When getting into soft roading you’ll come across many types of terrain. More often than not you’ll come across an assortment of hazards like rocks, wood from trees (maybe even whole trees), and other debris just spread throughout the trail. The best protection against these hazards is skid plates or armor for the undercarriage of your car or SUV.
Generally, when you think of skid plates, rock sliders, or armor for your vehicle you think of 4x4s, trucks, and jeeps for bashing around large rocky trails. While soft roading in your car or SUV won’t necessarily get you bouncing up hills (though some do), skid plates still do offer valuable protection to vital parts of your vehicle, giving you more capability and peace of mind when going off the pavement.
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What is a skid plate and what is their purpose?
Skid plates are basically pieces of aluminum or steel fitted to the underside of your vehicle to protect vital components like your transfer case/transmission, oil pan, gas tank, steering components, and differentials from debris commonly found on trails.
Is a skid plate necessary on a car or SUV?
It depends on what you use your vehicle for, but generally skid plates are a great idea for soft roading as you’ll encounter rocks and other debris while on trails. Many soft-roading cars and SUVs, even with a decent lift are lower than their off-roader counterparts. So any advantage you can get to avoid damaging your vehicle should be used.
Are skid plates easy to install?
Most skid plates are relatively easy to install, but make sure that the plates are made to fit your vehicle. Some modifications might be required depending on what type of plates you get or if you need to fit them around other aftermarket components.
Do you have to remove skid plates?
Skid plates should be removed for some general maintenance and/or repairs to the underside of the vehicle. Luckily one of the benefits of skid plates is that they are attached with removable hardware like nuts and bolts.
Just keep in mind that if you live in an area that salts the roads in winter you’ll need to keep an eye on these components as they might rust or corrode.
What is the most important skid plate?
Any skid plate that protects your transfer case and differentials should take priority. If this component is damaged then you aren’t going anywhere.
How much do skid plates cost?
Skid plates can cost anywhere from $200 to $500+ depending on what it’s made out of and the manufacturer. You will also need to factor in installation which could add to that expense.
What different skid plates are there?
With so many of your vehicle’s vitals located underneath your car, there are many skid plates that are built to protect each component. When combined together, these will create a solid defense for almost anything the underside of your vehicle might come across.
Differential Skid plate – A skid plate that protects your differential gears which is a vital part of the movement of your vehicle. With this damaged, you are going nowhere.
Transfer case skid plate – This is the skid plate that protects your transfer case which is an important component that makes a 4WD and AWD function by transferring the power between the wheels.
Rocks sliders – These are bars that attach to the underside vehicle’s door. They protect your vehicle’s body from rocks and other objects that it might get into contact with.
Oil pan skid plate – This adds protection to your oil pan which is on the underside of your engine.
Gas tank skid plate – A large skid plate that runs the entirety of your fuel tank and protects it from being pierced or roughed up in any way on the trails.
Front Skid plate – Usually the skid plate you can see without looking underneath the vehicle. They are a plate that protects the steering components of your vehicle.
What are the benefits of skid plates?
So if you’re wondering whether you should go and armor the undercarriage of your car or SUV with skid plates, here’s what you need to know.
If you intend to go soft roading, yes. We think you should at least add some protection to the underside of your vehicle and here’s why:
- They protect the undercarriage of the vehicle which includes the drive train and oil pan from rocks and other objects you find on the trail
- Can add more confidence to your wheeling adventures
- Can improve the aerodynamics of a vehicle allowing air to pass more smoothly
- The added layer of protection could lower the wear and tear of components on the underside of the vehicle
- Rock sliders prevent dents or scratches to the body of your vehicle
- Rocks slides provide a tough rugged look to the outside of your vehicle
- Increasing the resale value of your car by keeping it in good condition
As we said earlier, cars and SUVs which are the main soft roading vehicles people use tend to be considerably lower than their dedicated off-road counterparts. You can lift your vehicle and add bigger tires which will definitely help.
At some point, you’ll underestimate how much that rock protrudes on a trail or hit some debris too fast. These could end up opening the bottom of your vehicle like a can opener.
Are there any downsides to adding skid plates to your car or SUV?
Of course, we should also mention some of the downsides or drawbacks to adding skid plates to your vehicle, as these are also important points to consider before you commit to buying your gear.
- Skid plates can add weight to your car or SUV
- Decide if you’re prepared to install them yourself – some skid plates and armor can be tricky to install and you might need to use a professional who can make modifications to improve their fit
- We’ve already mentioned corrosion as a reason for having skid plates to protect the underside of your vehicle. However, corrosion will also have an impact on the armor and plates which can make them difficult to remove during maintenance or repair.
Summary: the benefits of skid plates and armor for cars and SUVs
The benefits of skid plates mean they ultimately protect the undercarriage of your vehicle. If you take your vehicle on paved roads or some light dirt trails you should be fine, but once you start going on more technical trails the chances of debris hitting the underside of your vehicle go up. Also, the occasional scrape from bottoming becomes a possibility.
Skid plates will give you more confidence in your wheeling and in turn, you’ll have more fun.
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