Essential skid plates?

Like @EatSleepTacos said, it really depends on what you're doing. Having the the IFS skid is a huge life saver, and the further you armor back is more peace of mind. My last trip to Rausch made it apparent that without that IFS skid, I'd have been fucked. I'm still a pretty novice rock crawler, so I'm armoring as fast as my budget allows. I also can vouch for a rear diff skid as I kissed mine pretty good on a rock last time out. Granted it probably could have been avoided with a better line, but sometimes we learn the hard way.

 

Sorry to dig up such an old thread but had a quick question, is a skid plate really necessary for the fuel tank? Has anyone actually damaged their tank without a skid? Thanks.

 

It depends on what you are doing. The fuel tank is tucked up fairly high. For fire trails no need for a aftermarket gas tank skid. I got a HMW plastic skid and it has been dragged across some rocks.

 

No, definitely not. Are there hypothetical situations in which you hit something so awkwardly to puncture your tank, yes, but you have better luck winning the powerball than that happening.

Many of have wheeled the shit out of our truck and all across the country and no damaged tanks.

 

bumper to back of the transfer case in 4 plates

 

Not sure what Ya have in mind but this TRD knock off has got me through the Sonoran so far.

 

Home made skids all inter connected back to the gas tank, no diff skid or lca skid as those just decrease your clearance and you cant hurt those really. I did plate the bottom of my diff and truss the back, so that adds some axle protection.

 

Thank you all for the responses.

 

Right now, the most important for me is the transmission plate with the cat guard wings to deter the a$$h0les that steal them. Get a life.

When I put them on, I might get a middle finger sticker and slap it underneath.

 

I currently have sliders and am about to get an IFS skid plate, and leaning towards only that. Here’s my line of thinking…
If I scrape that plate on something, I’m going to back off and try another line.

Is that a logical way to think about it? It’s my daily driver but I like to explore off road, and I live in Colorado so it’s pretty rocky. But not doing any hardcore rock crawling.