Next Venture Motorsports Aluminum Belly Skid w/ Rear Exhaust&DEF Skid - UHMW

Want to be ready for any trail, any time? Skid plates provide advanced protection for your JL's most critical components -- your engine, transmission, transfer case, DEF tank, and fuel tank -- while you're tackling tough terrain, technical obstacles, and of course for the ride home.

We build these skids out of 1/4" thick 5052 Aluminum because of its superior formability and strength -- compared to many other alloys. The design and shape of the skids largely determine how rigid they will stay over time. We've designed these belly skids to tuck bolt heads up and out of the way, where possible (as can be seen on the rear crossmember and fuel tank skids).

Removal of the factory fuel tank skid is required for install, netting you a 1/2" gain in ground clearance; in addition, you will lose the weight of the factory steel gas tank skid.

A removable access panel is featured below the fuel filter/water separator housing so maintenance doesn't require dropping the entire fuel tank skid plate.

We also designed these pieces to be easily modified for use with popular aftermarket suspension kits (such as the Rock Krawler and other similar Long Arm Suspension systems), larger axles, and multiple engine choices.

The skid system weighs approximately 117 lbs, however, you will be removing about 86 lbs of the factory skids and cross members, replaced by this setup -- for a total weight gain of just over 30 lbs. If you opt for UHMW the JLU 3.0 EcoDiesel UHMW kits weigh in at 29 lbs.

UHMW - The Ultra High Molecular Weight Option

Want to make these skid plates slippery and even more impact-resistant? Select the UHMW Option! UHMW stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethelene.

It's the 3/8" thick black cutting board like material that can be optioned onto these skids; it is more abrasion resistance than carbon steel, and it's fairly light weight. It helps to better distribute and absorb impacts, and keep you sliding along rather than getting stuck or hanging up on an obstacle since it's slippery and self lubricating. If you select this option, the UHMW will come included in your skid systems packaging ready to bolt on to each skid.

JL/JT Belly Skid FAQs

Is a lift required for clearance to suspension components?

A 1.5" lift (or just 1.5" bump stop extensions on the front) is recommended for clearance to the motor mounting brackets on 3.6 V6 JL models from 2018-2020. JT 3.6 V6 and JL 3.6 V6 model year 2021 and newer can typically be run without any lift or bumpstop extensions. No lift or bump stop extension is required for the 2.0 I4 engine, 4xE, Diesel or 392, however we do suggest cycling your suspension and testing your bump stops each time you make a change to the configuration of your vehicle.

Will this system work with my long arm suspension kit?

These belly skids will work with Rock Krawler*, EVO, and Teraflex** Long Arm kits with minor modifications.

*Please note that the Rock Krawler "Rockzilla" kit is an entirely different animal from the conventional long arm kits and requires deletion of the factory fuel tank and replaces it with a custom fuel cell. Our skid system is not compatible with this, however we are working on skids that will work for this!

**Teraflex long arm kits do require slight modification to the fuel tank skid as this suspension kit relocates the rear lower control arms underneath the frame rail where the fuel tank skid would otherwise interfere -- 5 minutes with a cutoff wheel prior to installation resolves this issue.

Can I add the UHMW Kit later?

Yes; however you will have to remove your belly skids if they are already installed in order to place the UHMW onto your bare metal system. We carry special washers to fill the previously countersunk aluminum areas of the skid that are required before installing the UHMW. Contact us for more details!

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