Ok I have a 01 Ram 1500 it has the offroad package so it has the factory skid plates. I drive on gravel roads a fair amount with rocks flying up some big so would like to get a better skid plate or are the stock ones good enough? I know a friends S-10 ZR2 has skid plates you can see from the front of the truck. The only thing I have been able to find are brush guards that have skid plates coming down from them and I don't want a brush guard. Are the factory skid plates all I need or should I get better ones? Anyone know where to get one without a brush guard?

 

About 6 months ago, I purchased the transfer case skid plate for my '99 1500. I also wanted one for the front diff and oil pan, and gas tank. What I was told was that the transfer case skid plate is the only skid plate made for 2nd gen Rams (at least by Mopar). If you find anything aftermarket, I would be interested to know.

On interesting note. When I purchased my skid plate, the dealer looked on the computer and said that it was a discontinued item (meaning no more were being produced by Mopar) and that there was like less then 5 even avaialble in the US. He ordered mine from a Dodge Dealer in like New Jersey or Cleveland or something.

 

I have found ones like in the truck Xpersions add on the side of this page but don't want one like that with the brush guard but thats all I have found so far.

 

The one in that picture is part of the bull bar (made by Westin). It doesn't protect anything accept the lower part of the front bumper. It doesn't extend under the vehicle. I know some lift kits come with a front skid that covers the front diff and trac bar on the front. I don't think they will fit unless you have the lift to go with it though.

You could always custom make your own.

 

Ah ok I assumed that plate came down under the vehicle. I have a lift and know some Skyjacker lifts have skid plates but I guess mine doesn't and mine may not be high enough for a skid plate. I guess I will just live with the factory skid plates. It seemed to have 2 or 3 when I looked under the truck.

 

gravel roads? You don't need more. when you start putting the bottom of your truck ON the rocks or logs or debris, then you should have the skid plates.

 

Well gravel roads up in the mountains around here and fire roads and stuff like that and they seem to have fairly big rocks even on the roads and it gets pretty bad if you get onto the fire roads. I know stuff tends to fly up and tear stuff up but m truck may be high enough that rocks flying up wont hit it too hard. I haven't gotten into major offroading yet just going on fire roads and stuff like that. When I say gravel roads they are pretty bad not what most people would think of as a gravel road and that is mainly what I drive on but like I said I also need it to be good on fire roads and stuff like that.

 

Well it never hurts. A lot of the rally cars have a plastic sheet for underbody protection that seems to work really well. An added bonus is that it'd be quieter with stuff bouncing off of it. I'm not sure where you'd get it in big enough pieces though. It's sort of a soft plastic, like cutting board material only a little thinner.

 

The reason you see a skid on the front of your friend's ZR2 is cause he has an IFS front suspension. There's critical parts of the suspension that hang quite low but are rigidly attached to the frame, which requires the protection of a skid plate. On yoiur truck you have a solid front axle. 9 times out of 10 your axle will move out of the way of an obsticle just from the operation of the suspension. If you're really concerned, I know a guy that makes pretty serious diff guards for a pretty good price. I can look up his contact info if you like. Otherwise, the T-case skid is probably fine for what you do. If you want more, buy some steel and start fabricating.