New Skid plates and Hitch or Backbone Winch mount????

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:11 pm

I'm sitting here trying to decide what to do. I have saved up right at $500 for Jeep Parts. Here is the problem. Keep in mind I have a Warn 9500ti mounted on a hitch multi mount sitting in the garage. It will not work with the rear hitch unless I use a long extension to clear the spare tire.

I can purchase all four factory mopar skids and a factory hitch from Jparts.com for $500.00 with free shipping. (side note, I know the factory skids are not the best but they are in my price range) That would empty out the Jeep Saving for now and would put off buying the KJ Backbone winch mount for at least 8 months.

The other option is to buy the KJ Backbone and get the Warn 9500ti mounted up, leaving a little money for new power cables and paint for the Backbone.

Here is a few other concerns, Will the Factory Skids for my 2006 KJ be available in 6 to 8 months down the road?? Will the KJ Backbone be available 8 months down the road??

What do you guys think I should do first??

Lift and tires is still about a year or two away........

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:34 pm

I would keep the $500 and save up for a lift....

infernicus · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:36 pm

If you plan on doing ANY off roading, the skids are the most important. Even with a lifted Jeep, you still need skids.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:43 pm

Have you checked around in the For Sale Section....can find used factory skids and the such many times. I purchased my OME lift for my CRD from a member.

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:05 pm

check e-bay for the skids too! but i would seriously get skids on her.. even factory are great, they have saved me a bunch of times just from running over stuff in the road, and then you can do the detours!

ridenby · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:34 pm

jsc7002 has some skids

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:42 pm

Thanks guys, I'm leaning toward the skids first. Though the wife has pointed out that she likes the security of having the winch on the front.

AZKJ · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:06 pm

RedJeepCRD wrote:

Thanks guys, I'm leaning toward the skids first. Though the wife has pointed out that she likes the security of having the winch on the front.

Go for the skids first and don't go out alone and get in over your head. If you're with someone, your good to go as long as you have skids and some tow straps.

Boiler · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:11 pm

Yep, skids.

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:20 pm

Skids.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:21 pm

The Mopar skids might not be the strongest, but they do the trick if you use them as a skid and not a landing pad. My vote is the skids.

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:38 pm

if you have 4wd you really don't need a winch for light wheeling

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:42 pm

do the skids for now since they protect the jeep it self. you can always be pulled out, but you can't usually recover from a busted oil pan or trans pan :wink:

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:47 pm

As awesome as the Backbone is, I'd go with skids first - the Backbone will be useless if you rip the oil pan off of do some other nasty damage under the kj.

Check jparts.com - they usually have the best prices on the mopar skids.

If you do plan on putting a winch on the KJ the backbone is a great choice - I'd stay away from a front hitch w/the hitch winch mount - You're going to kill your approach angle if you do that ( I had a front hitch w/winch prior to the backbone

)

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:39 am

Well the skids have it, I'll be ordering the skids from jparts.com this week.

Thanks for the info guys.

InCommando · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:47 am

Related plug: I have done business with Detour, but not for a backbone. It was for big jeep parts on another forum. Great guy to do business with. When you decide to mount that winch up front, the backbone is they way to do it and I would not hesitate to do business with him again.

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:17 pm

Yeah, just found a 10% off if purchased by Nov 30th on the forum here for the backbone. May have to think a bit more about which to buy first now......

ridenby · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:24 pm

jsc7002 has skids at a low price,his post is in for sale section.

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

Skids.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:44 pm

are you gonna need all the skids down there in florida? trasmission may be the biggest with the sand humps, but front and t-case maybe not so much unless you are gonna go back home and run it on the rocks there. But without a lift that may not be possible.

I didn't have any skids while I was there and we rode.

The skids may not be available new down the road, but there always used poping up on the board and aftermarket will "always" be available.

New Skid plates and Hitch or Backbone Winch mount????

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