Skid Plates & Underbody

Skid plates: steel where the oil pan is

Underneath a truck sits a row of expensive, thin-walled components — oil pan, transfer case, fuel tank, differential — and nothing protecting them. A skid plate is a bolted sheet of steel or aluminum between those parts and the rock you did not see.

Steel is cheaper, takes a harder hit and dents rather than tearing. Aluminum costs more, saves meaningful weight low in the vehicle, and slides better. Either beats the factory plastic splash shield, which is aerodynamic cladding rather than armor. Coverage matters more than thickness — a plate that stops short of the transfer case has left the expensive part exposed.