Went to get an oil change and the mechanic was surprised that I didn't have a skid plate, said they were stock on Land Rovers, which I had never heard before. Just wondering if I should invest in one to protect the engine, or is it really necessary?

 

No it is not necassary.
DII's come with a plastic cover under the engine bay, but most remove it as it is worthless.

 

To me the only thing really needed if you are going to be wheeling a lot are diff guards as they are the lowest points of contact underneath. That's the only guarding I have on my D1 and I do some rugged trails. They can be had pretty cheaply.

 

I'd recommend at least buying diff guards if nothing else.

 

Full skid plates under the engine and transmission make maintenance more difficult. If there are not access holes cut at the drain plugs and stuff the skid plate will have to be removed just to do a simple oil change. Unless you plan on doing serious four wheeling where you expect to have rocks smashing against the bottom of the vehicle on a regualr basis I would stick to just diff guards like the others said.

 

We are forgetting that LR was smart enough to put all the "fragile" stuff up inside the frame rails, so little to nothing sticks down to where it can be destroyed when driving across the Amazon.
I would buy a skid plate for the fuel tank before I bought one for the engine.
Even that is a maybe, LR uses plastic fuel tanks so they can take abuse, and the fuel pumps are designed so that even if they are crushed they will still work. That is why they are so expensive.

 

I thought the fuel pumps were expensive just because it's a Rover.

 

What are the best diff guards to get on a poor man's budget??

 

Whatever you can afford.
Do you drive off road alot? Rock crawl or straddle stumps?

 

off roading is a minimal for me. I'm just into tearing up people's lawn.....just kidding!!! hahhaa. But seriously, mostly highway/city miles, from home to work and school pretty much.