P500 Which skid plates to get?

[Tall_Vol44]

This is my first ATV/UTV. The week after I got it I drove it in Colorado in the sangre de Cristo mountain range for 8 days straight looking for elk...
Lots of rocks and lots lots lots of bottoming out and lots of scrapes, (and being 6'7" lots and lots of hitting my head on the roof and roll cage - 27" tires and wheels are getting ordered on black Friday, and have Elka stage 1s ordered)
Will also be using this off trail in Tennessee couple times a year maybe.

I've gone through a lot of pages with the search function and haven't seen anything super recently regarding skid plate options for the p500. The 2 best (maybe only) options are the SSS w/ rock sliders & the SATV.

Everything I've read has been positive regarding performance for both options. I understand some people don't care for the business practices of one of the options, but this thread isn't about that.

Has anyone gotten one and wished they had gotten the other?
Is the price difference justifiable?
Are there design differences that makes one better than the other on the p500?
Any thoughts regarding one or the other?

 

[Admin]

 

[silvertrd09]

I have the SSS s.p., they have been great. If you do a lot of swamp riding there is not much for draining water/mud. I think sss might be thicker. I beat the crap out of mine in the west TX desert with Walker Evans Shocks set to soft riding mode. They have a rocker wrap around, (not really "around " but does give you good protection. That's all I got. Don't remember why I chose sss , maybe on sale? Idk. Good luck on your choice.

 

[The Green Goat]

I have the full SSS set on my p520 and have no complaints. I beat the s*** out of them. Only hiccup is a stray bolt broke off here and there from bashing rocks. Install wasn't too bad; some minor drilling/tapping/riv-nutting. They are pricey, but a necessity for Tennessee rocks. I wouldn't go there without them.

I think @KyGal83 has the SATV on her p500, so she might be able to provide you with some information on them.

 

[Remington]

This is my first ATV/UTV. The week after I got it I drove it in Colorado in the sangre de Cristo mountain range for 8 days straight looking for elk...
Lots of rocks and lots lots lots of bottoming out and lots of scrapes, (and being 6'7" lots and lots of hitting my head on the roof and roll cage - 27" tires and wheels are getting ordered on black Friday, and have Elka stage 1s ordered)
Will also be using this off trail in Tennessee couple times a year maybe.

I've gone through a lot of pages with the search function and haven't seen anything super recently regarding skid plate options for the p500. The 2 best (maybe only) options are the SSS w/ rock sliders & the SATV.

Everything I've read has been positive regarding performance for both options. I understand some people don't care for the business practices of one of the options, but this thread isn't about that.

Has anyone gotten one and wished they had gotten the other?
Is the price difference justifiable?
Are there design differences that makes one better than the other on the p500?
Any thoughts regarding one or the other?

I had the SATV skids on my P5, P1K5 and my Talon. Very happy with them on all my rides and beat the $hit out of them.
Now, if you contact @Hondasxs he can get you a discount on a set. I think @SuperATV is running a little better discount right now as well.
Please whatever you get, come back to the thread and post pics of it and the install so you dont leave us and others looking for skids hanging like Epstine😉

 

[Red500]

I also have the SSS with the "rock sliders". I have no experience with any other so I can't offer any comparison, but I do like them. My only complaints would be the ones already mentioned, they do hold mud and debris even after I've added a couple extra drain holes, and the self tapping bolts like to fall out occasionally.

 

[lee]

Another vote for SSS with rock slider (its just a 90* folded edge).
In the picture you can see how the turned up edge protects the step pipe.

The SSS re-uses the factory bolts / washers.
When / if you get the factory bolts out use anti-seize before replacing them.
If the bolt feels like it's not wanting to come out - they strip out really easily - use penetrating oil and or give it tap tap tap with a hammer to try and free it up.

The outside of the "wings" use sheet metal screws to attach them.
I used X-certs in to the step pipe and 10mm flange bolts.
I also sourced a few more of the stock skid-plate washers.

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Another vote for SSS with rock slider (its just a 90* folded edge).
In the picture you can see how the turned up edge protects the step pipe.
View attachment 449793

The SSS re-uses the factory bolts / washers.
When / if you get the factory bolts out use anti-seize before replacing them.
If the bolt feels like it's not wanting to come out - they strip out really easily - use penetrating oil and or give it tap tap tap with a hammer to try and free it up.

The outside of the "wings" use sheet metal screws to attach them.
I used X-certs in to the step pipe and 10mm flange bolts.
I also sourced a few more of the stock skid-plate washers.

Very nice of you to put yours on the side so you could share this example pic of the skid Lee. You’re a good guy!
Nomojic

 

[Red500]

Very nice of you to put yours on the side so you could share this example pic of the skid Lee. You’re a good guy!
Nomojic

He must be very proud of them cause I've seen him do that on a couple of occasions.

 

[futzin]

I have the SSS (no rock sliders) and am pleased with them, if not the price.

Use nutserts or plus nuts, as mentioned.
Self tappers are temporary...

 

[Red500]

I agree on the plus nuts or nutserts and I have replaced some of mine. I just haven't gotten to all of them yet.

 

[KyGal83]

@The Green Goat is correct. I do have the SuperATV skid on my P5 but it is designed for the P520. When I purchased mine the price of SSS was outrageous and it was on back order. I was in a rush getting ready for my first TO, right after Covid. It has worked great, took some hard hits.

That being said:
Some of the bolts don’t line up in the main section and @futzin & @CousinEddie replaced a lot of the hardware with plusnuts. Which seemed a lot of work… I just watched, they can attest to the difficulty of it. Knowing what I do, had the it been available & the price the current price… I would have went the SSS route. Which is what I will do when the SATV one needs replaced.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

@The Green Goat is correct. I do have the SuperATV skid on my P5 but it is designed for the P520. When I purchased mine the price of SSS was outrageous and it was on back order. I was in a rush getting ready for my first TO, right after Covid. It has worked great, took some hard hits.

That being said:
Some of the bolts don’t line up in the main section and @futzin & @CousinEddie replaced a lot of the hardware with plusnuts. Which seemed a lot of work… I just watched, they can attest to the difficulty of it. Knowing what I do, had the it been available & the price the current price… I would have went the SSS route. Which is what I will do when the SATV one needs replaced.

Thank you! That's the kind of insight I wanted to hear!
I've been leaning slightly* towards the SSS.

 

[futzin]

SSS has more coverage; at the front nose for example