I just left it. It's only in 4wd and it has a nice smooth curved dint that almost looks like it's ment to be there and only hits under huge amounts of load in low range
do you have an aftermarket dump pipe. if You do it could be hiting the uni joint on the front drive shaft mine does this has a nice dint in the dump pipe. the dump pipe move wen the engine twists
I have my hight lift, 3rd battery, 20ltr air tank tank, 2ltr water tank and 9500 pound warn winch all under my tray could squeezeore stuff unde if I wanted
you wouldn't need a steel plate for the cage my floor doesn't go anywhere, and I made mine this wide so no trees or anything would get stuck on the tray if the slide down the side of the car