Transfer Case Skid

[Mudderoy]

This past weekend I removed the factory transfer case skid since with the transfer case drop it had a tendency to let the NP242 bound and rub on it. I put some spacers in there but what I wound up with was a drop on a drop.

My near term plans are to install a SYE and get rid of the 1" drop. This should solve the problem of the factory skid touching the NP242, however since it is always more fun to BUY something new I was considering this.

http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/XJTcaseSkidPlate1.jpg

And since I have a late model XJ with NP242 it would look like this...

http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/XJTcaseSkidPlate2.jpg

:link: (http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=XJSKD&Category_Code=XJArmor)

I really like the idea of having full protection under there but as Matt has already mentioned, one negative at 1/4" steel would be weight.

What do you guys think? Maybe a better solution? Just stick with factory transfer case skid after the SYE?

[bigjim350]

I think those skids are a great idea. Been wanting one myself for a while. Yes it is thick, but i hear it sure strengthens the subframe alot, by tieing both sides together.

[Mudderoy]

I think those skids are a great idea. Been wanting one myself for a while. Yes it is thick, but i hear it sure strengthens the subframe alot, by tieing both sides together.

Well I had thoughts of frame stiffener, sliders, and now I'm wondering how they handle the added width of the unibody connection points on this skid. Either it doesn't matter, or they have to make it special.

Hmmm seems like I would have to have the stiffeners and this at the same time then.

[OrangeXJ]

I think those skids are a great idea. Been wanting one myself for a while. Yes it is thick, but i hear it sure strengthens the subframe alot, by tieing both sides together.

I would think it would make sub frame weaker by drilling 6 holes through it. That's why I had a bracket welded to my sub frame to bolt the TC skid to when I did the long arms

[bigjim350]

Dont see how it could make it weaker. Those are pretty small holes.

[OrangeXJ]

If you bump it hard you could rip the holes.

[bigjim350]

Yeah but being bolted on the sides and bottom you would have to bump it very hard. If you bump it hard enough to damage the sub-frame with that skid on, you would do mass amounts of damage hitting the same bump with a stock skid.

[OrangeXJ]

I agree with that

[Mudderoy]

:popcorn:

[4.3LXJ]

Tony, you have now hit on the mod of the mod issue. It is one reason I do a lot of fabbing. When you buy something from a company, you are getting a product that assumes you have made no other mods that would affect the product, unless otherwise specified. So if you add frame stiffeners, you have a situation that would affect most of the long arm kits and many of the skid plates. Then add in tcase spacers and then you have another issue. To do it all would require some fabbing.

Now on another issue, that skid plate was designed with rock crawling in mind, where you bounce the whole rig on something that is as big as the Jeep. You guys wheel in mud. I can guarantee you from experience that a skid plate like that will have at least 100# of mud in it at the end of the day. Something to think about.

[Mudderoy]

Tony, you have now hit on the mod of the mod issue. It is one reason I do a lot of fabbing. When you buy something from a company, you are getting a product that assumes you have made no other mods that would affect the product, unless otherwise specified. So if you add frame stiffeners, you have a situation that would affect most of the long arm kits and many of the skid plates. Then add in tcase spacers and then you have another issue. To do it all would require some fabbing.

Now on another issue, that skid plate was designed with rock crawling in mind, where you bounce the whole rig on something that is as big as the Jeep. You guys wheel in mud. I can guarantee you from experience that a skid plate like that will have at least 100# of mud in it at the end of the day. Something to think about.

Several of the parts I was looking at allow you to pick common long arm suspensions and frame stiffeners. So they do take some of that into account. I'll have to price the equipment I'd have to buy with the pre-made parts and weigh out the self fab work.

A good mud catcher, yep that makes sense, however we have things in the mud and sometimes we don't see it or in my case figure I'm far enough away from it, then slide over then before you know it you have a bent rocker!

I think I'll take the 100 lbs of mud and just hose it out when I get home. But it's great information to consider.

[OrangeXJ]

This is what I'm talking about. You have to take into account that the long arms replaced the OEM TC skid

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture071-1.jpg

[OrangeXJ]

I wonder if you can get the RC TC skid for the LA by it's self if you wanted to go LA at a later date. And I still think it's better if you don't drill holes in the frame. Rene and I both have bent our frames where the UCA bolts to the frame.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture098.jpg

[Mudderoy]

I wonder if you can get the RC TC skid for the LA by it's self if you wanted to go LA at a later date. And I still think it's better if you don't drill holes in the frame. Rene and I both have bent our frames where the UCA bolts to the frame.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m470/GregKnowles/Picture098.jpg

I wonder if this would have kept it from bending...

http://www.tntcustoms.com/images/products/display/DSC01319.JPG

:link: (http://www.tntcustoms.com/Jeep/Cherokee_XJ/uni-body_stiffener_extensions.aspx)

[OrangeXJ]

I'm sure it would help

[4.3LXJ]

http://www.tntcustoms.com/images/products/display/DSC01319.JPG

:link: (http://www.tntcustoms.com/Jeep/Cherokee_XJ/uni-body_stiffener_extensions.aspx)

Yup, going to be doing this one myself

[jeepxj95]

great tread. stuff to think about..... hmm

[bluedragon436]

Yeah I was wanting to get the 1/4" steel skid for my XJ.. well once I get the SYE installed that is... But I figure if I get RC LA upgrade it comes with it's own skid... I'm just wondering if I can run any of the aftermarket skids like JCR's with say Andy's LA setup.. cause I would much rather run his LA setup than the RC setup.. just want to make sure I can run the aftermarket skids with that setup..

[jccatt]

You shouldn't need frame stiffiners for the 97+ XJ they upgraded the frame? That skid plate looks awesome.

[bigjim350]

I'd you call jcr or dpg directly and tell them what you have and what you plan to have they can usually make the skid to fit or add in provisions for future mods. Just call em up. I'd deal with dpg before I'd call jcr.