Skid plate and hood air deflector question

[Redhat]

Just got a brand new 2003 Avalanche 2500. After all of 235 miles I love it and I'm ready to spend some more money on a couple of items that seem almost mandatory. Looking for feedback before heading over to the dealer.

1) Unless you stay on paved roads it seems like the skid plate is not really an 'option.' Can I just bolt it on myself? Does ground clearance get reduced at all? Any other problems besides messy oil changes?

2) Not sure this is from the chevy dealer or not, but I've seen these air deflectors that go across the front of the hood. Do they help keep bugs off the window? Or don't these do anything?

Thanks.

 

[Castle_Rock_AV]

Skid plate is not really necessary. You can simply unbolt it. Don't blame me when you run over that cinderblock on the highway though. If it does anything it would raise your clearance slightly.

I have both a hood wind deflector and a 3M mask. The wind deflector did not seem to keep many bugs off the windshield on my 90+ mph cruise across west Kansas in July. I am sure that they help a little - but rain and some bugs will still hit the windshield. They are most effective at protecting the leading edge of your hood from small stone chips and embedded bugs.

The 3m clear mask is great so long as the rocks hit it. The only 2 scratches I have so far are from rocks that missed the hood deflector and the mask. A mask or hood deflector is almost mandatory here in Colorado. My Avalon looked sandblasted after a year here. Lots of stray rocks and it seems like every time it flurries here in winter the CDOT drops about a million pounds of sand.


I am sure others have better advice. I would leave the skid plate and add a deflector or some sort of protection to the leading edge of your hood.

 

[ygmn]

have you read all the threads about bug deflectors....?

Lot of info from members ....check back on all the pages ....

Also check SKIDD thread above with FAQ as it will have links to some threads which will answer you deflector problem....

As for oil change issues with skid plate check over in the maintenance section...and read the threads about oil changes.....

HTH

 

[Lockout]

What is the 3M clear mask?

 

[docopharm]

What is the 3M clear mask?

It's like a clear piece of vinyl that overlays the front of the vehicle - check out http://www.xpel.com/. Pretty cool thing - not sure how it holds up though.

 

[Redhat]

I did see a long thread about the hood wind deflector. Opinions here seem 50-50 so I'll try the GM one and see if I like it.

Not as much info online about the skid plates. My 2500 didn't come with one (them?). A few comments I read make it sound like multiple parts. Does it have any disadvantages? Castle_Rock_AV why do you say it's not necessary? I'm just starting to drive off road and it seems like the more armor plates the better. Especially the way I drive

 

[Castle_Rock_AV]

I interpreted your original post to say that you had them and were going to take them off. It is actually a set of 2-4 (don't remember even though I spent most of Sunday morning under my Z-71. What I meant was that if you took them off, it would not affect your truck - other than leaving your underside unprotected.

If you are going to do any off-roading, I would recommend buying a set. They would bolt right up under your truck. They really do offer good protection of your transmission - transfer case.

ygmn makes a good point about oil changes. not to big of a deal with the 2003 5.3 since the oil drains toward the back. I get a few of the final drops out of the oil pan drip on the skid plate, but can wipe it off with a paper towel. Try a search on skid plate and oil change and see what issues there are - if any - with the 8.1

Lockout,
As docopharm stated, it is a fairly thick - clear - film that is stuck to the font of the hood and the side view mirrors. It can also be applied to the leading edge of the roof and the A-pillars. It seems to protect very well. The only big problem I have noticed is that some of the Zaino clay bar I used on the rest of the hood got stuck on the edge. Which makes it a little easier to see the line where the bra stops and the paint starts.

Very effective and well worth the $200 or so that aftermarket shops charge. Not the $350 the dealer was asking for it (was already on the truck when I picked it out).

Steve