Skeletonized skids for ease of maintenance?

Hey all, back again with another odd question. I'm starting to look at skid plates, but can't quite make up my mind about what looks best.

Ideally, I'd like to have the full under-armor package, covering from stem to stern. I just can't get past the idea that regular maintenance will be an absolute pain with that sort of setup. Changing differential and transfer case oil, greasing the driveshaft, and most other regular maintenance items seem to be made MUCH more difficult with the addition of these skids.

Does anyone make a skeletonized skid, which offers easier access to the driveshaft and other critical components? Or would that completely defeat the purpose of this armor?

 

For the most part it would defeat the purpose and get you hung up on rocks.

 

Even with all 3 skids, it's only a few extra bolts to remove. My SOS skid has a hole(not sure on other brands) for the oil plug. I put a fumoto on and it's easy peasy.

 

I've got a hole there as well. but thanks to the awesome position of the oil filter on the 1st Gen, oil drips all over the skid.

 

I rig up a solo cup under the filter on my 2nd gen. It seems to do the trick so far

 

Aren't 2nd gens under the hood?

 

I've tried plastic bags and a few other things, but said fuck it. Doesn't hurt anything and my truck sure ain't clean!

 

Yeah, right up by the radiator.

 

Yep, I did something similar. Drilled a couple holes in a flexible plastic cup and ran some bungee cord through it. Now I'm just waiting for the missus to notice that I stole and defiled some of her kitchenware.

So it looks like there aren't any "full body" skids that fit the bill. Damn. Not the end of the world, really, since I imagine the forward-most skid is the most important one anyway.

Speaking of which: does anyone know what front skid plates mate up best with an ARB front bumper?

 

I always jack on the Toyota rec'd frame points seems to work

 

I'm pretty sure the SOS does. Maybe @SOS CONCEPTS can confirm. I sure hope so cause when I replace my front, it's gonna be an ARB