Thinking about getting Shrock skids. A full set might be overkill for the limited wheeling around the Midwest along with my mods which limit what I can do.

Any reco's on what I should get? Can the stock stuff hold up at all? Gas tank is a good idea from what I've read here.

Tissue paper is better than the stock "skid plates" Shrock's skids are awesome...highly reco Shrock anything. The gas tank should be #1 on your list, as that's about a $1k fix via any shop and it's the most vulnerable from my personal experiences

Yeah, my gas tank "skid" is pretty beat as well. Saving for my skids...

Ironically, the fewer mods, the more you need armor.

You will NEVER be lifted high enough to never hit...its just not practical.

The stock skids are more like splash sheilds....worthless for the most part....and not much more protective than a mud flap, etc.

Its not just X's either...the stock skids on the jeeps, and toys, and so forth, were just as bad.

With real skids:

You can slide over things you can't clear, you can survive not being locked, and needing more momentum to get over things, etc.

Sliders and skids are a top priority...sliders even before skids, as they do double duty in protection, plus, you can hi-lift from them, (And from NO WHERE on a stock X w/o them...)

Even mild wheeling can scrape the under belly, you never know what's under that snow, or that puddle, if a stupid rock will roll under there for no apparent reason...or what gets ripped off if you high center in a rutted fire road, etc.



If you puncture your gas tank (Not THAT hard to do...), its a long walk back w/o it's contents.

Your oil pan, tranny, t-case, etc...all work better w/o holes in them.

So - Skids are a really good idea...even for casual wheelers....kind of like insurance. (Some people might go years w/o a problem, others, not so lucky...)

Someone who is good at picking his way through places of concern can get away with less protection, say green or some blue trails, w/o skids, and survive...if he doesn't make a mistake...

Beyond that, pretty much any X, piloted by pretty much any driver...is taking a really big risk going naked.

I definatly plan on getting some of Shrock's skids soon

The cacophony of bangs and clangs from underneath the truck tells me that my skids were worth the money. That, and looking at the scrapes and dings in my skids after just a couple of trail runs.

I did have the gas tank skid first, as that is a pretty low spot on the truck. I feel much better, however, now having full skids.

I know armor is super important, even more so than a lift IMO. I have the full set for my 05 and I do not regret getting them before getting a lift. They've already taken some abuse and are holding up great. I'd be scared to see what would have happened if my factory ones were still in place. Jim does great work so you won't be disappointed if you get the whole set.

Here is a pic of them to show how the fit and finish is.

Here's my 04 skids:

Thanks all. Ordering a full set soon.

Yeah, so far for "I'm not gonna mod it for a while" statement.

Can you point me in the direction of the Xterra Mod Addiction 12 Step Program?

PS I got a FREE car wash on the way home today thanks to the rain. You should have waited a day to wash up after the New Years run....

Yeah, getting some rain here too.

I was just at the Shrock's website looking at the full set of skids. I'm abour 40% there in terms of getting them. Just need to save up a little more cash after I get my timing belt done.

I figure the latest I will get my full skids will be March. And if so, after the skids I should be about half way down to getting a locker.

Maybe I should get a g/f

Found some shots of my Skid-Row skids...they were the ONLY skids for the X back in the day.

I think that we just found our poster boy for why skid plates are needed when you wheel.

Thanks for driving your X hard and sharing the pictures with us TJ.

X2

Nice, TJ... niiice.

TJ, you're supposed to go over the rocks, not try to go through the rocks

BTW - are you still running the Skid row plates, or did you replace them?

Well, as the truck is currently dissassembled in the drive way...the S-R skids are laying in the driveway...I need time to take a roof torch to them, and pound them flat again...etc.

The wife's brain seizures have pretty much wiped out what ever time I might have had to finish that project.

So - It will be a while probably.

TJ,

I found that I had pushed the skid up into the transfercase. Mine did not have such quite of an arch to them.

Check your tansmission mounting bracket sometime. Mine was pushed up some due to a bend skid plate.

Todd

Order placed today