Armoring Your Off-Road Rig

Off-road vehicles are cool. Real cool. Roof racks, lights, steel front bumpers (with more lights), winches, jerry cans mounted on spare tire carriers, snorkels, maybe even a HiLift Jack mounted on the hood. These are the things that turn my head. I love that stuff. Heck, I OWN most of that stuff! But if you want to reach the top of the trail in one piece, you better start at the bottom of your vehicle.

Skid plates and armor are not what draw your attention to a cool rig, but they are what separates a rock crawler from a mall crawler. They may just be the difference between driving home and being towed home. Think about it, your powertrain and steering components are down there by the rocks, exposed to the worst that terra firma can throw at them. And don't fall prey to the myth that just because you are not out there bashing around the rocks and mud that you don't need to protect the goods. Having the necessary skid plates in place is just sound preventative medicine. For this article, I'm going to focus on "GC", our 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trail Hawk, but these truths apply to our 4-door Wrangler, or any other vehicle that you use to carry precious cargo (you and/or your family) into wild places.

So, where do you start? If your budget is anything like mine, you begin by protecting the most critical and vulnerable components and go from there. The picture below shows the skid plates needed for my rig.

For me, purchase number one goes to protecting the engine and oil pan. This is usually a single skid braced on the frame and, in the case of my 2007 Wrangler, on the engine mounts. For "GC", the independent front suspension assembly provides a level of protection for both the engine and oil pan, however the Transmission is VERY vulnerable, protected from the factory by a plastic fairing. Additionally, the front axle is still vulnerable, necessitating a skid plate there as well. The next area in need of protection is the transfer case. On nearly every vehicle, this component's job of sending power both forward and aft requires it to be positioned just forward of the midpoint and down low. If you crack the metal shell housing the transfer case, you are done for the day and in for an EXPENSIVE repair bill. After the transfer case is safely protected, the next major area in need of armor are the rocker panels. If your rig is built on a truck chassis, a dented rock rail is unsightly at best and impacts your ability to open and close your doors properly at worst. If your vehicle is a "unibody" design (no frame rails) like my Grand Cherokee, the rocker panels are integral to the structural integrity of the rig and damage can impact the vehicle similar to bending the frame of a Wrangler, Tacoma, or F150. Therefore, "rock rails" or "rock sliders" are a must have for my outfit. Also in need of coverage are the fuel tank(s) and, depending on the design, the front radiator. Many drivers also upgrade their differential covers to ensure they can withstand sliding over or dropped on rocks without cracking or peeling off the cover entirely. Some folks choose to place a skid over their muffler(s) and that's cool. But, a punctured muffler is not going to keep you from getting home, although it may require you to turn up the radio a bit. For what it's worth, I'll also mention here that the designers at Chrysler chose to place the evaporation cannister precariously low on my Wrangler, making it vulnerable to undercarriage damage. Although an impact there would not prevent me from getting home, I did choose to reposition it to a safer place. I have also seen skid plates manufactured specifically for protecting it in its factory position.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not also mention the importance of proper front and rear bumper protection. Being the farthest forward and aft bits of your rig, these two areas are especially susceptible to trail damage. Options include guards that protect the existing facias, or full-replacements that take the place of the factory bumpers altogether.

Which ever way you decide to go will depend on what the aftermarket and your budget allows. Regardless of which method you choose, find one that mounts securely to your frame, read reviews, and choose the one that best supports your needs for winching, towing, mounting lights, and clearance/departure angles. Also, make sure you check with any local or state ordinances to ensure you will not have any problems with registration, inspection, or traffic citations.

Of course, there are other options out there, including tube fenders to protect your quarter panels, complete slides that form a smooth underbelly for your rig, A-pillar guards, and on and on and on. One of the best parts of an off-road vehicle is that you get to personalize it and truly make it your own. There is a reason why Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket!

As you contemplate what route to take in protecting your investment (as well as how to best justify the NEED for skids to your significant other) let me add one additional benefit to having proper skids. They also become an invaluable tool for navigating obstacles safely. You can use your skids to slide over rocks and ledges that would otherwise cause damage. A rock slider, used properly, can help you "pivot" around an otherwise insurmountable boulder in the trail. Experience and practice will allow you to safely drive over, around, and across trails that were previously not possible.

So, the next time someone wants to brag about their rig, give it a look underneath. Nothing speaks truth louder than the pictographs stenciled UNDER that rig.

Until next time, keep living in the dash. We will see you on the trail.