Have seen posts that the skip plates help make for a messy oil change. I don't plan on competing with Joey Chitwood DareDevil Driving, Baha Jumping 18 inch tree stumps, or anything else to strenous on me or the truck. So can I assume it's no big deal to just take the plate off, or does it have another purpose I'm not aware of?

I would leave it on. It is there for a reason. You'll regret it if you ever do hit something. I don't take mine off when I change my oil and I don't find it messy at all. Your better bet would be to get a fulmoto valve or whatever they are called. Edited by: Max Power

You are right about there being a reason it is there. I just figured the reason was the 'Snow Plow' package that came on the truck. My version of off roading is the gravel road in a campground as compared to the interstates. And a snowplow is completely out of the question.

I would never take my skidplates off even if I never left the pavement. I do a lot of two track driving but never drive fast and my skid plates look like hell in about 3 months. A little oil dribbling on the ground beats the horrible damage a chuck of road debry will do to an unprotected engine or transfer case. You could probably locate the low spot on the skid plate and drill a drain hole there(with the skid plate off the truck). If you kept it clean, most would drain off.

Go with a Fumoto oil pan drain plug with the optional valve and there will be minimal, if any, oil spill.

I have the snowplow package also. What is really stupid about the package including skid plates is that almost all snowplow mounts require the skid plates to be removed.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif I actually removed and reinstalled my mount and skid plates on my last truck every year.

Sounds like the skip plate stays. Where do we get those fumoto valves? This the first truck I've had that I can get 48 years worth of Miller-Lite-Belly under there without having to get up on ramps.

Sounds like the skip plate stays. Where do we get those fumoto valves? This the first truck I've had that I can get 48 years worth of Miller-Lite-Belly under there without having to get up on ramps.

the fumoto valve can be got at www.lubespecialists.com (http://www.lubespecialist.com) Another suggestion I had, but have not tried yet, is get a piece of heavy duty tin foil and make a drip tray to keep the oil off the drip pan. I think another member suggested using the filter box to channel the oil into the pan. Taking the skip plate off and putting it back on is easier with a air ratchet wrench.

Jim

Fumoto is the way to go, lots of venders here have them.

Fram makes a drain plug that fit the Dmax (#S2- I think), it has a screw on fitting with hose. I can drain the pan into an empty Shell Rotella bottle without spilling a drop. (except for the time the hose came off and drained all over the driveway). Now that I'm more carefull it works great.

You mean miller lite is not low carb? LOL! Guess I'll stay with reg. miller!