4x4 Protection

An in-depth look at why and how to up-armor your off-road vehicle

- John Cappa

The body armor, skid plating, and protection your truck or SUV needs will depend on several factors, including the make and model of your 4x4, the types of off-roading you plan to do, the amount of ground clearance your vehicle has, your driving style, personal preference, and more.

Of course, there are some basic protection improvements that every 4x4 needs. Enthusiasts with longer-wheelbase vehicles, like four-door pickups, will need to pay more attention to potential problem areas than drivers of short-wheelbase vehicles, like the two-door Wrangler. There is simply more real estate that needs to be protected on bigger vehicles.

If you spent any time at all under your 4x4, you quickly realized there are many vulnerable areas and components. Some are protected by thin stamped steel, aluminum, and even fabric skidplates, while others are left hanging out in the rocks. The 4x4s with factory off-road packages usually offer slightly more protection than the standard trim levels. Moving up, the rockers and bumpers of your 4x4 are also vulnerable. Most of these areas are delicate, painted surfaces made from body metal or plastic. They are not designed to rub on trail obstacles so they need some extra protection or a complete replacement. Read on to find out what off-road armor your 4x4 might need.

Factory Skidplates

The OE underbody skidplates found on most 4x4s are adequate for very light off-roading, but some are completely worthless in the dirt. The factory skidplates from the off-road trim levels are typically more robust and can often be added to the less off-road worthy versions of the same model 4x4. These OE skidplates can usually be found under the fuel tank, transfer case, independent front suspension assemblies, and sometimes under the engine oil pan and transmission. They will generally protect the underside from flinging debris and usually survive sliding over a dirt berm.