Once a T6 stops being a people carrier and starts hauling you into the backcountry with a roof tent, a rack and a full load, it is not only mass that goes up — so does the chance of something under the floor taking a hit. This is the strongest full underbody package Rival offers for the 4WD T6.

What it covers. Four plates: engine with gearbox, exhaust pipe, fuel tank and differential.

6.0 mm aluminium. Every plate in the set is pressed from 6.0 mm aluminium sheet in silver. The thicker material gives more reserve against concentrated impacts — a rock, a ledge, a frozen rut — while still building lighter than steel of comparable resistance.

Installation. Factory mounting points and a complete fitting kit. With four plates it is worth doing the whole job on a lift in one session.

Fitment and limitation. Volkswagen T6 4WD from 2015, all versions except Euro6.

• Four plates: engine with gearbox, exhaust, fuel tank, differential
• 6.0 mm aluminium, silver finish
• Fitting kit included, factory mounting points
• VW T6 4WD from 2015, not for Euro6 versions

If you are building the T6 into an expedition vehicle, this is the version to go to straight away — upgrading later means a second trip onto the lift.