Me & My Car - Xterra Skid Plate Question

Columnist Jonathan Welsh answers readers' questions about automobiles, and in this case a reader asks about the skid plates:

Q: I have a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder with rugged skid plates protecting the underside of the car. New high-clearance SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Xterra don't seem to offer real skid plates. The skid plates on the new 2010 Xterra Off Road seem thin and weak. If I get one of these two vehicles, should I consider putting on tougher after-market skid plates?

—Richard Scully, Lyons, Colo.

A: Yes. The skid plates that come on trucks and sport-utility vehicles from the factory vary widely in strength and effectiveness. Some seem more decorative than protective. Of course, few drivers take such vehicles off-road and the manufacturers know this. If you spend any time on rutted trails with your truck's undercarriage bouncing against logs and rocks, you are better off choosing and installing your own skid plates.

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