What first? Sliders or skids?

So I've only ever been on two wheeling trails. Both fairly easy except for a section this weekend where I was climbing up a rocky section on stock tires and came down on my stock skid plate. Put in a 2x1 inch dent in the plate but I eventually got over it with a new line and a bit of crawl control to find grip where I couldn't.

Anyways...the truck is 100% stock and I'm now paranoid about trail damage even on easy rated trails shit happens especially with my inexperience picking out more technical lines.

Which would people recommend first? Sliders or skids? Eventually I would like full underbody armor with full skids and sliders but just trying to prioritize stuff.

 

What would suck more, a dent in your rocker panel or door, or a hole in your oil pan?

I would say go for skids first.

Full disclosure, I did the opposite. I was planning to do skids, then I was on an easy trail and "found" a log hidden in the dirt and it flipped up and smacked my rocker panel. I decided it was time for sliders instead. The irony is that the next time I was on that same trail (after skids installed) I hit something else and it flipped up past my sliders at hit my door.

The sooner you get that first dent out of the way, though, the better off you'll be. If you're afraid to dent/scratch your brand new truck, get an older truck and wheel that instead...

 

Skids>sliders

 

I would go sliders first. You technically already have skid protection for the front of the vehicle (where it is needed most), although very weak and should be considered sacrifical in nature. You probably got a few more good hits left with the existing skids until you will need to replace them. You rockers are open game at this point, on a vehicle with a realtively long wheelbase and low breakover angle, and more likely to be hit over that of the transmission or t-case. The transmission is also somewhat currently protected by the cross braces over the rear cats and the cross brace.

You can also use the sliders as a jack point as well.