| Bulletproof 2"x4" Rocker Skids |
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| Bomber Skids I have always wanted some kind of rocker protection, but this mod was on the back burner until I dented both of my rocker panels (see Trail Damage). At first I wanted a set of Smittybuilt tube side bars, but after learning how easily those get dented and bend, I decided to seek out some other options. I wanted the toughest skids made, so of course I went with Bulletproof MFG. Most other companies only mount the skids in two locations, BP uses 3 mounting points on each skid. The standard size of the skids are 2"x3", but I wanted a little more metal sticking out from the body to step on. So I custom ordered them with an extra inch added to the width. Unfortunately I won't get them by Labor Day Weekend, they said the skids are going to take at least 4 weeks to get to me. We'll see if BP slacks off and forgets to include mounting hardware/instructions/drilling templates like they did with my rear bumper. If they do, they're going to get bitched at and I better be getting a discount on the skids!!! More Problems w/BP The guys at BP must be idiots!!! The dumb bastards sent me one skid for a 2000 TJ and another for a 2001!!! I wouldn't have thought there was a difference in the frames between the two years, but apparently there is cause the skid for the '01 didn't line up right. So when I called to bitch about them fucking up AGAIN, they said they would give me a discount on my next purchase. But that didn't really restore my confidence in them. I would probably never buy shit from them anymore, but I still need to buy a swing out tire carrier and I already have their rear bumper. They do make good shit and I really like the design of the tire carrier too. So I had to wait 2 more weeks until they sent me the right skid. They asked me to let them know when I got the new one so they could have UPS pick up the other skid, but since they didn't think it was a priority to call me and let me know when the skids shipped in the first place, I don't think I'll make it a priority to call them. I might not even send it back at all, depends if they call me. Anyone want to buy a skid for a '01 TJ??? Installation Installing these skids was a fuckin bitch, it took me two weeks to get these cock suckers mounted, mostly because I had a hell of a time getting the right drill bits. You have to DRILL 30 HOLES IN YOUR FRAME to mount these bastards!!! There three mounting points on each skid, with 11 bolts per side, you need two holes per bolt, totaling 44 holes, but there are already 7 holes in each side of the frame. Before drilling on the driver's side, you have to remove the T-case skid plate so you can move the brake lines that run on the inside of the frame rail so you don't drill through them. The drill bit I started with was already pretty dull from drilling holes for my rear bumper, but I managed to drill out a few holes on the inner wall of the frame on both sides. The next day I went to the hardware store and bought a titanium drill bit. I got the rest of the holes drilled that already had holes on the outside of the frame, except for the holes on the upper part of the frame. The drill bit wasn't long enough so the drill was hitting the bottom of the rocker panel, preventing me from drilling a straight hole. So I decided to go back to the hardware store the next day to find a drill bit extension. I bought what I thought was the right 12" extension, only to find out it wouldn't work the next day when I tried working on the skids some more. The extension was for a 1/4" chuck but the drill bit was a 3/8". When I went back to the store, the next size up was a 1/2" chuck. So I tried to find a titanium bit that was 12" long, which there wasn't. I didn't want to have to buy another drill bit since the one I just bought was rather spendy, so over the next few days I went to several hardware stores including one specailty shop that a guy suggested with no luck whatsoever. They even checked their tool catalogs and didn't find anything. I couldn't belive that no one makes either a 12" long 3/8" chuck or a 12" long titanium bit. So I was stuck buying a 12" long el cheapo bit. So now I could finish the job, but I was still waiting on the correct passenger skid to arrive. Since the front mounting point has no holes existing, I had to temporarily mount the skid so I could mark the outer holes. After drilling out the holes, it was finally time to mount the skids. I had a little trouble with some of the holes lining up. The frame curves a little bit near the middle mount, and I wasn't paying much attention to that. A little work with the rat tail file took care of that enought to get all the bolts trough. So I drove around for a few days with only one skid on my Jeep while I waited for the other one to arrive. When I finally got it and went to pre-mount it to mark the holes for the front mount, I noticed that the mount wasn't centered very well with the frame. So I used a crowbar to bend the skid just enough to make the mount centered on the frame. I didn't do a very good job marking the holes, so out came the rat tail file one more time. But finally, after two weeks and a lot of bitching and moaning, I've got both skids on my Jeep. Lastly, I got some 4" wide grip tape that I put on the skids to keep me from slipping off when climbing around. I rolled the tape over the outside edge just a bit to give my boots a good hold. |
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| Passenger side skid w/grip tape |
| Closeup of the dent the skid could have prevented |