Skid plate or tank shield

Hamid · 08-04-2012, 05:21 PM

My 2000 XJ has nothing shield or skid installed under the fuel tank.
I looked at Mitchell collision guide found 2 P/N's

52100328AA skid plate
52100338AA Tank shield

with no telling what year does both fit ( it is in Cherokee 97-1 section ).

I would appreciate if someone has gone through such thing can explain this to me. Thanks.

**CJ7-Tim** · 08-04-2012, 05:28 PM

Most 1997-2001 XJ Cherokee parts interchange. 52100328AA skid plate is the steel skid plate (#8). 52100338AA Tank shield is a small metal exhaust heat shield (#5).

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**dagr8tim** · 08-04-2012, 06:32 PM

Skid plates are fairly cheap. You'll just need to establish if you need the sill plate renforcements (nutstrips; #10 in the above graphic).

rugsucka · 08-04-2012, 11:29 PM

You can also modify an early XJ skid plate to fit your model as well. I'm using one now. It's taken a beating over the years and I've had to reinforce it more than once for damage and rust due to the age - I think mine is off a '92. It's not terribly strong, but I can't imagine that my gas tank would have survived very long with out it.

I will fab a home brew (like most of my other junk) skid plate at some point when this one finally dies. The last time I fixed it I used a couple pieces of my old rear bumper pounded flat since I didn't feel like using perfectly good metal from the new pile.

chainsofcontrol · 08-04-2012, 11:35 PM

No sense in buyin a new one if you search the junk yards around your area. You should go ahead and check your tank straps and bolts too see if you need some new ones.

**dagr8tim** · 08-05-2012, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chainsofcontrol

No sense in buyin a new one if you search the junk yards around your area. You should go ahead and check your tank straps and bolts too see if you need some new ones.

X2 I just googled the skid part number and saw what they were going for. You can get a JY skid for under $20. If you need the nut strips, they are under $30 with shipping new for a set.

Hamid · 08-06-2012, 03:05 AM

Thanks for you all, good info, I have the #5 installed ( the heat shield), but the skid plate is pretty heavy, I don't know what the secret behind that weight, they could make it thinner and do the same job.
I know some of the XJ owners remove the skid plate(the heavy one) to help gain power in riding and climbing sand dunes.
I just want to know if it is really necessary to install one even I am not off roading much.

**Fury3** · 08-06-2012, 03:17 AM

My rig's a 2000 with the Upcountry package that include the skid. With the mix of terrain that I hit I really take comfort in that skid being there and it's got a few good gouges in it. If it weren't there I'd be worrying about poking a hole in the tank and really, who want's that?

**Kevin108** · 08-06-2012, 10:42 AM

Best way to go for the gas tank is to get a ZJ skid. It requires a couple holes to be elongated but it fits great.

**dagr8tim** · 08-06-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamid

Thanks for you all, good info, I have the #5 installed ( the heat shield), but the skid plate is pretty heavy, I don't know what the secret behind that weight, they could make it thinner and do the same job.
I know some of the XJ owners remove the skid plate(the heavy one) to help gain power in riding and climbing sand dunes.
I just want to know if it is really necessary to install one even I am not off roading much.

My factory skid is probably less than 10 to 15 pounds. In the grand scheme of things, that isn't a huge benefit to take it off.

One of the other reasons I like having the full skid plate is that if you get rear ended by somebody going at a pretty good clip, it could rupture the fuel tank. I figure between the skid plate and the receiver, my fuel tank is fairly well protected.