Steel Vs Aluminum Skid Plates Are Best?

Steel and aluminum skid plates serve similar purposes in protecting the underside of vehicles from damage due to impacts, debris, and rough terrain. Each material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on various factors including the specific application, vehicle type, budget, and personal preferences. Here's a comparison of the two.

Steel Skid Plates

Advantages:

• Durability: Steel skid plates are known for their exceptional strength and durability. They can withstand heavy impacts, including rocks, logs, and other obstacles encountered off-road.
• Resistance to deformation: Steel plates are less likely to deform or bend under extreme stress compared to aluminum, making them suitable for harsh off-road conditions.
• Heat Resistance: Steel has a higher melting point compared to aluminum, making it more resistant to heat generated from friction or drivetrain components.
• Repairability: While steel skid plates can dent or deform under severe impacts, they are often easier to repair or reshape compared to aluminum, or at least to a point which still maintains some structural integrity.
• Cost: Steel skid plates tend to be less expensive than aluminum ones, as steel itself is generally less expensive than aluminum.

Disadvantages:

• Weight: Steel skid plates are significantly heavier than aluminum ones, which can increase the overall weight of the vehicle and affect fuel efficiency and handling. This also makes them harder to install and manipulate when on the vehicle.
• Corrosion: Steel is prone to rust and corrosion if not properly maintained or if the coating is compromised. Regular maintenance, such as painting or applying rust inhibitors, is necessary to prevent corrosion.

For what it’s worth, when we sought to armor up our Lexus GX460 project’s underside, it was recommended to us by Talons Garage that we go with steel over aluminum. This was due largely in part to the relatively heavy weight of the luxurious Land Cruiser Prado masquerading as a Lexus, but also due to the nature of the off-roading we do with it, which includes a lot of rock crawling and run-ins with objects and obstacles on the trail.

In all transparency, Talons Garage did provide us with the skids for testing and even went so far as to send a custom-made prototype steel skid plate, but their suggestion to go with steel is all we needed to know, and we verified it to be the right decision after some good impacts on our first wheeling trip with them installed. The powdercoated black steel skids they sent us for testing have held up beautifully, and more importantly have protected the vital mechanicals that live beneath our trail-going daily driver.

That said, aluminum does serve its purpose, especially in the case of vehicles that don’t see frequent or severe contact with rocks or the likes. Let’s explore more about aluminum skids below.

Aluminum Skid Plates

Advantages:

• Lightweight: Aluminum skid plates are much lighter than steel, which can help improve fuel efficiency and reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, leading to better handling and more desirable performance in off-road circumstances in which weight is the enemy.
• Corrosion Resistance: Aluminum naturally forms a protective oxide layer, providing inherent resistance to corrosion. This makes aluminum skid plates ideal for wet or corrosive environments.
• Malleability: Aluminum is more malleable than steel, meaning it can deform or bend without cracking under impact. This can sometimes lead to easier absorption of impacts without damaging the vehicle's chassis. However, this is both good and bad, as aluminum is more likely to bend in the first place.
• Aesthetics: Aluminum skid plates often have a sleek and modern appearance, which may be preferred by some vehicle owners.

Disadvantages:

• Less Durable: Aluminum is not as strong as steel, so aluminum skid plates may deform or crack under heavy impacts, especially in extreme off-road conditions.
• Heat Conductivity: Aluminum has higher thermal conductivity compared to steel, which means it can transfer heat more efficiently. This may lead to increased heat absorption from the ground or nearby exhaust components, potentially causing damage.
• Cost: Aluminum skid plates are usually more expensive to purchase than steel skids.

In summary, steel skid plates offer superior strength and durability at a lower price point than aluminum skid plates but come with the trade-offs of higher weight, and potential corrosion. Aluminum skid plates, on the other hand, are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, but they sacrifice some durability, are more expensive, and may require more frequent maintenance or replacement. The choice between steel and aluminum ultimately depends on the specific needs and preferences of the vehicle owner, as well as the intended usage and budget considerations.

As a rule, we generally recommend steel skid plates for those who expect their off-roading to require skid plates with some frequency, but recommend aluminum skid plates for those who are adding them more as extra protective insurance or in the odd event of an adventure turning out more difficult than anticipated.