Skid plates - Steel or Aluminum

As a side note, people say you hit your rear bumper more than anything. Is this true? I expect to bump the engine plate now and then when I misjudge an obstacle. I am not gearing up to do rock crawling, that is something else entirely.

The full set of RCI steel plates for the 4runner (including the huge fuel tank plate) weighs 174 pounds. This is the weight of one passenger with an athletic physique. Aluminum plates might save 50 pounds. That is not a big deal.

• Youtube: Steel or Aluminum
• Overland outfitters: Steel or Aluminum

• With stock tires, you are more likely to need the skids.
• Steel slides, aluminum digs in and sticks.
• Steel welds are stronger.
• Aluminum cracks, steel bends.
• Aluminum is good for "fire roads", beyond that get steel.
• 1/8 steel is probably as strong as the 1/4 aluminum.
• Aluminum does not rust (but who cares in Tucson).

Steel is heavier. Steel is also stronger. If you plan to make a career out of scraping your way across rocks, the steel plate is the way to go. I view a skid plate as insurance. I have done a lot of 4x4 driving with my Tacoma (with no real skid plate) and just avoid situations where smacking things is likely. In fact I view smacking things as "not an option".

So if you intend to drive just "nice dirt roads" and expect to never touch your plates, you might opt for aluminum and have something there just for insurance.