To Skid or Not to Skid

[kate_the_valkyrie]

How important are skid plates???
I've got a basic beetle. I'm working on some other things right now that are more important for my Colorado Trip in August. And I'm on a quite limited budget.
My stock plastic plate broke and fell off AS I WAS DRIVING MY BOBBY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE DAY I BOUGHT HIM!!!

But... now I'm dealing with servicing a VW Transmission due to SOMEHOW, under what was left of the plastic skid plate, a bolt fell out of my transmission pan, and I lost about a qt of trans fluid?? This shouldn't be related I'm hoping. But if it is, I'm definitely investing in a metal skid plate for future protection.

My next question would be, how well do the metal ones work in hot environments? I'm in the arizona desert..

[99Turbo]

Transmission pan is steel, fairly heavy gauge.
Oil pan is aluminum (cast I believe) that is the most vulnerable part.

Don't know about the heat thing, but you are just replacing what is already there with metal pieces.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Don't know if I mentioned, but I currently do NOT have anything under there. I ended up removing what was left of the plastic plate that cracked to pieces on my FIRST TRIP.

[99Turbo]

Yeah I got that, what I meant was that heat should be OK as that part is usually closed off with the plastic pieces.

You can run without, it doesn't affect performance but just be very aware of scraping on anything as it will be the oil pan or trans pan that is doing the scraping.

Know your budget is tight, so figure you will be driving without for awhile. If you have a u-wrench it type of Junkyard you might find one there. Otherwise eBay maybe or check the classified for someone parting out a beetle. Not a big demand for the plastic ones as once you see how flimsy they are you really don't want to put another one on.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Yeah I don't want to go plastic. No junkyard for me within a 100 mile radius *grumble*
Guess I'll just keep my eyes out and try to save some extra moolah.

[Th1rt3en]

I don't know what you want to spend but the Vortex has some for about $150 to $200 for Diesel Geek Panzer plates. New Panzer run about $275.

You can try and find OEM Steel skid plate they run about $350 new. I believe their is two different kinds, full european and semi full they installed on the verts.

OEMs are steel and the all the aftermarkets I have seen are aluminum.

[Deserion]

The NBC had an aluminum vented pan. Was kinda nice.

All the plastic does is shield the engine bay from water and also helps direct air underneath the car. Isn't a skid plate in any fashion at all.

[boogety boogety]

Wow... I have to ask... just where are you driving that you need a skid plate to protect the underside of your car?!?

If you stay on a public, tax-supported road, you should be able to run skid-plate-less for the life of the car with no damage whatsoever...

And... a BOLT fell out of your pan?!? Fell out?!? And you haven't been back to the dealership and raised holy hell about the above yet?!? Ah, Kate... what would a real Valkyrie do?

[99Turbo]

You must be in Germany if you think that tax supported public roads are all in wonderful shape. Here in St. Louis every spring they have a number where people can call and report potholes because they are so bad. Then there is just the stuff that falls off trailers and trash trucks.

I was coming up on the 64/55 split going East in East St. Louis, IL. in heavy traffic when I saw what appeared to be a shaft and pinion gear from a large differential in the road in front of me.

This was door to door, bumper to bumper traffic across six lanes with no way to swerve. Went over that thing heard an awful bump, not only heard it but felt it. Got pulled over about a mile down the road and checked for leaks, etc. nothing running out so went on and finished my calls.

Got home and put Silver up on the ramps and took a better look. The plastic panel was destroyed and the transmission pan was dented but not leaking. Had it hit on the other side I imagine it would have holed the oil pan.

I now have a dieselgeek full metal jacket installed.

[Yello_jellybean]

I agree with this post 100%. I don't exactly go OFFROADING, and Colorado keeps the roads in fairly good condition, MOST of the time but, you just never know. Someone could have something fly out of their vehicle and land in the road, and you may not be able to avoid it. So, in that case you may have to drive over it. Not the most ideal situation, I agree, but stranger things have happened. Also, has anyone seen the size of some curbs and speed bumps in some places now?? They are obviously there for a reason, but if you accidentally his one just right...or a little too hard it's bye bye oil pan. (WE have all hit a speed bump a hair to hard I am sure. ))

I also have a Diesel Geek Panzer skid plate on my car. definitely worth the money over the VW replacement one. You should check into it.

Originally Posted by 99Turbo

You must be in Germany if you think that tax supported public roads are all in wonderful shape. Here in St. Louis every spring they have a number where people can call and report potholes because they are so bad. Then there is just the stuff that falls off trailers and trash trucks.

I was coming up on the 64/55 split going East in East St. Louis, IL. in heavy traffic when I saw what appeared to be a shaft and pinion gear from a large differential in the road in front of me.

This was door to door, bumper to bumper traffic across six lanes with no way to swerve. Went over that thing heard an awful bump, not only heard it but felt it. Got pulled over about a mile down the road and checked for leaks, etc. nothing running out so went on and finished my calls.

Got home and put Silver up on the ramps and took a better look. The plastic panel was destroyed and the transmission pan was dented but not leaking. Had it hit on the other side I imagine it would have holed the oil pan.

I now have a dieselgeek full metal jacket installed.

[Kuplamies]

Hi!

I ordered a Panzer Plate for my Bug last January.
I have to say that it has saved the oil pan many times already!

My car is all original and it has got only 9 centimetres of ground clearance.

I am very happy that I bought it My best mod yet

[Yello_jellybean]

Nice pic. Good Job, I couldn't get under my car right now, to show her what it looked like installed. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Kuplamies

Hi!

I ordered a Panzer Plate for my Bug last January.
I have to say that it has saved the oil pan many times already!

My car is all original and it has got only 9 centimetres of ground clearance.

I am very happy that I bought it My best mod yet

[punchbuggin99]

I actually tore my skid plate off about 6 months ago as I was pulling out of the parking lot at my job. (my car scrubbed hardcore style) I went to the dealership and they said most of the used bugs they sell don't have a skid plate on them anymore. So I've been fine without one, I just avoid the parking lot and have to re-park my car every 2 hours to avoid a ticket...

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Well they have been doing road construction in my town for almost 5 years now. See thing is, when this town was first built, they only had septic systems for the houses here. Now they've decided they want to install sewer systems, and it's taking them FOREVER. The city isn't even half-way done. Also, I live where we don't have storm drains, but washes. Theses washes make the roads very hilly, up and downy. LOL Make sense??

I am also always travelling to phoenix or arizona somewhere. My dads pretty sick and lives about 3 hours away from me as well.

I've ran over several things. Maybe my bug is lowered?? How would I find out even if this has been done? I'm the 4th owner of my Bobby.

When the BOLT FELL OUT, I was past my warranty. I had owned my beetle for almost a year, and the dealership said, SORRY, it's gonna be over 400$ to fix the tranny. So yeah, don't think I put off putting up a fight. It just didn't get me anywhere.

Has anyone ever had someone fabricate/weld one for them?? Like personally or to fit the beetle specially??? My friend is a car nut and a welder, and i was thinking, why not let him take a stab at making a custom type one for me.
Also, how are these installed, screws? DO you remove them ever? Rarely? Never? Does it create more dirt/buildup under there? I'm interested in people that have em kinda just giving me their experience and opinion.

Thanks

[doublebarrel]

Boogety Boogety,you must have better roads in your area of Dallas.I live in Irving and my aluminum skid plate has saved me an oil pan at least a half dozen times.It was one of the best investments I've ever made.

[boogety boogety]

Wow. I guess I drive with a little less brio than some of you. I haven't scraped the bottom of a car in, oh, almost a couple of million miles of driving, coast to coast, border to border, unless I was off-road or doing something stoopid like running over a parking lot concrete bumper that I didn't know was there... and even then, minimal damage to the undercarriage (full disclosure: an S-class, not a NB)...

If Kate's friend can make her one, she'd be money ahead... that sounds like the way to go...

[topless kitty]

i'm not quite sure i understand how anyone's hitting anything under their car at stock height. all my cars have been lowered, and on very rare occasions did anything hit the bottom of the car. it's just a matter of driving carefully. when i got my beetle, the stock "skid plate" had a few scuffs, at stock height. it now has an H&R cup kit and i haven't hit a thing.

[Yello_jellybean]

Reality is that about 99% of the time I don't run over or hit anything either. (which is good )I however live in a new neighborhood that has some rather tall curbing. I live here so I am now familiar with the fact that you drive at an angle backing out of my driveway or you will scrape your front bumper and/or the under side of your car.(ASK Coribug) ) When I back out of anything, (I don't know about you) I go slow, so this is NOT a matter of carelessness. I know that I do not live in the only neighborhood that has these kinds of curbs, not to mention other establishments. I have ALSO slightly scraped my under side on certain speed bumps. AGAIN, I do not go fast, nor do I go OFFROADING. Point is, in certain situations some scraping occurs. The OP asked about skid plates and I believe we answered him. This is not a debate over who is a Kamikazee driver and who isn't.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

I have to agree (for the most part) with post #9 (boogety boogety), however, as long as you don't mind the extra weight of that steel skid plate along with the additional vehicle service time and/or probable shop labor expense from having to R&R that thing every time you need to get in there, then by all means.

There are many sensitive areas under the chassis that are subject damage should some nasty road debris decide to attack, problem is, you cannot reasonably skid plate the entire undercarriage.

[Yello_jellybean]

All of that is very valid. Although, Truth is, I really don't know that the weight matters in all cases. If you are racing the car, then yes, you might want to consider that fact. The weight of the Panzer Skid Plate is 22lbs. I also know that it is aluminum NOT steel. AND that most maintenance is not an issue. (example: oil changes) I really cannot say though, that service would or would NOT be an issue, due to the fact that anyone who is doing service on your car will have to remove the stock skid plate anyway. Also, anyone who has a Panzer Skid Pate knows that it is not that hard to remove. (just a few minutes really)

I bought one of these, very recently AND did a lot of research. I am very fussy about my car.

Originally Posted by Too Cold NB1.8T

I have to agree (for the most part) with post #9 (boogety boogety), however, as long as you don't mind the extra weight of that steel skid plate along with the additional vehicle service time and/or probable shop labor expense from having to R&R that thing every time you need to get in there, then by all means.

There are many sensitive areas under the chassis that are subject damage should some nasty road debris decide to attack, problem is, you cannot reasonably skid plate the entire undercarriage.