JLU Diesel Aluminum Belly Skids
Now available for the JT Gladiator EcoDiesel here! Looking for our JLU gas belly skids? Click here.
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.
Product Details
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.
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!
jl/jt belly skid FAQs
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.
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.
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!
Additional Details
The skids shown in some images are pre-production units; production units shipping now have countersunk bolts that mount flush on the bottom-most surface of the skids.
*If you completed an engine swap on your JLU, please contact us before ordering so we can get everything right! We are working on JL 2 Door models, however don't have them yet. Keep an eye out for an update on our website for those soon!*
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!
Customer Reviews
Based on 9 reviews
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B
Took me about 3/4 of day to install. The only challenging part was removing the stock fuel tank skid but leaving the fuel tank in place. I only drained it to about an 1/8th of a tank. Lesson to learn here is that having it on "E" is important (which the instructions and video mention several times) I also just used straps, no coat hanger. I got the straps in by using a "sawing" type technique from the front of the tank to get them in place. If you watch NV's install video, you'll get the idea.
Fitment was spot on. The plates and brackets look great. I did have one skid plate that arrived without the screw holes counter sunk, but NV sent me out a new plate. Packaging was done well, everything arrived in good shape. Access to the fuel filter works well, I have already done a fuel filter change with the skid plates installed.
Great company, great people, and great products.
K
Super happy with my choice to go with Next Venture skid plates. After install I went on the toughest trails I’ve been on to date and needed the protection they offered. Held up to the abuse no problem.
W
I loved the look of the NV skids and have had experience with UHMW on my Razor skids and that stuff is awesome. They were on my wishlist for quite some time and they went on sale so I pulled the trigger. They are not easy to install by yourself, highly recommend having a friend over when it comes to installing the fuel tank skid and do it with an empty tank. I had to modify the rear skid to accommodate my DEF tank 5” lift and it turned out awesome. I mounted two ViAir compressors in place of the second muffler to the DEF tank skid.
I am an overlander and pull an overland camp trailer and we went on a trip where there was a water crossing about 3’ deep and here is where my NV skids saved my day. There was a boulder about 2’ x 3’ that I encountered and when I hit it, it rolled the rock up on end when the front diff hit it and it smashed my engine skid all the way against the oil pan and that rock rolled all the way down my skids and out the back. What a ride! Then the trailer hit it and smashed my fresh water tank. It pretty much destroyed my engine skid, but I drove out the other side and there was no other damage to my Jeep! I cried seeing my beautiful skid plate all smashed up, but that is why I bought them, for the best protection out there and a smooth surface for rocks to side on. Thanks NV for saving my Jeep and keeping us on our adventure!
R
The quality is outstanding, and the fitment more so. Highly recommend to anyone looking for lightweight full underbody protection.
R
Well worth the wait due to unparalleled design and quality. I ordered with with the UHWM and glad I did. Super slick and not that heavy. Install was straight forward as I made sure fuel tank was near empty and used the temporary straps as recommended. Shipping was expensive but worth it as they use foam in place molded to each box (4 total) and there was not even a scratch on the product. You won't be disappointed!
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.
what our customers are saying
★★★★★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
