The hydraulic valve and hoses for the loader are located between the front and rear wheels. It is very easy to damage them when operating in the woods or rough terrain. We have designed and fabricated a skid plate to protect these parts. It is made of welded 1/4 steel and powder coated for rust resistance. The skid plate bolts on to the tractor and requires one hole drilled in the loader frame gusset. There is a picture of the hole location posted in this listing. If you have questions, please contact me. Customers have told me it takes longer to gather the tools than it does to install ...