Tom keep in mind that we replaced the OEM front skid plate and cross member so the Kilby's aren't a direct weight add - maybe more like 100-125 lbs.
ROFL - That crossmember & front skid combined weigh 7 lbs max. Yer still talkin 143 lbs of added weight.
Again, I'm not dissing Kilby or any of you that bought the skids. I think they're great. If it weren't for my diff drops, I woulda considered it. I've been hung up on a diff before & completely crushed my oil pan before (neither on the VX thank goodness).
However, I just can't wrap my mind around 150 lbs of skids & another 100 lbs of winch that'll never be used. Get them to use them ... not for show.
Still don't see how it's that big a deal - you add that much weight by adding a single passenger and the VX doesn't cough up blood. And the rated max load weight is way higher than 150-200 lbs. I never noticed a significant performance difference after I added them.
It's not. I'm just playing 'devil's advocate'.
How difficult is it when you have to get your vx maintained?
VX KAT
....the adventure BEGINS ANEW! ...2015......
Remember that life is not measured in the breaths you take, but rather in the moments that take your breath away.
My mechanic had to remove the skids on my old VX a couple times to do repairs / diagnostics, and he said it wasn't a big deal if you have the right tools.
The countersunk bolts require a square bit, not sure what you call it exactly, but it's not something your average Joe might have in his tool box. The other issue is that the middle plate is REALLY heavy so it helps immensely if you have another person to hold the plate up while you turn the bolts (ask Tom).
After having a skid plate drop on my chest, I found a larger style floor jack makes the install/uninstall very easy if you get the jack centered on the plate.
I'm tempted to take some pics of my skid plates... I could see some definite scrap-age in several places after my 2009 Moab trip. I really got the skid plate to protect the low hanging transfer case, its the last thing you need to smash across a rock while on a 4x4 trail.