Home > Modifications & Maintenance (L663) > Aftermarket Skid Plates |
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Mike_F Member Since: 23 Nov 2021 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 12 |
Has anyone installed aftermarket skid plates on a New Defender?
I've seen the Asfir plate advertised: https://www.asfir.com/front-skid-plate-538055.html But I haven't seen any reference to them (the Defender model; lots of discussion of other Asfir products) here or in other forums, or on youtube. I'm wondering if anyone has installed this brand or any other. Do you think aftermarket skid plates are necessary? Is the installation pretty straightforward? Once installed, does it block any key maintenance areas (do you have to remove it in order to change the oil)? I appreciate any thoughts you have. Thanks. |
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2nd Nov 2022 12:56am |
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Mike_F Member Since: 23 Nov 2021 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 12 |
I agree about the need; I'm hoping to get into some more challenging terrain over the next few months.
I have the factory "Front Aluminum Skid Plate" - I ordered it with the vehicle. But I ordered it mostly because it exposes the front recovery loop. I believe the aftermarket plate (Asfir or others) is farther back under the vehicle's belly. Thanks, Mike |
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2nd Nov 2022 8:30pm |
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cyberhusky Member Since: 09 Feb 2021 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 274 |
Nakatanenga has introduced a new skid plate for the new Defender.
Cheaper than the LR version but 8 mm thick instead of the original 5 mm. https://www.nakatanenga.de/en/optional-equ...lable-here 22MY Defender 110 (actual) | 10MY Freelander 2 (history) | 15MY Discovery Sport HSE (history) |
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31st Jul 2023 1:34pm |
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Mike_F Member Since: 23 Nov 2021 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 12 |
That Nakatenga skid plate looks interesting. I submitted a question on their website asking if it will fit once the factory "undershield" is in place. The factory one replaces a steel tube with a stronger one, which may change the fitment.
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31st Jul 2023 1:42pm |
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Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 717 |
Does it need it? No point adding weigh and places for dirt to get trapped for no reason. Everything looks pretty well tucked up under the new Defender IMO. |
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31st Jul 2023 1:53pm |
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Mike_F Member Since: 23 Nov 2021 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 12 |
Depends on the terrain you're going over.
In the US east coast terrain is typically made up of lots of rocks of varying diameters. I followed some Jeep Wrangler Rubicons along some dedicated off road trails a few weeks ago. My coil-sprung 110 did well, but didn't have the ground clearance of the Jeeps. I took several hard hits to the undercarriage. Got home with a sizeable dent in my front undershield, and broke off a small skid plate attached to a left rear "forward link" (I think that's what the suspension component is called - it's circled in red in the attached pic, which I stole from this excellent article on the Defender suspension: https://www.autoblog.com/2021/07/27/land-r...deep-dive/ Your needs may be different for mud, slickrock, or other surfaces, but before I take it out again on anything that demanding, I'd like to have some more protection underneath. Or I need one of the 2" lift kits sold for the coil spring Defender, except that would make it impossible to park at my local airport. I'm already at the height limit. Edit: I've tried a few times to upload the photo, but I get "Error retrieving album data" when I click the upload button. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks. |
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31st Jul 2023 2:05pm |
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cyberhusky Member Since: 09 Feb 2021 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 274 |
Perhaps you are looking for this one: Front skid plate with under motor protection
https://shop.expedition-parts.de/en/detail...egory/1418 Or complete under chassis protection (both made by Reulsport in Belgium) https://shop.expedition-parts.de/en/detail/index/sArticle/362531 22MY Defender 110 (actual) | 10MY Freelander 2 (history) | 15MY Discovery Sport HSE (history) |
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31st Jul 2023 2:26pm |
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mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5035 |
The factory front guard is as robust as you will need i think - i dont think anyone has damaged it, so why change?
I wonder if the easy fit one is as good, given the support bar isnt replaced - dont know whether anyone has tried it. The sills are the bit for me, no rock sliders ive seen. The bronco has some fantastic options which on the defender would be awesome, like the deployable ones Mike |
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3rd Aug 2023 2:58pm |
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LR Nuts Member Since: 10 Aug 2022 Location: UK Posts: 1105 |
on sills.
Deployable ?? aren't they deployable side steps ? for getting in the vehicle ? Deployable rock sliders would have to work very hard. |
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3rd Aug 2023 4:04pm |
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mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5035 |
No they are deployable side steps in rock sliders, very very cool Mike
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5th Aug 2023 5:37pm |
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mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5035 |
i think these are them
https://rockslideengineering.com/product/b...2-box-set/ I was watching a youtube video and by chance saw them in action. Even the owner was impressed how much of a pounding them took and still worked Prompted me to search to see if the defender had anything similar but no. Its sad the defender hasnt got some of the additions the market are developing for the bronco as some of it is really cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ztt1wuMK8 Mike |
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5th Aug 2023 5:44pm |
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