mod help!

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:24 am

first order of business is to say hey to everyone since this is my first post, here's to hundreds more :mrgreen:

i've pretty much gone through the site for the past 2 weeks or so looking up info for the libby. got my red 04 4wd last month and so far its great. but alas, now i have the mod disease, and the want of taking my jeep off the highway. its my dd so im hoping i dont roll it my first go.

anyway, i have ideas about lifting it, new wheels, tires, recovery points, and so forth, but im sort of looking for a place to start in terms of mods. as far as i know, the suspension is stock (havent measured it yet to see about sag) but with 62k miles and the fact it likes to nosedive when i brake, i imagine new coils/shocks are in order. the tires arent stock, but i looked them up and figured out they are even worse them the stock SA's

but yea, as far as light wheeling goes, just looking for a direction to start in.

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:41 pm

sounds like a good direction. any particular skids that are MUST have and some that can wait, or is a full set simply required for your own sake? also, i took a look at the armor thread, noticed once you ditch MOPAR parts, prices are pretty much up there. so that either makes me think MOPAR skids are a bit flimsy, or the other ones are simply tank armor worthy :-)r

this kinda makes me wonder if skid weight does anything in terms of the ride of the jeep too, especially if my suspension is already aging.

SO main question then, are skids easily put on, what are the differences in MOPAR and aftermarket skids, and will the added weight make any new issues?

STINGN · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:05 pm

difference in the thickness of metal. I have all MOPAR skids and have beaten them up, bent them and such. But nothing is ruined under the jeep yet

I would recommend going to jparts.com and ordering mopar skids first. Look for used tow hooks and get a hitch for the back. that will run you all about $400-450 (all depending on where you get it and what kind of deals)

I myself lifted it first, but I never took it offroad until i got atleast my engine, transmission and t-case skid plate. gas tank i just got after wheeling for a year with it since I never took it to a spot that would smash my gas tank.

KJ Sheriff · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:50 pm

the skids are a good choice, that way you can practice light wheeling and atriculation before you get your lift. thats what i did.

in order of what i did:

skids--all of them
airraid intake off of TJ
roof rack with lights front and back
4" Frank lift consistiing of Rusty's, OME, Elderbrock, pro-comp,
no sways
rims and tires
train horns
rhino lined the bottom
reese hidden hitch

its just a suggestion its worked out fine for me so far

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:35 pm

did some more looking up on terms of MOPAR skids and those seem like my best bet for starting out. as mush as i hate skimping on something like skids for the sake of saving a bit, they seem to last a few hard hits and that will be good enough for me. looks like i get to do some drilling too since i have an 04.

getting the entire set is in my price range from jparts.com, so no need to prioritize there. :wink:

as for tow hooks, in kinda flying blind. ive seen using a hitch with a ring for the back, but the front kinda has me stumped. is there a place underneath that i just havent scoped out yet that can fit hooks or rings?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:39 pm

every now and again you can find some one who has stock factory hooks for sale either that or you can make your own with some hitches, drill some holes and done real easy
contact jeepinjarhead for his write up

Stock skids work great, mines only got a few dents and scratches over the past 5 years. I do have a Kilby gas tank skid which is nice to jack up the rear by :lol:

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:01 pm

haha, sounds useful. at least you know you wont end up like a ford pinto when rear ended :-)r

as for the stock hooks, i take it you mean front and rear. i still have no clue where they would go in front but then again, ill find it when putting skids on and do a nice facepalm.

ill more then likely do a hitch in back since at some point i imagine ill be towing something. good thing it doesnt involve the bumper at all though, since mines likely to fold when a bush touches it. are the rear hitches that are bolt-on good enough, or am i looking at some welding, cause i surely dont have the skill for it yet.

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:22 pm

awesome, looks like stuff ill have no issues doing on my own. thanks for all the input and dealing with my nub questions.

looks like my direction is a full set of MOPAR skids, rear hitch, and front tow hooks. and you said the front hooks are one item, or are they simply 2 bolt-on hooks separately? just wanna be sure when it comes time get them.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:39 pm

Cheap is expensive. When considering MOPAR skids, consider also the cost of replacing the parts they're supposed to protect.

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:46 pm

hah JL, i think i remember reading a thread that involved your experience with MOPAR skids. must of been some dirt road eh? :mrgreen:

not to tease, but i know the stakes. did you ever figure what happened by chance?

Boiler · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:07 pm

You can get a rear class III hitch from mopar, uhaul, reese, etc. They share the same 6 bolts on the uniframe as the gas tank skid and probably any aftermarket rear bumper AND the rear towhook.

I should have a relatively freshly painted, probably never used rear towhook available in a month or two when I get my rear bumper done. If you're interested just drop me a PM. I'd sell it for half of whatever a new one goes for plus actual shipping.

Definitely get all of the skids. You can probably get all four for under $300 if you want to go the basic mopar route.

If you want beefier skids, take a look at my gas tank skid I build in the vendors section. It is a really light and beefy gas tank skid. It's made from 1/4" aluminum 6061-t6 plate. It is CNC cut, formed, and fully welded. It is about twice as thick as the mopar and will deliver a magnatude more strength if required. There is a link in my signature.

Personally I like the lightweight materials for fabrications. I think it adds up and lighter weight pays for itself in better fuel economy, more usable power, less wear & deflection on your suspension, less wear on your brakes, better stopping response, etc etc. One skid might not be worth it by itself, but if you end up saving 50% weight on full armor, bumpers, interior and exterior storage, etc, you could save yourself several hundered pounds. I know when I have four people in it performance drops, and additions like armor should be no different. Just my humble opinion though.

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:00 am

humble opinions are usually quite useful :seuss:

idk if i want to just go with the hitch or simply a hook yet for the rear. i feel ill end up selling the rear hook off once i get a hitch anyway so it can still go either way. depends on the cost. as for your gas skid, very nice product from the looks of it. i may have to go all MOPAR though in the beginning due to the cost. aside from JL i haven't heard too much bad about them. you do get what you pay for though.

ill definitely keep it in mind though when i do start ordering.

btw, if the skid and the hitch all attach at the same point, is there a preferred order to bolt them on in? (ie:skid then hitch, or vis-versa)

mod help!

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