KK skid plates?

[WheelNut]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at buying '08 Liberty KK Sport and I'm wondering about skid plates for it. There was no engine skid installed on KKs from the factory, correct? I see in the 2008 brochure that were was a skid plate group option which also included front recovery hooks. It seems to me that this is quite a rare option since I haven't seen recovery hooks on more than one KK for sale listing so far. How difficult is it to source a factory engine skid plate? I've checked Ebay, car-part.com and a general google search and it seems to me that there isn't much available. There are some aftermarket options, but I'd much rather pay $100 for a used skid than $400+ for a new one (plus shipping to Canada!). I'm assuming a KJ engine skid will not fit? Any tips or advice?
How hard would it be to make a skid from plate stock steel (I can do the CAD work for 2d water jet cutting easy enough).

 

[kiwi_outdoors]

Buy them, new or used. I bought the transfer case skid plate for my 2008 Libby. My 2011 Libby came with a full set of skid plates and the front tow hooks. The down side is that I have to remove the driver's side headlight (and the front grill) in order to change the oil filter. Its not as bad as it sounds. The OEM skid plate under the engine has the opening for the oil filter drain trough to drop filter oil into your catch basin (pan). Your fuel tank already has a skid plate. On two separate occasions the captive nuts inside a crossmember stripped out - these nuts hold the ends of two skid plate bolts. So I had to install Rivetnuts after cleaning up the area inside the crossmember. And remmber that installing skid plates blocks access to the auto ****** drain pan (for service).

This is the great tool for self-installing rivetnuts: https://www.amazon.com/TOLRET-Mandr..._tag=se&keywords=TOLRET&qid=1736187875&sr=8-1

 

[WheelNut]

Kiwi, why do you have to remove your bumper to get the oil filter? Sorry, I don't follow.

I've been doing more searching and found that the engine skid listed in KK parts manual is cross references with the KJ skid, which is great! Should be easier to find a used OEM part then at a wrecker or just from someone local parting out a KJ or KK.

I'm not really desperate to get the other skids just yet. That under engine skid seems like the #1 necessity since the front diff is so low and I sure put that skid to use on my KJ!

 

[lfhoward]

Skids come up every once in a while on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, and EBay. You can also try your local wrecking yard. Look for the “Renegade” trim package because they almost all came with skid plates and tow hooks. The gas tank skids will be rusted to nothing, but the others (engine, transmission, transfer case) will be fine. You may even find the elusive radiator skid that bolts to the front of the engine skid.