Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I havent really seen much on bashplates for the Gen4 LWB here on the forum...

I'm keen on getting a single piece on for the front, and something for the rear (to protect the fuel tank / rear bumper). Frontrunner and For Four seems to be the only good place to get both these? (lynx only has separate pieces for the front)

Do they affect ground clearance? If these the above mentioned guys install the plates, does it affect vehicle warranty?

Also, considering a long range tank (but thinking it might not be necessary for the diesel). Does it also fit below the current fuel tank (as per the Gen3)?

I think it is wise to invest in under-car protection - front and rear.

The Gen 4 has expensive technology hidden there, protected by plastic - not a good idea if you go rock-crawling!

The "tupperware" (especially rear bumper easily dislodges in sand, and if you do not have custom bumpers, a rear protection plate will be usefull in preventing such damage.

The stock protection plates are slightly thicker than a coke can, and will easily give way under a bash in the bush. I see forum members recommend 4mm plating for this...

Depending on design, these protection plates shouldn't influence clearances.

Anton

Hi there

My front plate was fitted by Charles Brown, and I am very happy with it.

The fuel tank protection plate will cost you ground clearance and mass. The fuel tank is huge (long) and that takes some protecting. But, I've done many (crazy) things in my Paj, and the tank is still unscathed

The rear, I made myself. At the time, there was nothing on the market. Yes, the LR fuel tank goes under the area behind the wheels where the rear seats fold into. But, I think its a 40 odd litre tank and in my mind hardly worth the loss in ground clearance. I would rather get a plate made up (mine is 6mm) that comes up past the bumper. See also here: https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/sh ... hp?t=24132 (see post 76 on page 4)

Under body protection was the first thing I did, funny enough it also helped me a hell of a lot when I hit a dog on the Highway one night...only had to remove hair from the groves in the bash plate. I am fitting a Gearbox protection plate soon as well.

why did you guys not fit a single front plate for both sump and gearbox?

think I agree on the LR fueltank... want to fit a roofrack anyway, and wont need more than 2 cans of juice.

kmroloff wrote:why did you guys not fit a single front plate for both sump and gearbox?

Because the Bash plate is made from 4.2mm steel, the same steel they use to make load-bins for trucks. It weighs 26kg. The Gearbox plate weighs 16kg's. try and convince a Mechanic that to take 42kg and carry it around on your head is fun would be difficult. 2nd reason is that when the car needs a service, you only need to remove the Gearbox plate to get to the oil filter just inside the bashplate.

Makes sense....

Will the dealership moan if I have the car serviced there with the bashplate for the gearbox & front sump? (still got a year left on my maintenance plan)

They shouldn't. Make sure you tell them that there is a small access plate that they need to remove to drain the oil. Also, when picking up your car, make sure they put it back!
The plate I have under my car has that facility, but have found that they just take off the whole plate as they are too lazy to remove the four countersunk bolts..... Grrrr and then they dont pull it up tight.

The access plate work well.

I cannot comment about the one going under the gearbox.