Skid Plates Priority

[crenca]

I second @userdude , OEM skids. They are priced right, lighter then most (maybe even all) aftermarket steel options, and will most likely do the job for all except those who are real rock crawlers.

Verify though you are willing & able to install that gas skid. I looked into it and decided a lift and two guys was best, so I had my dealer install it for me...reluctantly

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[Valhalla]

I wheel pretty hard, so you can take or leave my advice. I'd do stock skids. peace of mind and I know they can handle hits, they may deform, but they take hits. I'd also look at K member skids, I beat the brakes off of mine before covering them. if you don't have the sway-bar disco, then I'd protect that trans as well. You can go without it. I'd just want the peace of mind of not doing a trail fix on gas tank, trans pan, or oil pan.

 

[Returntothefog]

When you say "light but nothing over a 5", do you mean like this (see slide 4)?

https://docs.google.com/presentatio...SukYyA/edit?pli=1#slide=id.g2ec405a0f7d_0_101

Because very much, if you're in those conditions, you want full skid plates and rock rails.

So we're already at an impasse on terminology (I would consider light maybe moderate fire and forest roads that are maintained but not perfect). From advising-a-stranger-on-the-internet POV, I'd say risk is high I miss what you're actually doing, so I'd say get full plates and rock sliders, just to be safe. It's just hard to say because there's a lot of variable terrain and experience.

So if I were to dial that back a little bit, seeing as you don't think it's very hard, I'd say the Ford stock plates w/gas plate skid and the trail armor rock rails that come stock on the Badlands. I'd look for some takeoffs perhaps, although you won't get the gas tank most likely. But they're light and do a decent job if you're not going crazy on the Maze or whatever.

From a minimum, gas tank and rock rails. Then preferably front and engine skid that are steel. A boulder or step could take out transfer case, so if you're doing those, consider that as well.

So yeah, you're a prime case for the stock armor, and you can leave the plates sans front plate and gas tank skid off when you don't need them. They are pretty easy to put on/off and aren't very heavy.

Okay I guess I am uunderestimating what a 5 is, this is like the extreme case of what I would do. The usual case would be more along the lines of 3s and 4s.
The OEM fuel tank skid is one of the few ones on the market that’s one piece so I will def be on the look out for that.
Thanks!

 

[Returntothefog]

I second @userdude , OEM skids. They are priced right, lighter then most (maybe even all) aftermarket steel options, and will most likely do the job for all except those who are real rock crawlers.

Verify though you are willing & able to install that gas skid. I looked into it and decided a lift and two guys was best, so I had my dealer install it for me...reluctantly

I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[userdude]

Okay I guess I am uunderestimating what a 5 is, this is like the extreme case of what I would do. The usual case would be more along the lines of 3s and 4s.
The OEM fuel tank skid is one of the few ones on the market that’s one piece so I will def be on the look out for that.
Thanks!

There are people who drive around the rocks, and those that drive towards or into them.

I'm guessing you're an around kind of guy, just keep in mind, if you're out around real obstacles, strapping on protection you don't have isn't going to work if you can't go around. If you're only on gravel roads, that's one thing. But sometimes you end up in the jackpot even if you didn't mean to.

Plus it's just more fun when you're not sweatin' hard, trying not to puncture something. My favorite is the guy who hit a limb and punctured his plastic gas tank, because who knew! Don't be that guy.

 

[Returntothefog]

There are people who drive around the rocks, and those that drive towards or into them.

I'm guessing you're an around kind of guy, just keep in mind, if you're out around real obstacles, strapping on protection you don't have isn't going to work if you can't go around. If you're only on gravel roads, that's one thing. But sometimes you end up in the jackpot even if you didn't mean to.

Plus it's just more fun when you're not sweatin' hard, trying not to puncture something. My favorite is the guy who hit a limb and punctured his plastic gas tank, because who knew! Don't be that guy.

That’s a very good point haha. I can only imagine the pain of a punctured fuel tank/tranny pan in the middle of no where

 

[Roofus]

if you don't have the sway-bar disco,

I can help with that as well: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...isconnect-to-2023-wildtrak.96145/post-2327297

Installed on my OBX and ran the wiring straight to Aux1 which skips the computer and allows me to keep swaybar disconnected at whatever speed I want. Super easy install. Highly recommended if you didn't get disco from the factory.

Now I can do this:

 

[Valhalla]

I can help with that as well: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...isconnect-to-2023-wildtrak.96145/post-2327297

Installed on my OBX and ran the wiring straight to Aux1 which skips the computer and allows me to keep swaybar disconnected at whatever speed I want. Super easy install. Highly recommended if you didn't get disco from the factory.

Now I can do this:

My meaning was for the extra trans pan protection from the skid plate under the sway bar disco. Good job on the install though!

 

[northernlights]

When you say "light but nothing over a 5", do you mean like this (see slide 4)?

https://docs.google.com/presentatio...SukYyA/edit?pli=1#slide=id.g2ec405a0f7d_0_101

Because very much, if you're in those conditions, you want full skid plates and rock rails.

So we're already at an impasse on terminology (I would consider light maybe moderate fire and forest roads that are maintained but not perfect). From advising-a-stranger-on-the-internet POV, I'd say risk is high I miss what you're actually doing, so I'd say get full plates and rock sliders, just to be safe. It's just hard to say because there's a lot of variable terrain and experience.

So if I were to dial that back a little bit, seeing as you don't think it's very hard, I'd say the Ford stock plates w/gas plate skid and the trail armor rock rails that come stock on the Badlands. I'd look for some takeoffs perhaps, although you won't get the gas tank most likely. But they're light and do a decent job if you're not going crazy on the Maze or whatever.

From a minimum, gas tank and rock rails. Then preferably front and engine skid that are steel. A boulder or step could take out transfer case, so if you're doing those, consider that as well.

So yeah, you're a prime case for the stock armor, and you can leave the plates sans front plate and gas tank skid off when you don't need them. They are pretty easy to put on/off and aren't very heavy.

Looking at that rock garden the mod'd jeep is tackling looks more than "moderate" but im not a rock crawler...

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