Armor

If anything, you NEVER want to lose your oil pan. I would start there. Then protect your steering and front control... after that it's all cosmetics. Oh wait. You don't want to lose your gasoline either. Nick

Gas tank, oil pan, and steering box would be the first three I'd suggest. I already have the dented gas tank and oil pan to use as examples of why... =D I've been wheeling stock on 31s, so it's not like I've been doing anything "hard core". All three are pretty reasonably priced, and pretty easy to install.

Tirya '99 TJ Sahara

2" RE Boost, 31" BFG ATs TDC Inca Jeeper

I FULLY agree!!! I have a 8 mos. old TJ Sport stock w/31's that I've just recently spent all my money on covering it with armour... this is the way I did it and the way I'll do it again when I trade up.... Warn is tough tough stuff and resonably priced...

1-Engine/Oilpan Skid 2-Steering Box Skid 3-Rocker Guard Skids/Protection 4-Diff covers 5-Gas tank Skid Being a new Jeeper I did the same thing as you...asking for advice here... I got several responses some good some really bad hehehe before going on my first real offfroading with the local Jeep club I had the above mentioned skid plates installed and darn good thing I did.... after the run, rocks/logs and water... I had no damage thanks to the skids as my oil pan skid had a huge bow in it where it would have crushed the oil pan had it not been there... My Warn Rocksliders protected the rocker panel as I came down with the full weight of the Jeep on one of them and they saved me from going back witrh a right off Jeep... the next trip out my steering box came down hard on a rock and has a big gouge in it which could have been costly had it not been there... not sure how often the diff covers have saved me but they are also heavily gouged and I don't worry asmuch when I hear the crunch and bangs from underneath... I think all the new TJ's come with factory Transfer case and gas tank skids... there for I have not added gas tank skidding as of yet... the stock gas tank skid has taken a serious beating all dented but tough enough that I'm not concerned about that yet... Like I said at the beggining, Warn is tough and inexpensive compared to....I very much recommend Warn except for the Rocksliders which need to be redesigned to propperly fit 2003 and newer as they moved the seat belt assembly in '03... I made my Rockslidrs fit but a couple mods have to be made...I'm not sure if I did it again if I wouldn't just go to a welding shop and have them mount some HD steel bars under the rockerpanel the way most of the other Jeeps in the club have done. or if u have lotsa $$$ UAV make really kool ones as does poison spider...

Just my Canadian looney and 2 cents worth LOL Good luck, Happy Jeepin', Jeff

"Tirya" wrote in message news:8BaHc.11502$WX.1224@attbi_s51...

We wheeled our stock 01 TJ for 3 years, with only Sun Performance Rocker guards. They work!

The gas tank is pretty exposed with the stock "skid plate." Ours was hammered to the point where we had an extra 1" of clearance back there (however, gas tank capacity went down as well!) We just replaced it with a Currie Enterprises one, and got their steering box skid plate at the same time. Luck saved us from banging the steering box so far. As I pulled the stock gas tank plate off, it was easy to imagine a sharp rock ripping the exposed plastic tank side open.

The factory transmission/transfer case skid plate seems adequate -- it has been hammered hard many times, and has only dings and scrapes to show for it.

Placing our wheels on the high rocks through the nasty stuff, we've avoided most of the abuse to the oilpan and diff pumkins. So perhaps you can defer those for later if you feel you need them.

WOW! Thanks to everyone who responded! I'll start pricing the equipment from several manufacturers (although Warn DOES have preference, I think)... But at least now I have an idea where to start.

As an ex Paramedic in the Air Force, (yes, I jumped a "few" times ) I think I'll go with "vital fluid" protection first. I can limp home with a broken leg, (rocker) but probably can't make it with a severed carotid (oil pan) injury. Sorry for the analogy, but hey, it works for me!

I have mostly been a lurker in RAMJ+W for about a year and I've learned much from doing so. Thanks again to everyone! As I perform the impending work, I'll document it and share as much knowledge as I can.

John

Oops, cranial flatulance made me say Curie when I meant to say Kilby...