OK....which engine/tranny skid?

TallNorton · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:09 am

Mopar Gas tank skid.....check.
Mopar Front suspension skid....check.
Mopar transfer case skid......check.

Now I'm ready to order an aftermarket engine/transmission skid and want some recommendations between what looks like my three options:

Skid Row
All J
Rusty's

Considerations:

I look at the skids as being an insurance policy for when I go to my mountain land. The road is a little rough/rutted and gets wet at times. I'm having visions of slipping off of the high spots on the ruts and slamming my oil filter down on the ground.

This vehicle isn't going to be used for off-roading for the sake of off-roading.....but as a means of getting to the land, other campgrounds, hunting etc.......

Which of the above is the best compromise of protection, cost, weight, etc?

JacksJeep · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:26 am

I have the Skid Row one, and twice I have had to remove it and straighten it.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:49 am

My vote is for the Mopar tranny skid. I can buy 10 Mopar tranny skids for the price of one of these outrageous aftermarket skids, and my Mopar skid has handled the abuse I've given it off-road so far. It's double layer steel and it'll protect you in almost all cases except for extreme rock crawling. You can't beat that for $28.00 at the dealership!

:wink:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:15 am

It sounds like you won't be doing any rough off-roading so the Mopar skid MAY be the better choice for you.

If you have any chance of getting hooked on going for some harder off-roading, go for the other three tougher skids. Which is up to you. The strongest would probably be All J's. The question is, would you really need one that heavy duty. Talk to the other off-roaders in your area to find out if there are any hard trails in your area that would need the toughest skid.

JacksJeep · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:26 am

I think the question is about an engine skid, which is not available from Mopar. The engine skid protects the oil pan (which is recessed and thus somewhat safe) and the exhaust pipes from the manifolds (which are low and vulnerable). Both my hard hits on the skid pad would have damaged the pipes.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Actually Mopar does have a tranny skid available for the more recent model KJs. It has been retrofitted to the earlier KJs by some.

TallNorton · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:03 am

I guess that I should have made it clear that mine is a 2003....it would appear (according to the dealer) that I have all of the factory skids for this year Liberty.

JacksJeep is correct.....it's the engine skid I'm looking for.....thought that was also the transmission skid....

hoss75 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:53 am

It is... and MOPAR didn't make one until the '05 model year.. it's not a perfect fit for earlier models, but can be retrofitted.. there should be a write-up around here somewhere.. unless it got lost with the old board.

TallNorton · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:26 pm

I was checking out some other options and came across the Rocky Road site......unfortunately the skid is out of production for the time being. It looks like a good product that won't be too "over built" for my purposes.

kevh · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:15 pm

rusty's makes one which seems strong. i will let you know when i get the right model and get ot mounted up

because of the design you do lose about an inch of ground clearance near the rear crossmember with the rustys skid though

acbafam · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:38 pm

anyone have the Mopar part number for the tranny skid? I dont have it on my CD and like usuall my friendly neighborhood Jeep dealer is clueless like with the fog lights last month...
:shock:

I love my jeep but I wish the guys at the Honda dealership would take over the Jeep dealer... at least the parts department.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:29 pm

TallNorton wrote:

Now I'm ready to order an aftermarket engine/transmission skid and want some recommendations between what looks like my three options:

Skid Row
All J
Rusty's

Considerations:

I look at the skids as being an insurance policy for when I go to my mountain land. The road is a little rough/rutted and gets wet at times. I'm having visions of slipping off of the high spots on the ruts and slamming my oil filter down on the ground.

This vehicle isn't going to be used for off-roading for the sake of off-roading.....but as a means of getting to the land, other campgrounds, hunting etc.......

Which of the above is the best compromise of protection, cost, weight, etc?

If it's the best you want, then you want All J. Just remember that you don't have to be on a wheelin' trip / trail to run into trouble. To me, common sense would dictate you buy the best if only for peace of mind. Again, just my .2cents.

Original Bigfoot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:49 am

I retrofitted the '05 transmission skid to my '02 Liberty. Pulled my reciept and the part number is: 52128925-AC

Net: $25.83 + tax.

A rare screaming good deal from a dealership....compare that to the air intake baffle I had to order that I broke while pulling out the air box. Probably 2 ounces of plastic, approx. 4 inches long: $14 and change. Makes no sense, but the Mopar tranny plate is a good deal.

Easy to install, just 2 holes to drill, a couple nut inserts, a couple of longer bolts, and bending a couple tabs on the skidplate (my '02 did not have the holes cut out in the front crossmember).

It fits between the crossmember and the front skid, and I mounted it so it fits between the transfer case skid and the crossmember.

Also has a cutout for oil drain access.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:28 pm

Just to clarify for the newbies. There are 4 skids in this order from front to rear:

- Front "Suspension/Engine" skid. Almost all KJ's come with this one.
- Tranny skid. Not made by Mopar until MY 2005. Can be retrofitted with mods. This is where aftermarket comes in. (RRO sells Skid Rowe, which has just produced updated, beefier version by the way. Or buy All J, Rusty's etc).
THIS SKID IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. TRANNY PAN DAMAGE WILL RESULT WITHOUT IT OFF ROAD.
- T-case skid. Available all years from Mopar.
- Gas Tank skid. " " " " " .

For your light use, any skid will do but don't go without it. I wouldn't.

I have the skid row. All J's wasn't out when I got it. It bent a few times, rubbing against my exhaust. I bent it back (not easily done). Skid row is taking it on trade for me towards a new one.

Read. Decide. Buy. Enjoy. Drive with piece of mind.

PS I left out the rear diff guard, but that's probably overkill for your useage.

Jesus Levy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:05 am

Any pics of ALL skids, anyone ?? If someone does, please try to guide us through each of them, as clearly as you can.

Thanks!!

Troysterr · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:53 am

Jesus Levy wrote:

Any pics of ALL skids, anyone ?? If someone does, please try to guide us through each of them, as clearly as you can.

I don't have pics of all of the skids, but you can find a lot of information about the skids that are available here:

http://www.youngs.org/kjparts/default.asp?category=8

Here's the Mopar skid installed:

You can see Rusty's TC skid in the top right corner of the pic, and the stock engine skid is on the left side (the Mopar tranny skid gets sandwiched between the engine skid and the crossmember).

Troysterr · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:28 pm

acbafam wrote:

anyone have the Mopar part number for the tranny skid? I dont have it on my CD and like usuall my friendly neighborhood Jeep dealer is clueless like with the fog lights last month...

The Mopar tranny skid seems to be DC's best kept secret. My dealer's parts department couldn't find it, either. I had to take the part # to them, and then they had to have it shipped here from, I believe, Colorado. But they didn't charge me anything for shipping it, so the total cost was under $30, including tax.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:47 pm

The part number I have for the trans skid for the CRD Liberty is 82210003 and is not available till Nov, or so the book says. Wonder what the difference is in the skid plates? The transfer case skid plate for the CRD is 81109455 and list for $49 at the dealer, best I remember it was same as used on V6 Liberty.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:46 pm

If you only drive on dirt roads the Mopar skid will ok...if you drive on anything more your pushing your luck.

SkidRowe might be found used....which would be a far better choice in my opinion than the Mopar Trans skid. ( I've known people to give them away)

Rustys if the shipping of the ALL J skid is to much for you

All J's if only the most durable protection will do.

There are ALOT of opinions on this one....this is mine.

I personally run the ALL J superskid becuase I run rocks and tough trails and I don't want to have to sweat each impact. I would be completely pissed off if I cost myself thousands of dollars damage becuase I wouldn't part with an extra 200 bucks. When you need the toughest skid...it's to late if you don't already have it. Just like insurance...you cant buy it WHEN you need it...only BEFORE

Good luck

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:38 pm

This is just the wife's around town puddle jumper, OEM should prevent the ocassional road gator damage.

OK....which engine/tranny skid?

Who is online