Thanks, excellent food for thought. The mpg question is more about curiosity. It will be my daily driver so it is relevant. i don't want to go 4-wheeling to see how much I can do, rather have an ability to access backcountry for hiking, camping and hunting. Most of the time it's not too bad. It's when trails are partially washed out, it's snowed some, there are a couple steep and challenging sections, etc., that things get interesting. It seems a lift, skid plates and quality tires would be the bare minimum. A winch could be handy.

Edit: recommended skid plate brand? I have the 36 gal fuel tank.

 

RCI Metalworks

 

Talk about full coverage! That looks great, mind if I ask how much coverage like that will run me?

 

Ive been looking at a set of these. Here are the prices.

10 guage steel (black piwdercoat) $495
1/4" 5052 Aluminum $720
1/4" 5052 Aluminum (black powdercoat) $840

Those prices are for the whole set. 4 pieces. You can also buy the individual pieces seperately from their website or ebay.

Rcimetalworks.com.

 

It depends on the metal and finish you choose. I have the powder coated aluminum system which runs $840. At the time I purchased mine the fuel tank skid was not available yet. The fuel tank skid is another $315 and if you don't have OEM plates an additional $75 will be needed for the brackets. So you're looking at $1,230.00 for the aluminum black powder coated full coverage system.

 

FWIW, we went off-roading once (Waiparous area in AB) in a bone stock '13 Lariat, including crappy SR-A stock tires. Nothing insane, but certainly rougher in places than your average access trail to most hiking spots in the Rockies we have been to so far.

There were a few washed-out spots where we got some good suspension flex, 2 river crossings, my extended running boards scraped on a few rocks at times and the truck now has some pinstriping... other than that, it did great.

What I'm trying to say is this: if you are going hiking 2-3 times a year, but also concerned about MPG, don't go all crazy on heavy tires, steel front bumper, lift, etc... the trade-offs may or may not be worth it for you.

 

You might check that a bit closer. The full system price is for 3 piece coverage and does NOT include the fuel tank skid.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I thought i had read it included all four pieces but you are correct.

 

All good. Just trying to prevent someone from being highly disappointed.

 

I have the steel RCI skid plates and they are awesome.