The Ultimate Bronco Skid Plate System: 7075 Aluminum, Enhanced by UHMW Skid Surfaces
Off-roading can be rough on your Bronco, but with the 7000-Series Skid Plate System, you’ll be prepared for anything the trail throws your way. Not only is this built for serious off-roaders, it's been designed and engineered by real rock crawling enthusiasts. This modular skid plate system combines 3/16" 7075 aluminum, zinc-plated steel reinforcements, and a 1/4" UHMW wear surface to provide unparalleled protection and performance for your Bronco. With skids for the Engine & Differental, Transmission, Transfer Case, and a three-piece Fuel Tank Skid, your drive train and undercarriage is shielded from the toughest terrain, minimizing added weight while maximizing seamless, smooth protection.
lessons from building Bronco & JL skids these past few years, and other platforms for over a decade.
This design comes from decades of wheeling. The muddy hill climbs of Tennessee, and deserts of Arizona, Utah and California, have brought us here. Not only is this inspired by our product development teams time on the trail, and the Ultra4 Racing vehicles that rely on our parts, but also from feedback and experiences we get from you, our customers.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to the Rubicon, or your 10th trip to The Hammers, this one is built for you.
The 7000-Series Advantage: A Seamless, Rock-Slip Design
No Gaps, No Hang-Ups. One of the most overlooked aspects in off-road skid systems is the presence of gaps between skids, which can create vulnerable points where rocks and debris can catch. Our skids are meticulously designed to form a completely smooth, gap-free surface, preventing any point of contact that could get you stuck. This ensures your Bronco slides effortlessly over obstacles without the risk of hang-ups—letting you conquer the trail without hesitation. Looking for the oil drain hole? It's a removable, gapless, flush mounted access panel!
Steel | 6061-T6 | 7075-T6
the material throw down
Done watching "test videos" where a MFG calls the product "bulletproof" because a small caliber bounces off their skid?
We got creative and had some fun with a more analogous test. Spoiler alert: 7075-T6 really stands out.
Why Our Skid Plate System Stands Above the Rest
Our 7075-T6 is processed flat, and remains unwelded to retain its original strength. 7075 combined with the structural benefits of the zinc-plated steel bracketry, heavy duty crossmembers, and UHMW skid surfaces, give your Bronco a skid plate system that’s tougher, longer-lasting, and designed for serious rock crawlers who push their vehicles to the limit.
modular design for maximum coverage
Engine & Differential Skid
This engine/differential skid features a gap-free design to prevent hang-ups, with steel reinforcements along all edges, and a 1/4" UHMW surface to ensure durability and virtually frictionless performance!
This differential skid is fully compatible with the Bronco Raptor upgraded/larger differential!
Transmission Skid
We have watched a few folks discover this first hand: any damage to the oil pans of your engine or transmission can leave you stranded on the trail, waiting for help. This transmission skid features a gap-free design to prevent hang-ups, with steel reinforcements along all edges, and a 1/4" UHMW surface to ensure durability and frictionless performance to get you home at the end of the day!
Transfer Case Skid
Built to absorb impacts, the Transfer Case skid offers superior strength with no gaps where it meets the engine & transmission skid in addition to the fuel tank skid, so rocks won’t find a place to lodge themselves. While the transfer case itself has no oil pan, its cast aluminum casing is something we have seen fail if left exposed to rocks, and even fail when steel skids beneath have collapsed and rubbed through the casing over time. A working transfer case is required for 4 low, 4 high, and even proper 2wd power transmission to your axles.
3 Piece Design
Fuel Tank Skid
You won’t get very far without fuel, and it’s never a fun mess to clean up if you do manage to spring a leak in your fuel tank. Our Three-piece Fuel Tank skid provides smooth, continuous protection for your fuel system, making installation easier without compromising on full, gap-free coverage. This skid meshes seamlessly with the transfer case and engine & transmission skids, and features the same steel reinforcements you’ll find across the rest of the skid system.
heavy duty steel
cross members
Backing up the belly of the beast, is a heavy duty 1/4" thick steel crossmember. This connects your front fuel tank skid, mid fuel tank skid, transfer case skid, and event ties into your frame's crossmember at the very center of the belly!
frame
mounting rails
Along the outside edge of the fuel tank, you'll find 3/16" thick steel mounting rails. These provide a strong cross section underneath your frame rails, and feature internal gussets for additional strength.
These ultimately are covered up by UHMW, and feature a 40 degree "boatside" slope on them to keep you moving along on the trail.
Key Benefits
- Seamless, Smooth Protection: The gap-free design prevents rocks or debris from catching on the skids, giving you uninterrupted, frictionless movement over rough terrain.
- Total Protection with Minimal Weight: The 7075 aluminum provides a high-strength, lightweight shield, preserving your Bronco’s agility on rocky trails and steep climbs.
- Zinc-Plated Steel Reinforcements: In critical impact areas, zinc-plated steel brackets provide extra strength, while ensuring corrosion resistance.
- Frictionless Performance with UHMW: The 1/4" UHMW wear surface helps distribute impacts and allows your Bronco to glide over obstacles, further reducing the risk of getting stuck.
- Reduced Wear On Drivetrain and Axles: By reducing friction and hang-ups, you also reduce the number of full-throttle attempts you might have needed with your previous skids to make the ‘breakover’ on obstacles. This means less wear and tear on your u-joints, CVs, axle shafts and drivetrain over time. Next time your spotter says “bump it”, this helps really make it count!
- Easily Make It Like-New: Ever need to clean up the bottom of your Bronco after years of tough trails? Just replace the UHMW and your skids will look like new!
why choose next venture?
At Next Venture Motorsports, we understand the demands of true off-road enthusiasts. From our early days of conception in the rocks of Southern Arizona, to product testing across the country and even Ultra 4 test vehicles, our product development team lives and breathes motorsports on the rocks.
Our 7000-Series Skid Plate System combines the latest materials and technologies—7075 aluminum, zinc-plated steel bracketry, and UHMW skid surfaces—to create a product that’s as durable as it is lightweight. Engineered to provide maximum protection in the most critical areas, this system is built to keep your Bronco’s undercarriage and drivetrain safe while you conquer any terrain.
Ready to Upgrade?
With our 7000-Series Skid Plate System, you’re not just getting a piece of armor; you’re investing in reliable, American Made, long-lasting protection for your vehicle. The combination of lightweight materials and corrosion resistance ensures your Bronco performs better and lasts longer, even in the harshest conditions.
Order Now and Get Ready For Your Next Adventure!
The 7000-Series Skid Plate System is available now! Equip your Bronco with the ultimate in strength, corrosion resistance, and off-road performance. Place your order today and hit the trails with confidence!
introducing the 7000-series (JL spotlight)
done in house
made in usa
We make these in house. That means Developed, laser cut, cnc formed, welded, packaged & shipped from our facility in grand junction, colorado.
bronco belly skid FAQs
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.
A majority of the Bronco's we have seen come WITH these braces!
- There's some assembly required, as these are "flat pack" items on delivery. Plan 60-90 minutes to assemble the pieces before you begin installation.
- Make sure you have basic hand tools including allen keys/sockets!
- Drive until your fuel tank is nearly empty! Removal of the factory fuel tank skid is required for installation.
These skids essentially ship as "flat packed" items, and require about 60-90 minutes of assembly before they're ready to bolt up. Installation is typically quoted as 5-7 hours of labor on a lift. If you're doing this in your garage, we would give yourself the weekend, and a 2nd set of hands may be helpful.
Basic hand tools are a must. Sockets, wrenches and allen keys will do it, however allen sockets will speed up the process. A pair of ratchet straps is useful in order to properly drop the factory fuel tank skid without removing the fuel tank from the vehicle.
Nearly every bolt is countersunk/recessed, and the threaded inserts are twist-resistant "hex" rivet nuts into hex cutouts.
No, however we do suggest cycling your suspension and testing your bump stops each time you make a change to the configuration of your vehicle.
In most cases, we don't see interference issues. If you are running an APG Pro-Runner style suspension, some modification may be required. If you're unsure of compatibility, please give us a call so we can help!
Yes. This is not optional. Many systems might keep the factory fuel tank skid, but we are after weight savings and increased belly clearance. The fuel tank stays in the vehicle during this process. Just remember to prep for installation by driving until you see the "E" light come on!
Every time you modify your vehicle, you are going to effect it's weight and performance. In the nearly 5 years we have been producing skids for the JL platform we have not seen skids cause an overheating issue. There's a reason aluminum is commonly used to make heat sinks - as it's a good thermal conductor and will actually help to dissipate heat in addition to keeping things lighter vs full steel skids.
Factory sliders, and aftermarket sliders that are body mounted (factory style mounting) 100% work without modification. If you're looking for frame mounted sliders that are compatible, things can get tricky with overlapping mounts. Give us a call if you have questions on that. You can also check out our Bronco Rock Sliders for a slider that is 100% compatible without modifying the skids or sliders!
UHMW stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethelene. It's the 1/4" thick black cutting board like material that is included on these skids; it is more abrasion resistance than carbon steel, and it's 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.
The weight of the UHMW on the Bronco is about 28 lbs! It's pretty light weight!
In the 4 years we have offered replacement UHMW kits, we have had under 5 pieces of replacement UHMW for belly skids requested. This stuff lasts a long time!
In terms of strength, 3/16" thick 7075-T6 aluminum is stronger than 1/4" thick 6061-T6 aluminum. Here's a breakdown:
Yield Strength:
- 7075-T6: Around 73,000 psi
- 6061-T6: Around 40,000 psi
This means 7075-T6 has nearly twice the yield strength of 6061-T6, which is crucial for resisting permanent deformation under load.
Ultimate Tensile Strength: - 7075-T6: Around 83,000 psi
- 6061-T6: Around 45,000 psi
Again, 7075-T6 is significantly higher in ultimate tensile strength, indicating it can handle higher loads before failure.
Thickness Difference:
While 1/4" thick 6061-T6 is 33% thicker than 3/16" thick 7075-T6, the strength difference between the two alloys more than compensates for the slight thickness increase of 6061-T6.
In summary, even at a thinner thickness, 3/16" 7075-T6 aluminum outperforms 1/4" 6061-T6 in terms of both yield and tensile strength, making it better suited for applications requiring high strength and durability.
will this fit my bronco "sport"?
This system will not fit Bronco "Sport" vehicles -- as it's an entirely different platform.
This will fit 2021+ Bronco Full Size Models Including the Bronco Raptor.
uhmw faq
will the uhmw hardware damage the fuel tank?
No: The UHMW panels are secured to the 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!