I have 17,000 miles on mine now and haven’t had an issue, but really do no off-roading more than a fire road. I had originally wanted to keep the cut out and find a way to re incorporate it but it just didn’t work! Obiv it’s not been high on my priority list but I would just like to get a rubber...
I did something similar on my 21' in the first 1000 miles. I used a 6" diamond blade hole saw. I am running the Jowett Filter housing & ez drain valve on the pan.