Benefits of running skid plates

When you go offroading or you're driving on uneven terrain the unavoidable contact between the ground and the undercarriage of your vehicle is only a matter of time. Swapping the factory plastic cover to a steel or aluminum skid plate will protect the vital areas of your undercarriage the stock plastic belly panels leave vulnerable. The plastic panels are good for keeping road debris out of components and even help with aerodynamics. But, when a rock makes contact with plastic panels, the panels will break and get pulled off and possibly even still puncture vital equipment the plastic panel is meant to protect, like your oil pan.

While offroading ground clearance gives your vehicle some room to breath between harsh surfaces and the vehicle. Ground clearance is achieved with a few upgrades, either a suspension lift, upgrade in tire size. Ultimately a vehicle traveling offroad will require both but, the answer isn't to always lift the vehicle higher. Check out our Wheelbase Offroad University for a deep look into how ground clearance is also effected by the vehicles wheelbase.

No matter the difficulty of a trail protecting vital areas of the undercarriage will always be imperative. Plastic panels are typically placed below the engines oil pan, transmission and gas tank. If a rock makes contact with any of these areas the outcome typically means the draining of vital fluids. If a rock punctures the oil pan or transmission and goes unchecked, the components will be starved of fluids causing catastrophic failure.

Not only do skid plates protect vital vehicle components, they also act as a smooth surface to slide off of an object. When coming off an obstacle without a skid plate the object can become stuck between two components trapping the vehicle. With a skid plate the vehicle's undercarriage has a barrier keeping the objects out of these small areas. Scrapping against skid plates makes for a rather unsettling noise but that sound means the skid plates are doing what they are intended to do.

Sometimes the price of skid plates can turn people away from purchasing proper protection for the undercarriage. But when damage occurs to steering components, oil and trans pans, transfer case, differential or gas tank the cost in parts and labor to replace them will surpass the cost of skid plates.

Skid plate options are available that will nearly protect your entire driveline along with steering and suspension components. You can find everything from oil pan, transfer case, differential, lower control arm skid plates and the list goes on.

We want to hear from you!

Protect your vehicle while out on the trail. Ask our pros which skid plate is right for your vehicle and style of adventure. View our skid plate options on our website or visit our shop today.