When you want to be ready for any trail any time, skid plates are important. They protect your Bronco's most critical components -- and you want your engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank in good shape while you're tackling tough terrain, technical obstacles, and of course for the ride home.
Given all of the added protection these offer over factory pieces, full belly skids whether they're made of aluminum or steel become the largest piece of real estate to consider on or under your Bronco when you're looking to save weight. We chose to build these out of 5052 Aluminum for it's superior formability and fatigue strength compared to many other alloys -- as the design and shape of the skids largely determines how rigid they will stay over time. We designed these belly skids to locate 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 gas tank skid is required so you lose the weight of the factory steel gas tank skid. The fuel tank itself remains in place during installation however.
This skid system is intentionally designed with as few gaps and openings to catch your skid plates on rocks/obstacles. Each skid fits very tightly up against the next. The skid plate system consists of the following separate components:
Your vehicle may be equipped with or without optional braces that extend from the transmission crossmember (near the center of the vehicle) to each frame rail. This is not something easily changed as it's configured this way at the factory. Please see our image in the photo gallery above to see a diagram/3D scan with these braces highlighted to determine how your vehicle is equipped.
Want to make these skid plates slippery and even more impact-resistant? Select the UHMW Option! UHMW stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight. 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 pre-installed on the bottom of the aluminum skids. The UHMW option will add approximately 35 lbs to your skid configuration.
This system will not fit Bronco "Sport" vehicles -- as it's an entirely different platform.
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.
uhmw faq
will the uhmw hardware damage the fuel tank?
No: The UHMW panels are secured to the 1/4" aluminum skid using small nylock jamnuts. Countersunk bolts of very specific lengths are used to avoid excessive threads on the backside (top) of the skid. We also provide rubber snap on covers to provide additional protection to prevent wear on the fuel tanks!
No lift is required for installation of these belly skids
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!
Just like the factory skids, removal of the differential and engine skid is required to perform oil changes and differential fluid changes. We've had access panels suggested to us on this component, but by the time you account for the path of oil draining on the Bronco engine options, the access panel size becomes the majority of the skid. For this reason, we kept it simple, and suggest removal of the skid with the 6 bolts highlighted on the right.
Our products are designed and fabricated to fit vehicles that have varying tolerances from the factory, minor hand fitting may be required.
Products are shipped bare metal unless otherwise specified by the customer. Bare metal products may have scratches or surface imperfections as a result of raw material handling, manufacturing, and fabrication. However, these imperfections are easily covered up with a textured powder coat finish. Additional finishing, sanding, and prep work may be required if you wish to also have them finished with a smooth powder coat or paint.
Projected lead times are estimates only, and are subject to changes due to production realities, including material and labor availability and sudden variability in order volume. Lead times are not guaranteed, but we do guarantee that we are hard at work trying to produce the best product we can and get it into our customers’ hands as quickly as possible.
All Next Venture Motorsports products are laser cut, CNC formed, and hand-weld with pride in the USA. We are a Colorado-based business, and welcome visitors by appointment at our Grand Junction, CO headquarters. We hope to see you out there on the trail soon!
Why next venture?
parts inspired by the trail
Our team got into the game after rock crawling, wrenching, fabricating and being inspired to design and build parts for what we love to do: hit the trail.
★★★★★After this go around with Moab and Holy cross, the diff skids did their job and protected my Jeep. My rear aluminum bumper performed phenomenally on the trail!
Rennato Lopez
Colorado Springs, CO
★★★★★Can’t say enough about Dan and his ultra skilled team! Dan was able to get us in for a skidplate with UHMW & sliders for our JKUR. The fit, finish and quality are just out of this world! Can you say “stacked dimes”? Absolutely gorgeous welds…
Lance Wende
Montrose, CO
★★★★★2 years later I'm writing this review. I've beaten the crap out of this thing hitting rocks, winching, draging it down obstacles, and now exposed to the Florida elements. The bumper looks like it did the day they sent it. You will not find a better company to work with that cares about their clients and their products!
Kelly Colwell
Panama City, FL
★★★★★My rear Next Venture diff skid takes a beating! Best rear diff skid available. Well done!
Lee Bower
★★★★★Without a doubt, Next Venture Motorsports is my first stop for epic Jeep parts. Their JL aluminum front and rear featherweight bumpers are solidly built, easy enough to install, and crafted to perfection. I can't wait for more products for my 2 door JL!
Michael Collette
Kimberly, WI
★★★★★They invited me and my whole crew in for a tour of the facility on our way to Moab. These guys not only produce amazing armor for your Jeep, they are really good people. So, I’ve been running their rear diff skid for 9 months and it has easily held up to everything I’ve thrown at it.
Gary Swogger
Felton, DE
We're proud to offer this discount every day we do business.
Next Venture Motorsports Parts are Designed, Laser Cut, Precision CNC formed, and hand welded in Grand Junction, Colorado
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