Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installation QUESTION

[SupermanWV]

I have a small question about the gas tank skid (MOPAR) I just bought. I noticed that on the gas tank (plastic) on the side where the muffler is, there is a heat shield held on with a nut threaded on a bolt (plastic molded to the tank I think), does that piece remain on there when I install the skid...and will the nut and bold piece affect how the skid fits?

Just a quick question as I want to try and install these over the weekend.

Thanks

Clark

 

[Signcutter21]

Clark, it's been a while since i've had the skid off and dont recall a bolt. So if it was there, i dont think it would cause a problem. I dropped the skid to spray it and reinstalled it with my RL bumper. No real problems putting it back on other than being a bit heavy and awkward, mainly due to the bumper. If you have a set of spare hands that's helpful or use a floor jack to help keep it in place. I remember the only real "problem" was the back mounting bolt on the pass. side. The exaust was partially in the way for getting the socket on. Use a prybar or something to push it over a little. Hope that helps. I'll be installing my new Kilby gas skid next week too.

later,
mike

 

[JeepJeepster]

I did not take anything off to install the mopar skid.

 

[Signcutter21]

Pulled stock hitch to put Mopar gas skid on, then pulled both to put RL bumper on.

 

[SupermanWV]

O.K. So I got all the skids on...but I have one more question about the fuel tank skid.

On the rear of the tank (side towards the rear axle) I noticed that on mine the tank and skid plate are only about 3/16ths of an inch apart. Will this evenutually move enough that it will rub the tank and possibly cause a leak? Cause the edge of the skid is sharp. Or since it is bolted down, will it remain that distance from it?

Could someone check the distance between their tank and skid plate on the side facing the rear axle and let me know how far apart theirs are?

I hate to take it back off just to bend the skid out some so it is further away from the tank. It seems the same distance all the way across the rear of the tank. And I pushed the skid all the way back before bolting it down.

OH..and I have a trailer hitch also that is bolted down with it. If that would hold it in place any better.

Thanks for any info you can give... Pics would be good too, if you can get a camera in there to take pics.

Clark (SupermanWV)

 

[tjkj2002]

O.K. So I got all the skids on...but I have one more question about the fuel tank skid.

On the rear of the tank (side towards the rear axle) I noticed that on mine the tank and skid plate are only about 3/16ths of an inch apart. Will this evenutually move enough that it will rub the tank and possibly cause a leak? Cause the edge of the skid is sharp. Or since it is bolted down, will it remain that distance from it?

Could someone check the distance between their tank and skid plate on the side facing the rear axle and let me know how far apart theirs are?

I hate to take it back off just to bend the skid out some so it is further away from the tank. It seems the same distance all the way across the rear of the tank. And I pushed the skid all the way back before bolting it down.

OH..and I have a trailer hitch also that is bolted down with it. If that would hold it in place any better.

Thanks for any info you can give... Pics would be good too, if you can get a camera in there to take pics.

Clark (SupermanWV)

What year of KJ do you have? If I remember '05+ KJ's got the 20.5 gallon gas tank while the older models got 19.5 gallon(and the '02's get a 18.5 gallon tank).The skid was originally made to fit over a 19.5/18.5 gallon tanks with more then enough room around it and the gas tank,it's a little closer with the larger 20.5 tanks.I wouldn't worry about it as long as you torqued the bolts down correctly.Our gas tanks are pretty tough,and rather thick plastic also.

 

[SupermanWV]

Thanks tjkj2002,

I have a 2007 Liberty Sport 4x4.

I've been worrying about it all day. Just about everytime I stopped somewhere I felt back there to see if it was rubbing. And let me tell you, crawling under there every time I stopped was not fun (its more fun when installing new parts ). I would hate to mess up my tank and have to replace it.

I torqued the bolts for the trailer hitch/skid to 70 pounds per square inch. Does that sound right.

So it should be tight enough to hold it in place. I'm just hoping that if I offroad and bang the skid it doesn't then touch/slice/whatever the tank.

How thick is the plastic these tanks are made of?

Clark