Installing a mid skid plate - having issues

Hi all,

I recently purchased @BudBuilt skids, and installed the front one already. I got stuck on the mid one. Front two bolts fit perfectly, and the rear ones align ok, but the bolts do not fit at all. I'm working by myself (social distancing, you know) and on the ground, so I have very limited space to work in. I can't tell if the openings on the frame are a smaller size, or maybe they are not even threaded? Anyone else installed the mid skid? Any problems with the rear bolts?


The mid skid is the one on bottom left. The rear bolt holes are actually in the middle of the skid (on each side of the oil drain hole)

 

If you installed another brand skid, I'm interested in it too, it likely uses the same frame attachment points

 

If the skid attaches to the cross member just in front of the transfer case, there are only two ways to attached to it that I am aware of. Either 1) use the threaded holes the cross braces (that overlie the rear cats) are bolted to, or 2) run bolts up through larger (unthreaded) holes on the outside ends of the cross member and use washers and nuts on top of the cross member to hold things in place.