I've had the MORE engine & transmission skid (steel) on mine for 4 years. It takes a beating, but if you touch it up with some spray paint after each trip, rust isn't a problem.
I've had elbow issues off & on for the last 25 years, so I've tried everything there is with varying results. Came across this video recently and it has some great info in it. Hope it can help some of you with the same issues.
Welcome! Regarding the difficulty shifting in&out of 4L, try rolling very slowly, while in neutral. Also, it's always harder to shift at first until things break in.