Commander Skids and Armor

[superacerc]

I always make sure to have my very prominent hitch on my jeep. I've got a hitch that is a special drop down model that's adjustable via 3 large pins and the metal bar can hold all the weight of my jeep. I've come down on some rocks that would tear off my rear bumper but because I leave that on there it hits first and slides right off. This has protected my rear bumper from being torn off several times. (always sounds like you just killed the jeep when it lands on that hitch though and you get out and look and not a scratch on the jeep and some little ones on the super thick steel bar that makes up my hitch.

You can see here how it hangs. It's slid out to the second setting so it looks like it's hanging out a ways but i only do this to keep it from rattling while i'm on the road. I slide it in about 2-3 inches to second set of holes and it pushes up under the jeep more. This always hits before my factory slider area that goes around the spare tire area.



Works great as a rear bumper as well. If anyone hits that in a not too terrible manner, They'll have a ruined hood/front bumper and i'll feel a nudge.

I still want all other skids though!!! ANyone got some extra money?

[hoaxci5]

Hrm.. with some fab work on that as a starting platform I can see making a decent rear slider. I might have to give that some more serious thought.

[superacerc]

You could buy a piece of hitch tubing (the square bit with holes in it) and fab some plates that curve down under the XK for protection.

[cico7]

I like that Idea....where can I get some of that stock?

You could buy a piece of hitch tubing (the square bit with holes in it) and fab some plates that curve down under the XK for protection.

[hoaxci5]

Your local steel yard will have it in lengths without holes in it for cheap. 2" x 2" square tubing.. I'm not sure what the thickness should be, but I'd guess since we are talking about the weight of the commander dropping down on it, 1/4" I don't think there is anything thicker without going to a solid piece of steel. Solid is quite a bit more expensive though. http://www.metalsdepot.com will give you some prices, they are pretty high compared to what I could get locally though even if I didn't have to pay shipping.

[Sal-XK]

1/8 square stock would be good 3/16 would be better. So 10 gauge would be about 1/8 I think, wheres Doc? Anyway those are the two sizes I see in skids the most which in square stock would be even stronger so I don't think you need to go any thicker.