The Skid Plate locks into the Basecamp 3. 0 Locking Tailgate Pad's existing strap system, so there's no separate hardware to install beyond threading the hooks through the anchor points and tightening down. Underneath sits a layer of dense padding with a soft, non-abrasive lining built to protect a bike's downtube and finish, not just add bulk where the frame rests. What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I've hauled a bike down a washboard road that would've left scuff marks on the downtube without something underneath it. The plate took the abuse instead of the frame, and the paint came out the other side clean."