Skid Plates, Rock Sliders, Doors and Bull Bars: Armor Explained by Job

Armor is the catch-all category in our parts database for anything bolted on to take a hit so the machine does not. Six listings share that purpose and little else, and the useful way to sort them is by where the hit comes from: underneath, from the side at rocker height, into the cab, or head-on at the front.

Underneath is the skid plate. The SuperATV Full Skid Plate is listed for the Defender HD10 (DEFENDER, 2016–2026) and Ranger XP 1000 (RANGER-XP, 2017–2026), and its note describes a UHMW belly plate that slides over rocks instead of catching on them. UHMW is a slippery plastic; it deforms and recovers where aluminum would dent and steel would bend and stay bent. The Moose Racing Skid Plate for dirt bikes is the other underbody listing, an aluminum engine guard for the CRF450RX (CRF, 2017–2026) and 350 EXC-F (EXC, 2012–2026) aimed at rocky enduro trails.

From the side at rocker height is the slider. The Assault Industries Rock Sliders, listed for the Talon 1000R (TALON, 2019–2026) and Teryx KRX 1000 (KRX, 2020–2026), are described as steel tree kickers that protect the lower door and rocker area. The Rough Country Rock Sliders for the Gladiator (JT, 2020–2026) and Wrangler JL (JL, 2018–2026) are frame-mounted steel sliders that double as a step. Frame-mounted is the phrase to look for on a truck; a slider bolted to the body panel protects nothing.

Into the cab is the door. The Pro Armor Full Doors for the RZR XP 1000 (RZR-XP, 2014–2026) are aluminum full-height doors to keep mud and rocks out of the cab. Many sport UTV trims leave the factory with half doors or nets, and a full door is as much about not being sprayed by the front tires as about impact.

Head-on is the bull bar. The ARB Summit Bull Bar for the 4Runner (N280, 2010–2026) is a winch-capable steel front bumper with animal-strike protection. It replaces the factory bumper entirely, and the winch-capable part is the reason most buyers choose it: the WARN winches in our database each note that they need a winch-capable bumper, and on a 4Runner this is one way to get one.

Before buying any of these, check what it replaces and what it interferes with. A full skid plate on a Ranger or Defender covers the drain plugs, so every oil change on the roughly 100-hour UTV interval now starts with opening the plate. A bull bar on a 4Runner changes front weight and may affect sensors on later years.

Fitment rows in the armor category are strict because armor bolts to the frame, and frames change between platforms even when body panels look alike. A slider listed for the JL and JT is made for each separately. The Pro Armor door is listed for the RZR-XP only; there is no RZR-PRO row, so do not assume it carries over. Confirm the platform code and that your year is inside the range.

Armor fasteners take more abuse than anything else on the machine, because the whole point is that the part gets hit. Our truck schedule asks for a skid plate and underbody fastener check every 5,000 miles because rock strikes bend mounts and shear bolts; the UTV schedule's 25-hour fastener check covers the same job. Torque values are in your service manual.