Also known as skid plates, bash plates are a crucial piece of equipment for serious off roaders. An abrasion-resistant metal plate is fitted to the underside of your vehicle to absorb impact and prevent damage when you make contact with the ground. If you go off road, bash plates are a must-have.
While it's not really our place to throw stones at off road vehicle manufacturers, one thing that many drivers report across many makes and models is that the bash plates which come with the vehicle are, in general, not adequate. They have been described by some drivers as "tin foil".
Whatever off road vehicle you have, there's a strong chance that the factory fitted bash plates will only protect the radiator and the sump. But the fact is, there are a lot more things to protect and, therefore, plenty of reasons to upgrade.
The differences between ground clearances under your vehicle varies a lot. On some vehicles you can comfortably roll around underneath and, in some cases, almost sit up. Whereas on other vehicles when you're flat on your back your nose is almost touching the undercarriage.
One of the numerous undercarriage parts not protected by most factory fitted, far too thin bash plates is the automatic transmission. On many models the automatic transmission hangs down quite low and could easily get a punctured hole in the oil pan from a stray rock.
Even if you've misplaced the instructions or you're not normally one to work on your vehicle yourself, bash plates are incredibly easy to fit. Even though they are heavy and low to the ground, all you'll need is a set of ramps to get under and you'll find it easy to hold them up while applying bolts.
