Are skid pans a necessity?

[HarryT]

I've got a 2002 Argo Response that isn't equipped with a skid pan. Being that its over 11 years old (124 hours on the clock) and in good shape, should I worry about damaging the belly swamp riding?

[guyfox]

I think it all depends on how much you use it and the type of terrain you are going over. There are many early machines that did not have skid plates. Some are still in use as well. On the other hand I am on my second skid plate for my machine (I am the second owner, 2002 conquest). I use my machine over a lot of tree stumps and rough hard ground.

The skid plate will protect your machine.

[Southarkrob]

I am a complete noob when it comes to these atvs...I am going to be looking at a 2005 response...can somebody post a pic of what the skid pan looks like??

[guyfox]

I am a complete noob when it comes to these atvs...I am going to be looking at a 2005 response...can somebody post a pic of what the skid pan looks like??

You can do a google search for a pic of the skid plate. It is the piece that goes on the bottom of the machine to protect the bottom of the machine.

[northerner]

I've got a 2002 Argo Response that isn't equipped with a skid pan. Being that its over 11 years old (124 hours on the clock) and in good shape, should I worry about damaging the belly swamp riding?

i wouldnt go with out it. even with a skidplate the belly on my bigfoot caves in when jumping stumps. Your machine may be 11 years old, but 124 hrs is like new in my books! hasnt seen alot of use yet. Got yourself a good one.

[North Country Tough]

Since you are looking for a cross section of opinions here is mine,on my early machines I have "Holed the Tub"without a skid plate,on my last fourish machines I opted out of a skid plate,the reason I extensively use my machine in water and felt that to drill the tub full of holes to add one could wait,if I happen to puncture the tub I will repair it and silicone and then put a plate on over it,I run in Northern Ontario all of the time and have not holed one in 25 plus years,mostly run trails and forest access roads so not to much to bother it,the tub is pretty robust after all it is backed by a pretty hefty floor plate inside.JMO NCT