Removed front factory skid...Good or Bad?

jdumont · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:05 pm

Can anyone think of a reason why I should not have removed the skid this weekend? I dont plan on wheeling anytime soon and figured the weight reduction and possible aerodynamic gains may help mpg...

Thanks

riptricket · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:22 pm

i have taken off my roof rack, and all skids but gas tank for a whole tank, with about the same driving and i really didn't notice a change in gas mileage. atleast not a difference to keep them off all of the time.

jdumont · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:26 pm

Yea, I didn't think it would be much. I changed the diff fluid last weekend and figured I would leave it off for a while. Just curious if it added any rigidity to the frame/crossmember. Figured it didnt since there is only four bolts that hold it on.

Thanks

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

I took all my skids off for the winter. My mileage has gone up quite a bit, but that could be because of all the other maintenance I did at the same time.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:23 pm

I never take the skids off due to never knowing what may be laying in the road ahead of you. Very expensive trip years ago taught me that much, for me its not worth the small amount you gain in MPGs
plus wouldn't skids be smoother under as far as wind resistance than without? Lets rent a wind tunnel and find out :lol:

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:29 pm

I’d be careful with road debris. You never know.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:49 pm

Keep the skid plates on. You never know... They are cheap insurance and the fuel savings will so small you would never notice I track all my mileage and even after adding a hundred plus pounds of stuff to my jeep I have not seen a milage drop.

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:17 pm

If you keep it off, I'll buy it from you!

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:31 pm

Didnt think taking the skids off would make a big dent in increase on the gas miles. Not me, bigger tires , roof rack, weight of my gear in the back,,, I never know what Im going to run into, hey I recall the day I ran over a dead deer on the parkway, it was enough I had to scrape all that stuff off my Diff. If it wasent for my SKID I would have been picking stuff off my Trani and Transfer case for days :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:13 pm

Deers better than the 4 speed GM trans I ran over with the Old Bronco, made a heck of a noise then I started slowing down........ :shock:

I have liked skids a lot ever since :wink:

QuestMan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:49 am

Quote:

Yea, I didn't think it would be much. I changed the diff fluid last weekend and figured I would leave it off for a while. Just curious if it added any rigidity to the frame/crossmember. Figured it didnt since there is only four bolts that hold it on.

Thanks

Skidplates are an option. MANY KJs don't have them, so NO. It won't affect the rigidity of your vehicle in any meanigful way. If you're not doing any wheeling, and you think it might help the MPGs I'd say go for it. Let's face it: They're pretty easy to put back on, if needed.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:27 am

tommudd wrote:

Deers better than the 4 speed GM trans I ran over with the Old Bronco, made a heck of a noise then I started slowing down........ :shock:

Understandable, GM transmissions are not compatible with most Ford parts unless they are in jaguars. :lol:

Removed front factory skid...Good or Bad?

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