Bulletproofing Your Wrangler: Why You Need Rock Sliders and Skid Plates

Worst feeling in the world. Close your eyes. (Okay, maybe don’t, because I need you to keep reading.) But let’s take you back to childhood. You and your friends are at the ripe age of 11. You’re outside playing and your friend’s crush shows up. You don’t know how to act, neither does anyone else. You kind of have a crush too, so you try to play it cool. And then, in the midst of your aloof but awkward act, your friend blindsides you by punching you right in the gut in an attempt to impress his own crush.

That’s exactly how your Jeep feels every time you smash a rock or stump into its underbelly.

Rock Sliders and Skid Plates

Are you one of many asking yourself why you really need rock sliders and skid plates? I mean, after all, you hardly go off-roading and, when you do, you’re always careful. But do you remember that one time when the same friend who speared you in the soft spot, also convinced you to take a hard trail, wherein you blasted the bottom end of your rig? And to add icing to the cake, you looked at him and he looked at you but he was laughing and you weren’t??

That’s why you need undercarriage protection.

Really, jokes aside, all it takes is one good smack to the rocker panels, gearbox, or oil pan, and you’re out of the game.

First, what’s what?

Rock sliders bolt to the underside of your vehicle along the rocker panels, offering protection from rocks, stumps, and other obstacles. “Typically, this type of protection is important for anyone who enjoys rock climbing and testing their limits on really hard trails,” explains leading aftermarket manufacturer, Fab Fours. “They might not be as necessary for those who keep it tame, but where is the fun in that? You never know when you’re going to come across a stump or rock in just the wrong place that will make contact with the rocker panels and dent them up.”

Skid plates are metal pieces that bolt under the vehicle to protect critical areas like the transfer box or fuel tank. “You can find many types of skid plates made to fit a variety of vehicles,” says Fab Fours. “You can also find them made specifically for your truck or Jeep model. Regardless of which you choose, make sure you’re buying skid plates made from a minimum of 3/16 steel so they’re durable enough.”

Installing Rock Sliders

Rock sliders are on in less than an hour. Maybe even a half an hour for you wild ones. Rock sliders mount to the factory body mount bolts. Pop off the bolts and then use them and the mounting location to mount the rock sliders in place. You’ll need a grinder to cut the washer down on the sides to fit them in the rock sliders. Once they are ground to fit, you just need to get the sliders in place and torque them down. You’re working with a total of four bolts here, but the awkward size and weight of the rock sliders will mean that a friend’s hand will really help with this process.

While bolt-on rock sliders are easy to install, Fab Fours points out that they’re not as strong as welded options. “Welded-on sliders are recommended for anyone who needs the best protection with minimal rust and greatest vehicle protection,” explains the manufacturer. That means if you’re planning on some serious rock-climbing, you may want to consider some custom framework at a welding shop.

Installing Skid Plates

Installing aftermarket skid plates is as simple as bolting them in place. For the engine, remove the factory skid plate under the vehicle (if one is present) and then swap the aftermarket unit in its place. The hardware used and installation process may vary depending on the part number but at most, one hole will need to be drilled. Even so, the process is very easy and is something even novice wrench turners can complete in a very short period of time.

There are two more skid plate applications to consider. The transfer case is just as vital of a mechanical component off-road as the transmission and engine, so protecting it should be taken seriously. With that in mind, the process is very similar to installing the engine/transmission skid plate, in the sense that you will need to remove the factory equipment and install the aftermarket unit in its place.

On Wranglers a plastic shield is present between the front bumper and undercarriage. As you could guess, this is the other place to install a skid plate. The skid plate that lives here is designed to replace the factory shield and will use many of the same mounting positions. The only thing to be aware of is that holes will need to be drilled in the lower brace for the skid plates hardware to be mounted. Again, it’s nothing you can’t handle with some time and care.

Want to make installation even easier? Our friends at Fab Fours recommend buying skid plates specifically designed for your vehicle, as “each one is shaped and designed to fit closely around the different parts being protected. From an installation standpoint, this means less modifying, faster installation that goes according to the provided instructions, and less chance of a skid plate loosening or shifting.”

Little Risk, Big Reward

Aftermarket skid plates are extremely rugged in comparison to the factory units and cover a wider area, which really helps you glide over obstacles instead of getting hung up or damaging exposed areas. Rock sliders offer similar capabilities and protection for a low overall investment.

Better yet, installation is straightforward and won’t take much time. It’s rare that you find such an extremely rewarding process that takes such little time and money.