I was watching this video last night from Victory 4X4 about their install of the Victory 4X4 skid plates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JLF9z_18SY

I saw that they removed some parts that they called crash bars and another thing they referred to as braces of some sort. They put the skid plates on after removing those parts, but those parts remained off.

Is keeping those parts off really a good thing? They look like they're rather sturdy things that would provide structure for the vehicle, and I'm not sure if the skid plates would be good replacements for those parts. I've got to wonder if skid plates that go on over these parts would be better for the vehicle in the long term.

I'm reminded of these cracks in the wheelwells that I've seen people have. Perhaps there's a correlation between removing these parts and a stretching of the wheelwell to the point of cracking? And if not this, then maybe something else?