seem more than enough, although pricey...

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:50 pm

i dont know how much they weigh but they should be plenty strong for the KJ I think that they are almost 1/4" thick

TimG517 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:40 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions / help.

Say I did want to sell them - how much would they be worth?

Although, you did bring up good points. I'll pay for the small amount of gas I might save rather than a new transmission or gas tank anyday!!!

clackclack · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:48 pm

I just installed my ASFIR skids a few weeks ago. It is a very nice product.

The ship weight on the fuel tank skid is 36lbs... I already recycled the other box; I want to say it was 60lbs and contained both the front and tranny/transfer skids. I'd say if you guessed 90lbs for all you would be close.

You can make the install as complicated as you like depending on how anal you want to be... it took me about 3 hours but I ended up fabricating my own offset nut by tapping and cutting a narrow piece of 1/4 inch steel for a place where I didn't want to drill all the way through the cross member and couldn't find a good angle to get a wrench in.

They are little pricey and also designed for the Overseas CRD... but well worth the cost and the added effort.

They are fabricated from 1/4" high grade aluminum and perfectly capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle. They also allow easy access to the oil filter and drain plug.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:00 pm

clackclack wrote:

I just installed my ASFIR skids a few weeks ago. It is a very nice product.

The ship weight on the fuel tank skid is 36lbs... I already recycled the other box; I want to say it was 60lbs and contained both the front and tranny/transfer skids. I'd say if you guessed 90lbs for all you would be close.

You can make the install as complicated as you like depending on how anal you want to be... it took me about 3 hours but I ended up fabricating my own offset nut by tapping and cutting a narrow piece of 1/4 inch steel for a place where I didn't want to drill all the way through the cross member and couldn't find a good angle to get a wrench in.

They are little pricey and also designed for the Overseas CRD... but well worth the cost and the added effort.

They are fabricated from 1/4" high grade aluminum and perfectly capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle. They also allow easy access to the oil filter and drain plug.

Those aluminum skids look nice and may be good for mild trails but I would have to keep my steel skids for the trails here in CO,those aluminum ones would be toast after the first mile on most trails here,along with the front diff,tranny,t-case,and gas tank.

I have bent all my skids(except my gas tank skid) which are 3/16" steel,but no other damage,can't imagine what a 1/4" piece of aluminum would have looked like.heck I've seen the 1/4" steel super skids get bent.

Skid Plates

Who is online