Aluminum skids are sold by small companies that can't afford to make/order pressed lightweight steel. Toyota and ARB skids are lightweight steel. Note the horizontal corrugations in the FE Toyota front skid. Engineering and pressing metals is a major expertise of all auto companies. The reason small company skids are flat is that they don't have Toyota and ARBs resources and knowledge.
There is a place for heavy steel on rock crawlers that literally rest the vehicle on the skids. This protection costs 150-200lbs.
So, unlike what Youtube says, the choice is not between aluminum and steel. The choice is between aluminum, lightweight engineered steel, and heavy steel plate. Aluminum is relativeley weak and tends to snag on rocks being dragged underneath. Alunimun skids are sold because its practical to fabricate and sell at a profit. It's promoted by influencers who mostly don't know better.
In the last youtube I watch the guy was advocating for an aluminum front bumper so that heavy skids could be used. Maybe that's good logic for a rock crawlers, but I think its backwards for most people. Only a steel front bumper/bull bar will prevent a disablement from an animal strike. I think lightweight steel skids and a proper steel bullbar maximizes risk reduction within a proper vehicle weight budget.
Pressed steel
There is a place for heavy steel on rock crawlers that literally rest the vehicle on the skids. This protection costs 150-200lbs.
So, unlike what Youtube says, the choice is not between aluminum and steel. The choice is between aluminum, lightweight engineered steel, and heavy steel plate. Aluminum is relativeley weak and tends to snag on rocks being dragged underneath. Alunimun skids are sold because its practical to fabricate and sell at a profit. It's promoted by influencers who mostly don't know better.
In the last youtube I watch the guy was advocating for an aluminum front bumper so that heavy skids could be used. Maybe that's good logic for a rock crawlers, but I think its backwards for most people. Only a steel front bumper/bull bar will prevent a disablement from an animal strike. I think lightweight steel skids and a proper steel bullbar maximizes risk reduction within a proper vehicle weight budget.
Pressed steel