Tummy Tucker / Belly Up

3564 Views 18 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Red Dog Leader, Jan 3, 2011

WillRoar

Discussion Starter · Dec 18, 2010

I have a stock 2006 TJ Rubicon.

The OEM skid-plate (shovel) was the biggest problem on almost every trail run last year.
I'm a smooth & slow driver and I pick my lines well but I often find the rig needs a little more ground clearance and a smooth under carriage (skid-plate) for some of the more rocky obstacles.

Can someone help explain the differences between a Tummy Tucker and a Belly Up mod? It would be greatly appreciated.

At this point I am not really looking to lift it or add larger tires, but I am looking for a easy way to make my rig a little more trail capable.

Comments, recommendations or ideas are welcome.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

gregert12

· #2 · Dec 18, 2010

They are both the same. :wink:

I have the Rokmen's skid on my father's rubi and love it. There are other brands but make sure they have the ability to bolt the Rubicon's locker pumps to the skid plate or you will need to find a fancy way to mount them.

Here is the Rokmen product.
http://www.rokmen.com/tj_products/skid_plates/tj_belly_skid/tj_belly_skid.html

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'05TJLWBRUBY

· #3 · Dec 18, 2010

As mentioned, they are one in the same. If you remain stock, you should NOT need any other mods. IF you lift however, you'll need adjustable arms at minimum to dial out vibes perhaps... On my LJ, It's little extra length is enough that it wasn't effected by my lift or TT.

I would highly recommend holding out a bit longer for Savvy to release the Rubicon version of the new "underarmor". Blaine has a totally different design than anything else on the market, very unique and very good features in it. It's designed with a couple crossmember mounts and a full underbody ALUMINUM skid which can be removed for maintenance. Obvious benefits with the aluminum are light weight-I'll be pulling my Jeep Medic skids and replacing them with the underarmor from Savvy here when it becomes available. Currently finishing up some tranny mounts to fit and it should be ready before too long. Here's a link to the auto non-rubi version:

http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/product.sc?productId=56&categoryId=11

This will offer the most clearance of anything on the market, light weight and work great on your rig with no lift. Will work great on mine with a lift! :lildevil:

Best of Luck,

Mike

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gregert12

· #4 · Dec 18, 2010

Forgot to mention, when you install the tummy tuck skid, you will also need a body lift such as the JKS 1.25" or you will need to dimple the tub. For the body lift, instead of lowering the fan shroud, you can purchase a motor mount lift such as the Mountain Offroad Enterprises (MORE) 1" bompproof mount. Just watch how high you go on the tummy tucker as to needing a body lift or if denting the tub will work.

BLACK RUBI

· #5 · Dec 18, 2010

Sometimes adding an engine/transmission skid will reduce the "shovel effect" of the stock skid. Granted, it doesn't increase the ground clearance per se, but it does make it easier to slide over stuff.

JimmyB

· #6 · Dec 19, 2010

[quote='05TJLWBRUBY]As mentioned, they are one in the same. If you remain stock, you should NOT need any other mods. IF you lift however, you'll need adjustable arms at minimum to dial out vibes perhaps... On my LJ, It's little extra length is enough that it wasn't effected by my lift or TT.

I would highly recommend holding out a bit longer for Savvy to release the Rubicon version of the new "underarmor". Blaine has a totally different design than anything else on the market, very unique and very good features in it. It's designed with a couple crossmember mounts and a full underbody ALUMINUM skid which can be removed for maintenance. Obvious benefits with the aluminum are light weight-I'll be pulling my Jeep Medic skids and replacing them with the underarmor from Savvy here when it becomes available. Currently finishing up some tranny mounts to fit and it should be ready before too long. Here's a link to the auto non-rubi version:

http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/product.sc?productId=56&categoryId=11

This will offer the most clearance of anything on the market, light weight and work great on your rig with no lift. Will work great on mine with a lift! :lildevil:

Best of Luck,

Mike[/quote]

the clayton setup does the same thing with a seperate crossmember and skid....granted it's steel not aluminum. honestly the number one reason i went with the clayton skid is the seperate crossmember.

Red Dog Leader

· #7 · Dec 20, 2010

If there's one place I wouldn't be afraid to have a little extra weight it would be the belly. Gravity is friendly to strategically placed weight. :wink:

Cresso

· #8 · Dec 20, 2010

JimmyB said:
[quote='05TJLWBRUBY]As mentioned, they are one in the same. If you remain stock, you should NOT need any other mods. IF you lift however, you'll need adjustable arms at minimum to dial out vibes perhaps... On my LJ, It's little extra length is enough that it wasn't effected by my lift or TT.

I would highly recommend holding out a bit longer for Savvy to release the Rubicon version of the new "underarmor". Blaine has a totally different design than anything else on the market, very unique and very good features in it. It's designed with a couple crossmember mounts and a full underbody ALUMINUM skid which can be removed for maintenance. Obvious benefits with the aluminum are light weight-I'll be pulling my Jeep Medic skids and replacing them with the underarmor from Savvy here when it becomes available. Currently finishing up some tranny mounts to fit and it should be ready before too long. Here's a link to the auto non-rubi version:

http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/product.sc?productId=56&categoryId=11

This will offer the most clearance of anything on the market, light weight and work great on your rig with no lift. Will work great on mine with a lift! :lildevil:

Best of Luck,

Mike

the clayton setup does the same thing with a seperate crossmember and skid....granted it's steel not aluminum. honestly the number one reason i went with the clayton skid is the seperate crossmember.[/quote]

The T&T setup also uses a separate crossmember and skid. Steel and aluminum are both available.

Phillip

· #9 · Dec 20, 2010

Red Dog Leader said:
If there's one place I wouldn't be afraid to have a little extra weight it would be the belly. Gravity is friendly to strategically placed weight. :wink:

Gravity is only friendly when going down-hill. Every up-hill situation will be and is hindered by gravity.

1982cj7

· #10 · Dec 21, 2010

I put the Rough Country skid on mine, it is not as fancy as most of the above systems but it does gain 2" in the middle and both ends are angled to not hang up too bad, it is only 250.00 and it fit very well, I have a Rubicon and had to get their bracket for it, the compressor is not covered by the plate but it mounts over the bracket so should be safe. I put a 1" body lift and the MORE motor mounts in also, I do not think it would clear without the body lift.

Red Dog Leader

· #11 · Dec 21, 2010

1982cj7 said:
I put the Rough Country skid on mine, it is not as fancy as most of the above systems but it does gain 2" in the middle and both ends are angled to not hang up too bad, it is only 250.00 and it fit very well, I have a Rubicon and had to get their bracket for it, the compressor is not covered by the plate but it mounts over the bracket so should be safe. I put a 1" body lift and the MORE motor mounts in also, I do not think it would clear without the body lift.

The RC looks a lot like the Rokmen with exception to the slots cut in it. I'm not too keen on the slots as I'd rather keep debris out....a few drain holes are necessary, but it looks like that could lead to some potential problems. Although....it's always good to gain clearance so looks like a good option for a $250 budget. Nice find. Also...consider flipping your compressor bracket over and mounting it to the under side of the floor, which is right below the back of the driver's seat.

Here's a pic of my compressor bracket flipped and mounted...used some rubber grommets to avoid any vibration issues.

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tony.quinn

· #12 · Dec 21, 2010

Check out Matt Walton of Under Cover Fab. He builds skids in various heights (to accomodate body lift or not) in steel or aluminum. First rate guy, first rate product, and you cant beat the price.

Here's the link. http://www.undercoverfab.com/
You can read reviews and installs on Jeepforum.com

tsc

· #13 · Dec 25, 2010

Does anyone run the Nth Degree tummy tuck kit that was bought out by AEV anymore?

https://secure.aev-conversions.com/stor ... NTH14031AA

It isn't cheap at $529- but its very solid- I have mine from when Nth was still making them and you can drag dam near anything over it and not worry about it.

f9k9

· #14 · Dec 25, 2010

tsc said:
Does anyone run the Nth Degree tummy tuck kit that was bought out by AEV anymore?.......

I'm running one. Thirteen pages of instructions that have not been updated to explain design changes for the locker pumps. Thank gawd David had the original owner of Nth call me up and explain to me the changes.

Powder coating sucked. After the install I went to the car wash to get some of the anti seize off of it and before seeing a single rock, it flaked off at the car wash. Probably a bad batch but, that is how my luck runs.

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vandyatc

· #15 · Jan 1, 2011

2

tsc said:
Does anyone run the Nth Degree tummy tuck kit that was bought out by AEV anymore?

https://secure.aev-conversions.com/stor ... NTH14031AA

It isn't cheap at $529- but its very solid- I have mine from when Nth was still making them and you can drag dam near anything over it and not worry about it.

I've had the Nth one on for about 5 years and I love it. I don't have any body lift, nor do I plan on ever having a BL (it's a common discussion on here). It's stout, and tuck everything up nicer than anything else out there. That being said, if I did it again- I'd get the ROKMEN and still dimple with now BL.

Kind of an old picture...

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marco sciamanna

· #16 · Jan 3, 2011

I've had the NTH for about 5 years and love it, and yes the powdercoat does suck!

Red Dog Leader

· #17 · Jan 3, 2011

Sucky powder coat cure = rattle can. Especially on a skid plate. Isn't it going to get scratched anyway? (I would hope)

f9k9

· #18 · Jan 3, 2011

Red Dog Leader said:
Sucky powder coat cure = rattle can. Especially on a skid plate. Isn't it going to get scratched anyway? (I would hope)

True but, send it out in bare steel at a reduced price. I paid for the pc so, I could scrap it off, not have a car wash do it for me. I rattle canned mine right after I put the camera down.

Red Dog Leader

· #19 · Jan 3, 2011

f9k9 said:
reduced price

AEV? :laugh: :rotflmao:

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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