Undercover Fab Gas Skid Plate

[member13]

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I just received my Undercover Fab Works gas tank skid plate and the stock straps do not fit. Anyone else have this issue. I could weld in a section to make then longer but that will take extra work. I did test fit it in the TJ just to make sure it is seated correctly and it looks like it will fit ok.


Thanks

 

[JMT]

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I just received my Undercover Fab Works gas tank skid plate and the stock straps do not fit. Anyone else have this issue. I could weld in a section to make then longer but that will take extra work. I did test fit it in the TJ just to make sure it is seated correctly and it looks like it will fit ok.


Thanks

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You probably made sure the gas tank was fully seated in the skid. If so, can you add a barrel nut to extend?

 

[macleanflood]

I had a similar issue after I chopped an inch off my stock skid plate. I just welded on longer bolts.

-Mac

 

[rasband]

Your gas tank is not seated entirely into the skid's tight fit.

 

[Tob]

Your gas tank is not seated entirely into the skid's tight fit.

“Hit it with your purse!”

 

[member13]

Thanks for the reply’s. I did wrap a ratchet strap around and no change. There is at least a 1/4 of inch of space between the tank and skid on each side. But can not tell if the center section of the tank, which is raised, is bottomed out. It is a 97 so it could have slightly different parts. Thanks

 

[macleanflood]

My 97 tank doesn't look any different than the 99 or 2000 tanks I've seen and handled. But it's almost 30 years old plastic...so yeah.

Might want to leave it in the hot sun...vented so it doesn't swell up...and see if you can get it to be more malleable.

I've also put mine in the straps...it looked tight...then jacked it up under the Jeep and discovered the straps were loose. Easy enough to tighten after the fact.

-Mac

 

[Camdenst]

I can't remember for sure, but I Vaguely remember having to gently stand on mine to get it seat properly.

 

[BlueC]

“Hit it with your purse!”

 

[MountaineerTom]

If the inside edges of the skid where the tanks slides down into it are sharp, take a file and knock the edge off of it. It may slide in smoother and also not want to peel the plastic tank up.

Also, if there is a drain hole in the bottom of the skid, you might be able to see there if the tank is seated all the way down into it.

 

[Rut Row]

@member13 did you get this resolved?

This is a timely post. Today I tried to put my tank into my UCF Aluminum Gas Tank Skid. I have the same problem. I'm contacted UCF to get advise and am waiting on a call-back.

I cleaned my tank off and sprayed silicone on the tank and skid. I took a BFH and pounded the skid at the contact points which helped. However, the tank is still about 3/4" too high.

Having read the posts above, I'm now thinking about taking my heat gun and warming the tank (same as setting it in the sun) and traying again. I'm assuming that the tank distorting to slid into the skid isn't an issue.

 

[macleanflood]

I'd leave the tank in the hot sun before taking a heat gun too it.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

When I bought a savvy GTS it came with a tank, I took it out and tried putting my 97 tank in and there was no chance it was fitting. Had to swap my pump over to the tank it came from. Never really figured out why mine didn't fit

 

[Rut Row]

Not sure if this affects the OP or not, but this appears to be my problem. The bottom of the tank skid is bevel front and rear. My tank won't go all the way to the bottom. Look at the pics of the tank and skid, you can see contact points where the tank contacts the skid. That leaves the tank about 3/4" high. The sump for the tank is about 3/4". There is a depression in the skid for the sump but the tank won't go that far down.

I'm still waiting on a response from UCF.

 

[Feralkid]

I would try cleaning the gas tank and skid really well, then lubricate the contact points with silicon grease, and then use a ratchet strap with a 2x4 cut to the width of the tank placed between the top of the tank and strap so it gets squeezed downward without putting pressure on the sides of the skid plate.

 

[Rut Row]

I would try cleaning the gas tank and skid really well, then lubricate the contact points with silicon grease, and then use a ratchet strap with a 2x4 cut to the width of the tank placed between the top of the tank and strap so it gets squeezed downward without putting pressure on the sides of the skid plate.

given the tank won't physically fit to the bottom of the skid, I'm concerned about the deformation of the tank required to make it fit.

 

[Moglocker]

Not sure if this affects the OP or not, but this appears to be my problem. The bottom of the tank skid is bevel front and rear. My tank won't go all the way to the bottom. Look at the pics of the tank and skid, you can see contact points where the tank contacts the skid. That leaves the tank about 3/4" high. The sump for the tank is about 3/4". There is a depression in the skid for the sump but the tank won't go that far down.

I'm still waiting on a response from UCF.


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Probably clean the layers of dirt off and it should fit better.

 

[Rut Row]

I finally heard back from UCF. They too said to use ratchet straps and lube. So I slathered it up and cranked the ratchet straps tight. The tank straps tightened to spec. I used a dowel rod through the drain holes and in some places it isn't tight to the skid and in others it is. I'm calling it good enough for now. Tomorrow I'll put it in the TJ.

 

[Rut Row]

for the next person with this problem, this is what UCF said "The skid is designed from the cad model of the tank. It is a tight fit but that's on purpose. You will need to wrap a couple ratchet straps around the tank and skid to pull it down and then install the metal retainer straps."

That works. In my case it was still slightly high but as @macleanflood said, when you jack it up it will go down a bit more.

For reference, if you want to slide the skid back in the slots, you have to do that before you jack it up high enough for the pads on the tank straps to contact the tub. Ask me how I know