Critical Upgrade Every Off-Roader Needs
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- If you enjoy taking your Jeep Wrangler out on some challenging trails, the one thing you need to really consider is upgrading the under armor. In this video we install the full aluminum belly pan skid under armor system from Artec on my Jeep Wrangler 392, plus upgrade to some new fender liners and even upgrade my wife's Jeep Wrangler JL 2 door.
Artec Skid Plates: artecindustries.com/collectio...
Track Mat: amzn.to/3MijE7u
Jeep Ramps: amzn.to/3BAacYb
RivNut Tool: amzn.to/42T6vsU
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I love me Artec skids. I was able to do them on my own. Luckily my belly was the perfect height for the fuel tank skids 😂😂 one of the few times having a gut has come in handy.
Don't forget to put some touch up paint on areas you're drilling through metal on your truck, especially wheel wells where there's a ton of water!
That belly armor is a work of art and I’m glad the 392 is back in business.
Beautiful
Man I hope 🤞 to get myself a 392 someday
Those skids look great! Glad to see the 392 back together.
BTW, Northridge 4x4 has those fender clips for under $1..
Looks great guys! We'll done. Tks Regina for running to the rescue as well! 😁
Ever since I started to watch TrailRecon about 2 months ago, I purchased my first jku! While being Active Army still have time to put in the work on building my Jeep! Keep up with the content
My observations are that your videos are geared to ultra wealthy glampers. From your rigs, campers, accessories on and on and on. If a guy wants to get to where you and your friends are out hundreds of thousands of dollars are required. Just your Jeep alone is out of reach to all but the 1 or 2 percent of guys and gals lucky enough to have this kind of expendable income. How about something for the rest of us?
I swear ratchet straps are the duct tape of the shade tree mechanic’s tradecraft! Looks like a solid kit and something I’ve strongly considered for my JK, great vid thanks Brad!
Oh ya, I always have ratchet straps in the garage and with me on the trail.
I would agree with yeah on that.
Those are the most beautiful skid plates I've ever seen!!!!!
Quick tip from someone who does a lot of unfitting (fleet mechanic for lacounty fire). Get a paint pen, and when you drill a hole, run the paint pen around it real quick, or get a bottle of pinchweld primer and do the same. Anything to give a little barrier. Rust is always looking for bare metal to use as an entry point, and I know you like to keep your stuff in top shape, and the jk and 392 are going to be around forever. Love the channel
Nice upgrade. Good quality, too.
I can't wait to hear about the transfer case upgrade.
Brad, I love my Artec armor (LCA skids, belly skids, front and rear bumper) on my Taco. Great company to work with. Very unique designs.
Awesome as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
I'm with you on exhaust tips - they give a finished look in my opinion. Looks nice and look forward to your experience with changing the transfer case oil to see if that makes a difference in longevity.
Your video's have alot of good info, they are really helpful. I like that skid.
Thank you!
That new body armor sure does look sexy lol I'm happy you got you're 392 back!
Functional and beautiful looking skid plates! Very clever use of countersink bolts, where appropriate, for a smooth surface that should resist catching on rocks. It appears there are removable covers to allow access to engine oil drain plug. Very thorough.
I just added the Rusty’s skid plates to my 392. It’s a steel system and is heavy duty for sure. Went back and fourth on steel vs aluminum. I like how steel slides over rocks, BUT I did add a ton of weight that’s for sure. Glad you got your 392 back in the garage Brad. 👍🏻
Beautiful skid under plate. Nice fitment 🤙😎
I love that you’re back in the garage working( recording the work) once in a while.
I think they did really good with the Magnaflow exhaust skid plates. Good looks and protection.
Awesome installation 👍🏻
Good stuff, Brad. I have the Artec belly armor on my 22 JLR and it is ‘craftmanship’ quality. The flush countersink bolt detail is one example. I like how it only adds 16lbs due to all the OEM steel stuff you remove.
Artec is great. had mine for about a year now and its done its job and kept the weight down
Very nice. Great hardware and tutorial. 🤘🤘
No money shots of the completed 392 with those shiny new fender liners? Sigh. I'm crying in my beer man.
Great video Brad. I enjoy the upgrade videos
Awesome product! Now let’s see you put it to use and do some challenging trails!
That looks like a solid kit! Hope the 392 keeps working for you. Great vid to enjoy my morning coffee to!
Thank you, I'm very thankful to have this extra protection! Enjoy that morning coffee!
Great video lots to teach!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Tech tip for @trailrecon or any other do it yourself people: Drilling holes in the vehicle, wrap the drill bit with a little tape about 1/4”-1/2” back from the tip will help from over drilling into something behind the new hole. The tape acts as a stop to protect going too deep when it drills through. 👍🏻❤️🇺🇸
Another great video Brad! I love the music during the skid plate install on your wife's yellow Jeep!
Sounds and looks great !
Thank you for sharing
🏆🙏🇺🇲🤗
I forgot that the JL Tazer had a 2wd setting for the 392. I would still swap it for a conventional transfer case. Clutches are for the street, lol.
Nice armor work and the quad exhausts give it some attitude. Aluminum is easier to puncture than steel but the weight savings will be better for your kind of wheeling.
I've had Artec aluminum skids plates in my 2018 JLU since they came out and LOVE them! Best skidplate system ever. Thanks Brad for a great video and Thank You Chris for an amazing product!!!
We’re glad you enjoy them. Thanks for being an early supporter.
@@ArtecIndustries
I asked this in the general comments too, why 6061 vs 7075 aluminum?
@@J.Young808 its a tougher grade for skids. You'll notice the only company that seems to offer Jeep skids in 7075 also offers them in 6061 and says "We offer this same skid plate in a tougher grade, 6061-T6". We just offer in 6061, and use the 7075 for other items such as links and high steer arms. Thanks!!!!
Excellent install I need a Chris as well for my JKU
Great video! I’m really excited to see how those skids perform. Hopefully you put them through the wringer :)
Fender for my ‘04 Tacoma were $9 each.
Nice addition
Nice skids 👍👍
Man this is AMAZING! Wish they were more mainstream that way more vehicles could have access to things like this. I feel like any vehicle would benefit from this 2wd or awd.
Yes. When I’m drunk driving, I find all sorts of stuff stuck underneath. Children’s shoes and scooters… fence posts…. Parts of grave markers.
Love my Artec skids on my JT Rubicon. My 2nd favorite mod behind my StepSlide's (because no old guys need to jump up into a Jeep when they can just step in.)
We agree step sides are good for the body. The piece of mind you get from full protection bellypan skids though is good for the…mind. ;)
Hopefully somebody will make some heavy duty clutch packs for that 392. Years ago I ran into that with 91' mustang GT that had a simular problem the AOT trans was weak. Was able to put heavy duty Lincoln clutch packs, and more of them with a bigger drum to hold them. Nevery had a problem again, I used to take that Mustang up to Willow springs and road race with it. That trans was bullet proof after that. I miss that car! But I now have a gladiator.
Wow, awesome job! You did all that work in one day? ❤
Great video. FYI you can use needle nose plyers to take those fender clips off and prevent breaking them! Looks like a solid quality product! thanks!
I love my Artec skid on my JT Eco-Diesel. Best investment ever in the skid plates..
Great to hear, I'm excited to see how these hold up on the trails.
Thanks for your business. We get that sentiment all the time. You wouldn’t think it is the best investment for your vehicle, but once you do it, you know.
Its pretty annoying that Jeep opted to go with a clutch pack instead of a Viscous Coupler for the transfer case. The skid plate kit looks really well made.
Superb video! These aluminum skid plates are a fabulous idea. I've long wondered why the new vehicle manufacturers don't install aluminum skid plates as original equipment or at least as a factory (or dealer) installed option. I think the stock Jeep skid plates, although better than nothing, are a bit weak. The weight savings of going over to aluminum is also a wonderful benefit. Great job! You mentioned "Escondido." For about two years in the 1980's I lived at 16607 Highland Valley Road with a Ramona address. Used to drive into Escondido quite often for meals. Actually, I started working on my Pearl Harbor research at 16607 Highland Valley Road. I'm one who needs absolute solitude to enable me to concentrate. Just noticed for the first time today you were a Master Chief hospital corpsman. Congratulations for that, Master Chief! Best wishes to you and your family. (40 years ago this October I began working on my Pearl Harbor project. Inasmuch as I turned 75 on 26 March, I plan to get my first book done before the end of this year. It's title will be CLOSING THE LOOP ON PEARL HARBOR unless the publisher, hopefully the USNI in Annapolis, demands a different title.) I'll love the Navy right up to the moment of my last breath. Go Navy! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii.
Oorah! and best of luck on your upcoming book!
I have the full kit from Artec wating to be put on my Gladiator Ecodiesel. Bless to also have a lift to do it on. That last bolt im not putting on. don't want to drill it.
I highly recommend to change the oil sooner on the transfer case and diffs. Redline Oil is a must! 40% Ester base takes the temps.
nice install. Besides the power the exhaust on a 392 are what makes it a 392. Let people complain all they want Brad. After all that isn't noise that's pure music!
Looks great 👍...
Great video, we love you channel here!
Pretty nice man!
Need some advice, I have the 2018 JL 2-door Sport. I was thinking of upgrading to the 2024 2door. Would the Willy be the best option without breaking the bank? I live in Fl so no rock climbing 😂
Wish you could have spent more time on the 2 door, there are many more of us that have a 2 door than a 392. We all new that transfer case was not going to hold up. With all that protection around the transfer case you will need to watch the heat. They said change the fluid every 12,000 miles, Brad check it at 6,000, and give us an update. Thanks again and I hope you two had a great time in Arizona. Sledge
The yellow looks great ! I like more then the red one!💪👍
392 kit looks a good well engineered bit of kit, and necessary as so many low hanging parts, might even give slightly better fuel economy as virtually no turbulance under there. I'd probably fit some patches of heat resistant foam under the exhaust pipes so they don't ever have a chance to knock - I did that on a Freelander 2 bash plate I installed a few years ago, it worked a treat. On the Defender, there is no point as everything is well up out of the way, never hit the LT230 ever even lumpy rock lanes don't get up that high!
Remember to regularly regrease the stainless into aluminium bolts, they will seize in there if not.
Great to have friends
Honestly if i had the money i would love to do something like this but with the idea of weight reduction. See what you could replace with aluminum, titanium, even carbon fiber
Both jeeps look incredible brad
Awesome cool build
Thank you, its coming along.
Glad you're not giving up on the 392
It's looking great! Can't wait to see Regena's after yall upgrade it. It's gonna be an off road beast!
Oh yeah! We're excited about the changes and looking forward to seeing Regena hit some more challenging trails.
Looks awesome, wish they made ZJ armor. He even had a XJ shirt on so hopefully armor for misfit Jeeps?
I think 🤔 powder coating the exhaust skid plate would look really nice 👍 but it looks good in the aluminum
This is an option but you’re going to scratch it and beat it up. That’s the point so leaving it bare won’t show as bad as chipped powdercoat.
Now all you need now is diff skid plates like Lite Brite has on the Step Child
For the clip issue- If you can get behind them you can use a socket and slide it over them squeezing it to where they come out without breaking them. I think it's either a 7 or 8 MM socket.
Can't beat Artec Industries. I have their full belly pan on my 2021 JL Diesel. These skid plates also don't stick on the rocks because of the type of aluminum they use.
the front inner fender liners are great unless your duel air compresser in mounted in your wheel well. have do rework the driver side panel to fit.
That's always the challenge with making multiple modifications, you have to figure out how to met them work together.
It’s good to know plastic clips will break whether they’re new or old.
Graaaande!
Im curious what the temps around that transfer case are going to be now that the full skids are installed. Hopefully it doesnt cook that new tcase?
Its great to see it installed on the ground because many people might think this is not something that is garage-friendly but its really is. I had access to a lift which made this easy to do solo, but Artec's time in the design of this key to that happening. A big bonus is the consideration of complementary modifications is what makes their newest offering even better, albeit I'm a little biased ;)
Looks great, now it's time to scratch and ding it all up!
Brad I think the reason you burned up the transfer case is due to not re-gearing. Jeep designed the t-case to manage/limit the torque from the 392 so that you won’t destroy the axles. However with running a larger tire plus towing on and off-roading your putting a lot of strain on the t-case. Re-gearing would put a lot of the mechanical load back on the axle vs your drive line.
Great job 👏🏻 I hope you saved that sand from the skid plate in a jar😅
I'm so confused about the transfer case on the 392. Do they have the option for a more traditional tough transfer case vs the all wheel drive version that is giving you the trouble?
The one thing to consider about aluminum is that is does not slide across rocks as well as steel. How much of a difference I'm not sure.
I like how smooth it looks underneath. Maybe it will help with mpg's 😂.
LOL! The 392 needs all help it can get with fuel economy!
@@TrailRecon I'm sure she is thirsty brute.
I wandered around Overland expo today but never stumbled upon y'all. Bummer. Eventually our paths will cross .
Sorry we missed you, we were walking around a lot and got to meet so many great folks.
What’s the overall weight change for the 392 with this skid system? I’m curious as I’m about to do it.
That's awesome, I have the metalcloak skid plates and tested out in moab and I'm glad i did it cause i hit every rocks there. Are you running 35" or 37"s. I want bigger tires .
In California it probably doesn't matter, but elsewhere beware of galvanic corrosion between the stainless steel bolts and the aluminum. SS will corrode the aluminum more that carbon steel will since they are farther apart on the chart. Also, don't install fine threaded bolts (the countersunk screws) without Neverseize on them. You will not get them out after one winter (again, not so much a problem in Ca). SS is softer than carbon steel and the hex hole will strip out too easy without Neverseize on the threads.
I have the Magnaflow #19598 exhaust system on my 392, love it. With new exhaust you do gain clearance at rear due to smaller muffler design vs. factory muffler. How is the ground clearance after installing aluminum muffler guard? Looks like what's gained in clearance is lost with muffler guard? But muffler is protected.
Brad, can you do a 392 maintenance series? I cannot find too much out there.
Very nice skid kits well engineered. But now my 2 cents on the 392 transfer case. Why, why, why would the engineers at Jeep come up with a transfer case that fails so quickly? We all know you don’t beat on your vehicles Brad. Glad you shared and exposed what happened with your 392 on the trail. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel... Clutch packs in a transfer case... and now they want you to change the fluid more often. Seems to me Jeep owes you a new redesigned transfer case as I’m sure this problem has only just begun to show up with 392 owners. This will be something to follow as time goes on.
Curious how much heat retention all this adds to the underside of the rig. Can you monitor tranny and t-case temps?
Looks great Brad! I haven’t upgraded the exhaust on the 392 yet, but I can imagine the protection for the stock exhaust is similar, correct? Folks from Jack Powell helped me out last week. I lost the wheel lock to my 392 on the trail and they are one of the only dealerships in San Diego that has the master key! Didn’t charge me a dime! Thanks for all you do, Jim from Temecula
The rear muffler skid is quite different for the stock 392 exhaust but we’ve got that too.
Hopefully soon we will be able to swap in the standard rubicon transfer case.
Fingers crossed!
@@TrailRecon I may just go with an atlas unit.
I wonder what the Transfer case fluid looked like upon changing. I realize that all it takes is one OverTemp to scorch the oil and ruin viscosity, but is the grade of oil enough for his "light-ish" load. It sure didn't seem he was abusing the T-Case.
One other thought - Change the Diff fluid also because if the T-case was scorched, the Diff took the same.
Does drilling holes void warranty?
Awesome as usual.
We went diesel instead of the 392.
Also, after a close call to a major disaster with ramps sliding, my son came up with the idea of cutting up some old rubber floor mats and making a footprint for the ramps. No more sliding.
Good idea!
Great video as always, I could use at least one/day but I get it if you have a family and a life etc lol.
I am curious if you undercoat your Jeep? I don't think it's as necessary where you are but here in the midwest it's a must. I'm curious about the best methods/products.
Thanks and keep up the outstanding work!
What made you trade the Diesel? I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out which jeep I want to pick up next
I’m seriously skeptical of the long term durability for any east coasters. 6061-T6 has about as good of corrosion resistance as you’ll get out of a high strength aluminum alloy, but I would never want to put it service without additional protection where road salt spray is expected.
I’ve never been that far west but I’m guessing California should be more forgiving, but anyone thinking about this definitely don’t put it on and forget about it, make sure you keep an eye out for corrosion (Brad, you’re tinkering on your Jeep so often you’ll be fine lol).
We get it, being based in Salt Lake City, we know a bit about salted roads in the winter. We’ve been selling these kits to hundreds of rust belt customers for over a decade. In these areas of the country, just like you’d do for your vehicle anyways, it’s important to regularly clean and maintain your vehicles underside. If anything, this will improve blocking corrosive salt from reaching your vehicle’s other components by being such a comprehensive shield. As far as the aluminum itself, you can coat it if you’d like, but you can also scrub off the white corrosion that can form. As we said though, we have thousands of happy customers all over the country and this is never brought up upon real world use.
Those look like they would cost an arm and a leg... how about a price breakdown?
Great video. Do you know if their standard full set of JLU plates fit the 4xe? Or do they not support the 4xe yet? Thx
Thank you! I think its something they will be working on.
Question for Chris
What is the reason you folks used 6061 vs 7075 aluminum?
I have two problems with aluminum. 1 you can dent it really badly real quick aluminumdoes not like to bend back in to place. 2 will not be smoth for long plus you scrap off material on rocks
Love me some aluminum because it’s light. But is it the right choice for a skid plate? Seems pretty weak for something designed to take abuse.