I was walking up to my 04 2500 from a distance the other day and noticed that the Exhaust pipes in front of the skid plate hang lower that the plate. This doesn't seem to make much sense to me. Is this just a bad design or is there something wrong with it? With it not being tucked under you'll hit the pipe all the time before you even get to the skid plate?

 

It should be tucked up IMO. If you hit it you could crush the pipe or break a cat. or manifold possibly. WTF?

Could be that the pipe is lower, but in a position that it can't be hit due to the anlges from the wheels.

 

It may be positioned wrong, but I've never seen skidplates on any vehicle that were intended to protect the exhaust system. You can rip a hole in your exhaust and it will still get you home. A ripped oil pan is another story.

 

The exhaust crossover hangs about 1/2" below the t-case skid plate on mine. The pipe needs to be this low (at least on the drivers' side) to clear the front driveshaft at full suspension droop.

They could have spaced the skidplate down lower, but what would that help?