Commander Skids and Armor

[cico7]

Good use of the pic!

You should put a little green X next to the completed ones...

[Sal-XK]

Good use of the pic!

You should put a little green X next to the completed ones...

thanks when I was looking at the pic you posted I just thought we should have one that showed were all the armor goes. I have 5 out of 8 now

[hoaxci5]

Just as a point of discussion. Maybe we should talk about priority, I realize this will vary depending on where you wheel, but..

I'd rank all the OEM skids and the Belly Guard highest and then the diff guard. Reason being any damage to what those skids protect and you aren't driving home (if its serious enough)
I would put the rear sliders next from personal experience, I have lightly damaged the underside of my rear bumper. So I think this comes before the front skid in my book because the approach angle is better than the departure angle.

I think I would even put the rock rails before the front skid.

The only reason I see for getting the front skid before the others is the look and if you are a "momentum wheeler" for lack of a better term..

All of this of course is my personal opinion from what I've seen and done..

[Sal-XK]

Those are some good points. I would say that the front skid protects vital mechanical parts though. You can get home if you rip your bumper off but if you smash into that radiator or the any of the lines it covers up your not going any further. The diff guard low priority the 8.25 is rock solid and can take some serious abuse and its reasonable to pick lines to keep the diff safe. I would say cover all mechanical parts first then protect the cosmetic's of the jeep. just a thought

[hoaxci5]

I've hit my diff, I haven't hit my front bumper. I figure in a "crawling" mode I'm not going to damage the radiator.. Once I'm on an obstacle all the other stuff is in harms way and I don't have as much control over speed as I do for first getting the front end up on top of it. Just some more justification for how I wheel and my reasoning.

I don't forsee anyone saying "I'm right you are wrong" but just in case this is going to be different for everyone and they should just read examples of what others have encountered and make their own judgment call on what is right for them.

[Matt]

I look at benefit/cost ratio.

I agree, the stock skids + belly guard is #1.

Next in my book is the front guard. It's very affordable and it prevents damage to radiator/condenser. In places i offroad where you have to drive through some water/mud, you're very prone to a large stick or something popping up and getting caught in that area (i've seen it happen).

Rock rails and rear sliders are 50/50 in my book.. depends on where you wheel and if you have a factory hitch. If you don't have a factory hitch, then the rear sliders double as recovery points and they take the lead.

That's my $02 anyway

[hoaxci5]

Next in my book is the front guard. It's very affordable and it prevents damage to radiator/condenser. In places i offroad where you have to drive through some water/mud, you're very prone to a large stick or something popping up and getting caught in that area (i've seen it happen).

Ah I haven't seen much water/mud in the offroading I've done so I don't think about that. I'm in the rocks/desert so I drive up and know what I'm getting into. Slow drive up to a rock to crawl over it not a whole lot is going to happen to the front end as long as I'm taking it slow.

[Sal-XK]

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong here bro don't misunderstand me. Like you said its good to get everyones input on the subject because we also wheel in different environments so we have different needs. I can see your point a view as well but covering all the mechanical parts for me was important because you never know when you going to slip off that rock or how you will land when it happens. In Uwharrie I did just that but landed on a tree instead LOL no armor on the B pillar I've landed on the diff as well and after inspecting the damage or lack of damage I can say its real solid and has a lip to help prevent the cover from getting peeled back. Rock rails are next for me I have the 5 skids for underneath now and the rails are where I take a lot hits or where my running boards take a lot of hits

[hoaxci5]

I didn't mean to imply you were saying that Sal, I just wanted to nip it before it did happen to/from anyone since there is so many variables in location of offroading.

When I hit my diff I did manage to cause a leak, it was minor so I drove it without a problem but it did leak.