Top 5 Jeep Skid Plates to Add First
It's the sound that tells you. A scrape under the floor on a ledge, then a quiet moment while you wonder what just got hit. Skid plates exist for that moment, but a full set costs real money, so the order you buy them in matters.
Our order, from first to fifth
- Fuel tank. A punctured tank ends the day and sometimes the Jeep's week. Barnes 4WD makes a high clearance tank skid for the TJ, and Grimm OffRoad covers the diesel fuel filter on the JL and JT.
- Engine and oil pan. Lose the oil and you're done. Barnes has a 6 cylinder engine skid for the TJ and LJ, and the JK has an engine skid plate kit too.
- Transfer case. It hangs low, especially after a lift, and it's the part rocks find first. Pick a plate that matches your transfer case drop.
- Front lower control arms. Barnes sells a control arm skid kit that covers the lowers on the TJ, LJ, XJ, ZJ and MJ. If you've gone to long arms, these see hits constantly.
- Differentials. Axle housings are tough, but a bent cover or a cracked pumpkin hurts. A skid or a stronger cover gives you a margin. See the Differential Covers collection.
How to match the plate to your Jeep
Skid plates are model specific, so check the year range in the title. A plate for a TJ won't fit a JL, and an engine skid depends on your engine. Steel is heavy but forgiving. If you're not sure which one suits how you drive, ask us.
Browse the full list on our Jeep skid plates page, or the broader Skid Plates collection if you drive something other than a Jeep. If you're planning a lift as well, pick the arms first, then size the armor around them. What are you running now, and where did it scrape last? Tell us and we'll build the order around your trail. Call 513-285-4000 or email customerservice@highliftoffroad.com.