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.
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. It's the 3/8" thick black cutting board like material that can be optioned onto these skids; it is more abrasion resistant than carbon steel, and it's fairly lightweight. 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. JLU 3.0 EcoDiesel UHMW kits weigh in at 29 lbs.
Additional Details
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 get the best product we can produce and 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.