Looking for opinions on skid plates. The stock ones are not holding up and am ready to upgrade. Is 3/16 steel good for skids? Or should I put some more money away for the 1/4 aluminum? I'm not going crazy on the trails. Just want something that's not gonna fail if I'm sitting on a rock.

 

Aluminum is going to cost you a lot more. Aluminum's modulus of elasticity at about 30% of steel you're going to be significantly more expensive with aluminum skids than steel. And if built to the same relative strength perimeter the weight savings in this application is going to be marginal. I would probably go with steel. There are a lot of companies making decent skids out there. I like the EVO ProTek system myself.

 

I ran the Evo skids for a couple years and they held up well. I'm currently swapping out to the rock hard system now. I like the way there system fits together.

 

Im running the evo protec oil pan and exhaust/crossmember skid. Evap is by poison spyder. No complains from either. Saved me the first time I went out.

 

For underneath, I'd recommend going with steel to protect critical components. Save the Aluminum for things up top (corners, bumper, rockers, etc.)

I have the Protek which has done it's job fine but if I do it all over again, I'll go with the Clayton setup and it's 1/4" plate. Keep in mind we have more rocks out here compared to you guys so 3/16 is probably good enough for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZoVCcTFoHI