Skid plates are always a good idea, and on a lot of builds can be incorporated to look and work good.... Whenever it's possible I try to keep the oil and trans pans above the bottom of the frame rails, sometimes that means either sacrificing the "low look" or interior foot room but a necessary evil considering some of the nasty roads! Aluminum pans certainly aren't the answer for all builds, but with some careful planning they can certainly be run on the street...