You already know that skid plates are essential to any off-road play in your Jeep. Without proper protection, it doesn’t take long to severely damage oil pans, fuel tanks, transfer cases, and differentials. If you own a Jeep with factory skid plates, you might be wondering if they offer enough protection. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about upgrading to an aftermarket skid plate.
Factory Skid Plates Can Be Thinner And Smaller
Manufacturers usually install thinner or smaller skid plates. While they offer some protection, there are other factors to consider when designing OEM skid plates. Weight reduction may be necessary to meet fuel economy requirements, so skid plates are often made thinner or smaller to reduce mass. Manufacturers must also control costs to keep their vehicles affordable. Besides reducing size and weight, they may use cheaper metal alloys that don’t offer the best durability and protection.
Factory Skid Plates Can Leave Parts Exposed
OEM skid plates don’t always provide the best protection. The factory skid plate might not wholly cover a part, exposing it to potential damage. Some components that might only be partially covered or not covered at all by a factory skid plate include:
- Oil Pan
- Transmission
- Transfer Case
- Drive Shaft
- Differentials
- Fuel Tank
A small factory skid plate is often designed to protect only the most vulnerable area instead of a proper large skid plate that covers an entire component. It’s also easier to puncture or dent a thinner factory skid plate. Such designs offer limited off-road capability before costly damage occurs.
Factory Skid Plates Can Get You Stuck
The undercarriage needs to be as seamless as possible for serious off-roading. While navigating obstacles, you don’t want a skid plate to snag or dig into anything. It’s ideal for skid plates to slide easily over rocks and ledges without getting hung up. Since some factory skid plates are smaller and more open, it increases the chances that you will get stuck on something or scoop up a lot of dirt or snow.
Skid Plates For Your Jeep Or Bronco
Refer to the chart below to find the skid plates we offer for the Jeep CJ, Ford Bronco, Jeep TJ Wrangler and Jeep YJ Wrangler:
| Bronco | 1966-77 Ford Bronco 1966-77 Coyote Bronco (fits TDK Coyote Bronco Frame) |
| Jeep CJ | 1976-79 Jeep CJ 1980-86 Jeep CJ 1980-86 Jeep CJ (NV4500 style transmission) Universal Style Jeep CJ |
| TJ Wrangler | 1997-2002 TJ Wrangler (fits TDK frame) 1997-2006 TJ Wrangler (fits factory frame) |
| YJ Wrangler | 1987-1995 YJ Wrangler |
Why You Need Skid Plates From Throttle Down Kustoms
Throttle Down Kustoms designs skid plates for maximum durability and off-road capabilities.
- Our skid plates are constructed with 3/16″ steel plating with 1.5″ diameter .120 DOM tube framing.
- We can accommodate both OEM and TDK frames along with custom drivetrain modifications.
- All our products are made in the U.S.A. and welded by certified professionals.
All Throttle Down Kustoms products include a lifetime warranty. You can be confident that the heavy-duty construction of our skid plates offer the extra protection you need. Do you have questions or need custom work? Contact us today.