adding oem skid plates to regular 4x4 silverado 1500

jwester34 · December 10, 2015

has anyone added the oem skid plates to a regular 2015 LT 4x4? these would be the same ones a z71 has... i found all the parts online... looks like for less than $150 you can have the same feature as a z71.

thoughts, anyone done this? am i missing anything?

(see attached picture)

Edited December 10, 2015 by jwester34

moosehead1 · December 10, 2015

Are the OEM skids trailworthy, or something thin/flimsy/plastic?

DanY · December 10, 2015

My High Country 4x4 came with the front skid plate, if you can call it that. It is just a plastic shield from the radiator support to the front cross member. I think the brackets listed in your parts list are the reinforcing that is under the plastic shield. You can't see the brackets with the plate installed. I think you have all the parts for the front plate. I can crawl under the truck tonight and try to see if there are any other parts.

The other skid plate on the Z71 is the aluminum one that goes under the transfer case. I bought the transfer case skid plate off of Ebay for around $30. The transfer case plate needs mounted with 4 self tapping bolts, I think the same bots as the last item on your parts list. I was in a hurry and couldn't find them online at a good price so I purchased them from the dealer. The 4 bolts cost more than the skid plate.

jwester34 · December 10, 2015

thanks for replies so far... found some other threads in my search... but nothing with a complete list like mine.

I guess something is better than nothing... but looking at after market metal plates too.

stevencox93 · December 10, 2015

Just fab you up some out of thicker sheet metal and have them bolt up to factory holes. When I had and Xterra thats what all us guys did but we put skids under the whole rig so the hard part was making bends that didn't interfere with flex

Silverado-Hareek · December 10, 2015

... but looking at after market metal plates too.

I don't think these exist in the research I've done. You'd have to get them custom fabricated.

I agree though for a lot less money, you can add the benefits of the Z71 package for much less than the cost of the package. In my opinion, the only reason to pay up for the Z71 package at all is to get the less chrome-y grill and the carbon fiber looking gauge cluster. But the Rancho shocks are garbage, the "skid plates" are laughable, and you can't get stock size BF Goodrich KO tires for the 18" rims in load range D. I wish I had the 17" rims from my old truck, and I'm eventually adding Bilstien shocks and replacing this Rancho junk.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Silverado-Hareek

jwester34 · December 10, 2015

the "skid plates" are laughable,

so are you saying they are not worth the $170 or so dollars to add to a non z71 silverado?

agree with you on your other points... Bilstiens and good tires will be going on when these wear out.

Edited December 10, 2015 by jwester34

jrob56 · December 10, 2015

that front plastic part is on my non Z71 LTZ, just flimsy plastic. make sure its not already on your truck

Edited December 10, 2015 by jrob56

15 Z71 · December 10, 2015

My 06 z71 had pretty good skid plates. At least they were not plastic. I got a 2015 GMC Sierra z71 now. Was going to get just a 4x4 but this had more options and bridge stone dueler A/T's on it. And I did not the good years. I was thinking of doing the same thing if I got a 4x4.

Silverado-Hareek · December 10, 2015

so are you saying they are not worth the $170 or so dollars to add to a non z71 silverado?

agree with you on your other points... Bilstiens and good tires will be going on when these wear out.

No I'm saying the $3,000 price tag to get the Z71 package isn't really worth it from an off-road standpoint. But since there are no real aftermarket plates of any kind for these trucks, yes I would definitely pay the $170 to have some kind of protection.

15 Z71 · December 10, 2015

Wow,3000$ for the z71? I looked at my window sticker, mine was an extra 775$.

newdude · December 10, 2015

All Z71 and non Z71 4x4 trucks have that shield and braces that you are looking at. That is the engine shield. Heck even the 2wd have that. The only optional skid plate is the transfer case. Z71 gets the t-case skid standard, 4x4 its optional.

There is a full metal skid replacement set you can get which is a 3 piece kit. You get the plastic engine front piece, a metal oil pan piece and the transfer case piece and bolts. 23176881 is the kit for V8 trucks, retails for $250. The full metal kit is an accessory only either after the fact or when the truck is ordered as a dealer installed accessory.

amxguy1970 · December 10, 2015

All Z71 and non Z71 4x4 trucks have that shield and braces that you are looking at. That is the engine shield. Heck even the 2wd have that. The only optional skid plate is the transfer case. Z71 gets the t-case skid standard, 4x4 its optional.

There is a full metal skid replacement set you can get which is a 3 piece kit. You get the plastic engine front piece, a metal oil pan piece and the transfer case piece and bolts. 23176881 is the kit for V8 trucks, retails for $250. The full metal kit is an accessory only either after the fact or when the truck is ordered as a dealer installed accessory.

Is this the kit you are talking about?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-23176881-Underbody-Skid-Shield-2015-Tahoe-Silverado-Sierra-Genuine-OEM-GM-/231389136771

That actually has some metal protection for the oil pan! Wonder if you are able to just get the oil pan plate since the Z71 has the other two?

Tyler

Edited December 10, 2015 by amxguy1970

redwngr · December 10, 2015

Z71 also includes the new 'Hill Descent Control" feature (the one that works sort of like cruise, but will only works when between 2 and 14 mph) as well as the trim changes on silverado (no trim differences on sierra except the label on front fender), different shocks and the description also says a different air filter.

Coppertone · December 10, 2015

Is this the kit you are talking about?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-23176881-Underbody-Skid-Shield-2015-Tahoe-Silverado-Sierra-Genuine-OEM-GM-/231389136771

That actually has some metal protection for the oil pan! Wonder if you are able to just get the oil pan plate since the Z71 has the other two?

Tyler

I'd be interested in this as well if someone can confirm this will fit a 2015 non-z71.