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Owners of SUVs are probably familiar with such a concept as a protective plate. It is placed on the bottom of the car and prevents it from being damaged when driving on rocky roads. Often a single hit is enough to cause extensive damage and even bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Protecting the engine crankcase will help save you from such problems.
What parts does steel protection protect?
Protective plateis an underrated accessory that is often ignored, and in vain. Some products offer more protection than others. But in any case, a good set of protective plates should always start from the front of the SUV, smoothly transitioning from the bumper to the bottom. This will protect the radiator from stones, branches, and road debris.
Also, the plates must protect such details as:
- steering rack;
- engine oil pan;
- front differential;
- distribution box;
- transmission;
- fuel tank
Replacing most of the named components is not a cheap pleasure.
Does the car really need bottom protection?
Often, on SUVs, there are no protective plates at all, or thin factory products are used, or "noise-absorbing mats" are used in general. Regular elements, of course, are better than if there were no protection at all. But usually they are made of plastic or thin metal, only the engine and radiator are closed, and other nodes on the bottom remain open. Just one hit of a "self-confident" stone can puncture the oil pan or disable the gearbox or engine. Repair costs can be significantly more expensive than buying a single set of protective plates. Also, one cannot fail to note the fact that the car must be delivered to the service station by a tow truck in the event of a puncture. If the breakdown occurred in a place remote from civilization, the complexity and price of the task increases many times. During the repair, the car owner remains without a means of transportation.
Off-road bottom protection is made of thick metal sheets. They are able to cope with strong impacts on obstacles on the road. Also, such products cope with part of the car's weight, for example, when going down a steep ledge, helping the car to slip and go down to a flat area like skiing.
In addition to the direct function, the protection of the gearbox and gas tank has a number of other advantages:
- help to overcome obstacles with minimal resistance, which is especially relevant when making a path through deep snow, driving on rocky terrain;
- give more confidence when conquering off-road;
- improve the aerodynamics of the car due to a smooth profile;
- reduce pollution of the pallet and other nodes.
As for the disadvantages, a slight increase in the weight of the vehicle can be noted here. But at the same time, the center of gravity is reduced, which has a positive effect on controllability and stability.
What materials are protective plates made of?
For the production of bottom protection, manufacturers use aluminum or steel. Products with a thickness of about 3 mm are sufficient for ordinary rough terrain, for difficult conditions it is recommended to choose steel plates with a thickness of 4.5-5 mm, aluminum plates with a thickness of 6-6.5 mm. Steel products are stronger, but they also weigh more. A mandatory condition when choosing is the presence of an anti-corrosion coating and minimal impact on road clearance. Technological openings for maintenance will be a plus.
You can choose protection of the engine and other parts of the bottom for popular models of SUVs in the online storeVnedorognik. Familiarize yourself with the assortment, place an order, and we will quickly deliver to your place of residence.
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