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CPO’s Rubicon Express Oil Pan Skid Plate Install
By Chris Poldervaart | July 15, 2015 | How To
Rubicon Express-REA1011
If you happen to have a stock or mostly stock JK or JKU Wrangler that you are planning on doing a little more with than just mall crawling, then you might want to consider some of the critical exposed bits that might be at risk underneath your ride as you hit the trails. While it’s perfectly acceptable, and very possible, to enjoy your Jeep on the trails without sustaining damage in its stock form, there tends to be a point where many drivers start to get a little more ambitious. That’s when more difficult lines are tested, and perhaps so is your ground clearance. :-)
One of the recommended modifications for any developing off-road warrior is the addition of skid plates to help protect the underbody from damage which might leave you stranded on the trail. If you ask experienced off roaders what the most important skid plate is, you will get several answers. Some believe the differential should be first to be protected, others will shout that it’s the oil pan or the gas tank. I had to consider all of this when I decided which skid plate I was going to install first. My 2015 JKU Willys Wheeler came from the factory with a gas tank skid plate and also one for the transfer case. From my own personal assessment, if I could only add skids one at a time, the oil pan was going to be the first.
Sure it’s not as low and exposed as the diffs…but it is more vulnerable (in my opinion). So my decision was to protect the oil pan using a modular skid plate system from Rubicon Express. It’s modular, because I can easily add to it as time and funds allow. Oil pan…then transmission…then I will see what’s next after that.
This is a quick video showing the installation of the Rubicon Express Oil Pan Skid Plate (REA1011) on my Wrangler. As you can see, it’s a pretty straight forward install. Before I got mine, I had a hard time picturing how it would be installed (even with the instructions) so I made this video in case it may be helpful for someone else either looking to purchase, or wanting tips for the install. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
CPO Rubicon Express Oil Pan Skid Plate Install (15 JKU)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIeiciwx-iM&w=640&h=360]
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Awesome installation video for this skid plate. I have been curious for a while now about this skid plate, but I was hesitant to get it because I could find so little info on it.
ReplyDeleteI bought this skid plate and I tried to install it on my 2013 JKU and it does not fit. I bolted the rear of the skid plate to the bell housing and then rotated it up to install the 3 bolts at the front and the skid plate hits the oil pan before the skid plate front mounting flange touches the engine. There is about a 5/8" gap between the engine and the front mounting flange. I will have to get a bunch of washers to use as spacers and longer bolts to make it work.
ReplyDelete@jeepguy, you might want to contact Rubicon Express and make sure you got the right skid plate. It's different for the 3.8 and you may have just gotten the wrong one sent to you.
ReplyDeleteGreat video Chris
ReplyDeleteThanks for the video. Have you bought/installed any of the other RE Skid plates? Curious about the Auto Transmission Plate
ReplyDeleteHave you changed you oil since installing and if so was it any more difficult or messy?
ReplyDeleteHave you been trail or on the rocks since installing - any rash on the skid to show that its worth it?
good video ---
thank you for doing this video , been looking at this product for my jeep
ReplyDeleteThey don't make this for a JK manual 3.6 btw
ReplyDeleteany idea what the torque specs are for the bolts. can't find any info on the net for the 3.6
ReplyDeleteI noticed what looks like the transmission line just aft of your oil pan skid plate. At one point you had your ratchet above it in order to torque down the rear bolts. Have you added armor for that? I always thought that Jeep did us wheelers a disservice by having the lines run under the tranny. I may consider dropping the hook on a complete undercarriage kit from RiverRaider. Looking for your opinion.
ReplyDeleteNeed to include year and transmission i.e.manual or auto at the very beginning so people do not get the idea that this will work for their application. My 2010 Wrangler has a 3.8L engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. I am reluctant to buy this as the pics on the Quadratec website look the same for the 2012-16 and 2007-10 vehicles. Quadratec emailed me as I related my concern about fitment and they said it would. I am a skeptic until shown the part they recommend will fit my vehicle. Thanks for the tutorial video!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe your putting a skid plate on for driving around the mall.
ReplyDeleteIs this the right way to mount a skidplate ? the pan side and engin take a hit insted when mouted on them? Should it not be mounted on non engine parts
ReplyDelete