Has anyone ever noticed how low the transfer case skid plate hangs? It is the lowest thing on my truck. I actually have quite a bit of ground clearance, and this skid plate is getting in the way!

Actually, its just ugly in the way it hangs down. Has anyone ever seen an alternative?

 

on my 04 the factory transfer case skid plate hangs about a 1/2" lower than the t-case. It needs a little space so if it does bend it wont crack the weak aluminum case

 

I think I have about an inch on mine...I have dragged it too. Glad there was some space as I pushed it in a bit.

think of the heat factor too. Some air movement at slow speeds when using all the gears is a good thing.

 

I've had the same complaint about all my Ford 4WD trucks, going back to '85. It isn't so much the transfer case location. They probably can't do too much about that. But the skid plate could have a much better profile and gain a lot of ground clearance out toward the frame. It's just a really poorly designed thing.

 

I think the factory skid plates are more for show than anything. I really can't see them holding up to much of a hit, but I still order my trucks with them just in case.

 

i don't off road my 2004 but I'm glad i have them. I do alot of hunting/fishing/and dirt biking so I'm always driving down dirt roads, fields, woods etc and Ive managed to drag the t-case plate across alot of hills etc with no damage. IM going like .1 mph but its better to hit the skid then to drag the aluminum t-case and drive shafts/ujoints through dirt etc

 

Was under the truck today so I took a pic of my transfer case skid plate. A little hard to tell but mine has paid for itself.

 

Maybe I am oversimplifying the issue, but isn't the skid plate supposed to be the lowest part down there?