Is there a single most important piece of armor or skid plate?

2013 SR5.

Admittedly, 90% of my driving will be on pavement. Other than that it would be dirt or bumpy logging roads while camping up north. No serious off-roading. Where I live, driving through deep snow/ice drifts isn't unheard of. And then there's just the every-day chance of hitting random shit in the road (just last year I hit a shovel that was in the road head on).

So is there a skid plate or a piece of armor you guys would consider the most important for these trucks?

I would think perhaps a front skid plate would be, since that would possibly push or crush any debris you hit first. But then when I look at the underbody, right about below the steering wheel, it looks like that section of exhaust is the lowest and most fragile point, or the rear diff.

"Don't worry about it, kid, save your money" is an acceptable answer too.

Thanks.

 

a helmet is pretty important. but seriously if you are not wheeling hard you just need to watch what you are doing and will be fine

 

Skid plate sounds reasonable from what you're saying you drive on. Nothing else really does, IMO. But don't let your wants stop you.

 

For you, look into a front and mid skid. It'll protect underneath, but it'll also block your cats. IDK about you, but people steal those in my area

 

Stock truck already comes with a thin, but well-supported front skid and oil pan skid. The transfer case hangs low, and serious damage to the transfer case can leave you stranded, so I'd get a skid for that first. You can either get a "drop-in" skid with a hump for the crossover pipe, or get a flat skid and re-route the crossover pipe at an exhaust shop.

Next item after the transfer case skid is sliders, because rocker panel damage is hard to repair "perfectly".

 

And sliders / steps offer huge protection in the most dangerous of places....your local parking lot! Lets inconsiderate folks trash their door rather than yours

 

As flimsy as the stock bumpers are, my vote would be for steel bumpers being the most important.

 

gas tank skid plate mandatory, everything else optional

the rest of the truck can take some bashing and sliding (not much but it will slide) but the gas tank will rip open if a rock rolls under there and it tries to lift you up

 

An often overlooked skid is the LCA skid. It hangs lowest to the ground and could take a nasty hit if you slide off of a rock. I got mine from BAMF and love them.

 

Depends how paranoid you are..I got FULL skids:

Sliders
LCA skids
IFS skid
Mid skid
Transfer Case skid
Gas Tank skid
Diff Armor plate
All-Pro E-Locker "Skid"

 

Plus, skids are just AWESOME.

 

The front diff looks pretty vulnerable. A quality front skid and bumper combo would be a good place to start IMO