General consensus on Skid Row plates?

hoss75 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:52 pm

At the 4WD jam today I had the opportunity to inspect the Skid Row KJ plates.. they seem pretty solid.. What is the general consensus of them on this site? I think I've seen a pic of a heavily bent tranny skid on here before. Also, they say they're Engine/tranny skid now fits all years of KJ.

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

The tranny skid is junk. I heard they are coming out with a front skid that looks to be pretty good though.

KJLoKi · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:39 am **Posts:** 51

I was under the impression that they redesigned the tranny skid along the lines of AJ's? I may be wrong though... might want to check w/ Jeepin Al to see what he says (new dealer).
-Lance

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

Man that would be cool. The one I bought a year ago is bent beyond recognition.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:30 pm

Quote:

I had the opportunity to inspect the Skid Row KJ plates.. they seem pretty solid.

You just can't help wanting 2nd best.... :roll:

skrracing · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:04 am

We have talked to Skid Row time and time again and they always come back with the same answer. The plate is designed to be strong enough for a KJ. Well the guys that have wasted their hard earned money seem to differ... Skid Row makes some great products but the KJ skid was not up to par at all and we talked to them about it many times...and they did not listen... This problem could have been taken care of 2 years ago. Later...Clint

Skid plates should not look like this.

EagleVT94 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:52 pm **Posts:** 64

I guess I'll throw mine in the scrap metal bin...good lord, I was going to install it later this weekend but I'll get something different now!

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:37 am

Better than nothing for light wheeling to cover that soft underbelly. Wouldn't run big rocks w/ it though unless you like removing it every run to straighten it out.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:50 am

Hey Guys

I will forward this thread to Skid Row and get them to answer your concerns. They did tell me that the tranny plate went for redesign, and that they are better than the first plates.

I have enjoyed a non professional relationship with the guys at Skid Row, since I first met them working on Jeeps at the Jeep Jamboree in PA. I also met them out at SEMA last year and called them out on the carpet and really complained about the tranny skid after reading posts on the old board. They said at that time they would stand behind their product and the skid was being redesigned. I have the new version on my KJ and I will be wheeling it fairly hard. I shall see how it performs. I will keep you posted.

Al

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:49 pm

they just redesigned it and are offering a buyback program. 50% off w/trade in.

I'm getting one. it's supposedly much improved.

vxla · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:12 pm

Adam: that's interesting. Have ou traded yours yet? I'm going to call them; I had reinforcements welded on after it was bent like the picture posted in this forum.

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

I emailed them tonight. I'll post their response.

skrracing · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:37 am

If it is still made from 3/16th...even with braceing, even with arms on the side ...It will still bend. The KJ skid plate is very long and it must be from 1/4 plate. If you are really going to talk to them then ask why they did not do something about this when one of the most offroading, modified, go all the time KJ groups in the world contacted them many times years ago and they just keep blowing us off. They had and still have a huge tool they can use to see what we are doing, track results and use that to make changes to their products. We moved from EZBoard just a veru short time ago. We had over 197000 post with over 2000 members. I question if they have ever read one sinlge post. Again this is a free tool for all the vendors to use. Byt he way we welcome vendors on our boards to post and right now we even have a free section at the bottom of the page for them to use. They might have already missed the boat on this. Later...Clint

vxla · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:24 am

Ok, why shoudl they jump when you tell them too? Why do you think you wheel harder than the rest of us?

Please, I've had enough of that. Many of us wheel just as hard as that referenced club. Maybe they just don't care.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:49 am

Al, YOu got pics of that redesign?

skrracing · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:47 am

I am not saying they should have jumped. The problem was when it first came out...there must have been well over 30 guys that bought it...They ALL bent...we keep trying as a GROUP to get them to do something about it. As a GROUP they told us they do not see that they needed to do anything about it.

Has nothing to do with just me or any club telling anyone anything. Has nothing to do with any club wheeling harder and any other club. Dont know where that came from...I just know that the Skid row plate was bending here in out club and all the others as well. This is an issue that goes back over 2 years ago and we talked to them as a GROUP.

In all fairness...Skid Row makes some great products for all the other jeeps. The KJ skid plate was the problem. It was way too long without any supports. Theymight have fixed that problem now and if so then very cool and glad they got it done. My complaint is ALL the vendors have a great tool here to use. Even if they dont post they can still read and collect a lot of info here.

If they might have been keeping track of the KJ GROUP they would have seen there was a problem done something about it 2 years agao, and maybe now not the step child in skid plates for the KJ guys.

Again Skid Row makes great products...but the KJ should have been done just as strong as all their other products. In whole I feel the KJ guys have gotten a lot of products from many vendors with the attitude of, "Just make something...Theyr arent going to wheel it anyway" And again...I am not talking about one club ...I am talking about the entuire GROUP. So drop your one club crap. If I did not have the interest in the entire GROUP...I would have stopped doing this a long time ago. later...Clint

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

FYI, here is their response...

Quote:

Hi Joel,
Actually, we have already redesigned our KJ engine/trans skid plate. The reason for this re-design was to make sure that our skid plate fit every model year properly and to maintain ease of installation. Jeep has made quite a few changes since the KJ's introduction in 2001 and we now have a full range of skid plates for the KJ that fit all models from 2002-2005. The way the new skid plates differ from the old is as follows:
In order to mount to 2005 models, an additional slot has been added to the leading edge to mate with the different threaded fastener in the chassis.
To increase ground clearance the skid plate is more "form fitting" than previous models while still providing clearance for the various exhaust systems...without using any spacers.
In order to work with each exhaust system from 2002-2005, the driver's side actually mounts to the "chassis" using a bracket and nut plate. This provides protection for the driver's side catalytic converter as well. There is an opening below the converter to prevent heat build-up.
The rear edge has been reshaped to accommodate the different transmission crossmembers used from 2002-2005.
The material thickness has not been changed due to customer concerns about both cost and weight.
Skid Row is considering a new 50% Replacement Program that would entitle any original purchaser to exchange an old skid plate for a new one for only 50% of that skid plate's current MSRP; plus shipping. While we have not finalized this program, and it has not been implemented, the idea is as follows: If you were to return to us your Skid Row skid plate freight pre-paid, we would send to you a replacement for 50% off of its current MSRP plus shipping. In your instance, this would work out to $134.50 plus shipping; since our new KJ engine/trans skid plate costs $269.00.

I hope that answers your questions. We look forward to assisting you in the future.

Eric Kootte
Skid Row Automotive, Inc.
Your 4x4 Protection Specialists
717.582.4580 or 800.786.9249
www.SkidPlates.com

skrracing · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:02 pm

Sounds very cool and a great reply. But I would like to know if they have reinforced it or made it a little stronger as well. I am not complaining becasue they seem to be trying to get this on the right track...Just wanted to know. If you talk to them again Joel...be sure to let them know we are vendor frendly here. A lot of web site will not a vendor to post on their forums. We do not have that problem here. later...Clint

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

I guess the one thing that is concerning is that he says they have not increased the thickness in the interest of weight and cost...

TallNorton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:57 pm

While this subject is current....for us newbies....

I just picked up the Mopar front suspension and transfer skids (already have the gas skid installed).....if I pick up this engine/transmission skid, am I good to go?

General consensus on Skid Row plates?

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