Cali Raised LED GX460 Trail Edition Rock Sliders and RCI Offroad 3/16-inch Steel Engine Skid Plate are decent value. Quick question tho - what's ur budget?? I think price matters!!

Check out the GXOR community forums; its a huge resource for KDSS owners. In overlanding, the transfer case is ur Achilles heel. A single rock can crack the housing and leave you stranded... - BudBuilt GX460 Full Skid Plate Set: Max safety, but its heavy.
- ARB GX460 Under Vehicle Protection: Lighter and tested for safety standards. I mean, BudBuilt is beefier, but be careful with the weight on ur daily driver. gl!

Adding my two cents since I did most of my build in the driveway. Before you go nuts on heavy armor, you really need to address the departure angle and your air setup. That rear bumper is basically a giant plastic shovel and it will get ripped off on any decent incline. I would suggest looking at the MetalTech 4x4 GX460 Rear Bumper Shell Trim Kit first. It lets you cut that low plastic away without replacing the whole steel bumper, which saves a ton of weight and cash. Be careful with the KDSS system when you lift it too. It might want to lean to one side or feel weird if the geometry is off. I would suggest the Blackgate Customs KDSS Spacer Kit to keep everything leveled out and smooth. Its a DIY job but take your time with the bolts. Lastly, dont forget an air compressor. If youre hitting trails, you gotta air down for traction and comfort. The Viair 400P Portable Air Compressor is a solid workhorse that wont let you down when youre trying to get home. Just make sure to hook it to the battery directly, dont try using the cigarette lighter or youll pop a fuse. It makes the drive home way more comfortable.

Sooo happy for you!! Honestly, I went through this last year with my GX and it was such a blast (and kinda stressful lol). I was super worried about that low-hanging rear bumper too cuz it literally feels like a plastic sail sometimes!! Just sharing my experience: I actually debated between full steel vs aluminum skids for the underbody protection. Aluminum is AMAZING for keeping the weight down so KDSS stays happy for your daily commute, but steel is basically bombproof if you're hitting technical rocks. I ended up going with a different set of sliders than the ones mentioned before just to save my doors!! Quick questions tho: are you planning to keep the stock bumpers for a while or go high-clearance eventually?? Also, what's ur budget look like for this first phase? Idk if you want to do it all at once or piece by piece, but it's an amazing journey! Peace 👍

Tbh, compare Victory 4x4 Blitz Rock Sliders (lighter/cheaper) vs White Knuckle Off Road GX460 Rock Sliders (sturdier) vs stock steps (junk). Victory is lowkey the best choice for value. Then, grab Falken Wildpeak A/T4W LT265/70R17 tires over BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 for KDSS comfort. Basically: Sliders > Tires > Skids. Dont overspend on heavy skids just yet tho!

Congrats on the GX! Honestly, if youre worried about reliability and safety while doing the work yourself - which is totally doable with some basic tools - I'd suggest starting with things that protect the drivetrain before you get too wild. I did all my early installs in the driveway and its basically the best way to really learn how the rig works. * Go with **Dobinsons** for your suspension - they really know how to handle the KDSS geometry so you wont mess up the ride quality.
* Get a diff breather kit from **Ironman 4x4** - its a super simple DIY safety mod thatll save your rear end if you hit any deep puddles.
* Just get some recovery boards from **Maxtrax** - being able to get yourself unstuck without needing a winch or another truck is a huge peace of mind thing. Anyway, just take it slow with the heavy steel armor because once you bolt all that weight on, it really changes how the truck feels during your commute. Doing the work yourself helps you spot potential issues before they leave you stranded on a trail tho.