How critical is the front skid?

Just interested to hear what people think? How much, if any, in the way of structure, does it play a role? When daily driving on the street, is the protection it provides, actually amount to anything? I've had mine off for last little bit and wondering if I should bother putting it back on if I'm only planning on street travel in the foreseeable future.

 

The only thing I could think of is hitting something and ripping off the oil filter. Last year I came upon a semi tire on the interstate that I had no time to avoid. I was driving my wife's Rav4. I hit the shit out of that tire and immediate pulled over. Luckily her car has a canister style filter so it didn't do any damage. But I have since wondered how that tire could have damaged something else.


What is your reason for not wanting it on?

 

You never know what you could run over on the street. Skids more critical off road but still good idea on pavement.

 

Second that. I'd also be nervous about road debris or even a dead squirrel ripping off an ATF hose at 80mph on the highway.

 

I banged mine up a little when I first got the truck backing into a driveway. It was dark, I was zapped from driving 10 hours and just got into a hurry backing in. I'm sure it saved my oil filter and who knows what else. That is probably a rare situation, and most of the time it will not get hit if you are not off-road. However, may I ask why you do not want to put it on? Looks or inconvenience or something else? I think it's like 5 bolts or something.

 

@Baller just buy the Skid Row plate and then you can do oil changes without removing the skid plate.

 

It's inconvenience. I've got an RCD lift and where the skid bolts to the lower crossmember is a serious PITA to get to. I've thought about fabbing something to bolt to the lift's crossmember to make things MUCH easier. I may just have to get to work on that.

 

Will it work with the 6" RCD lift?

 

Mine was gone when I bought the truck, 30k of daily driving with no problems.

 

It should work with the RCD lift. Only problem I see is the rear mounting bolts will be tough to bolt on between the original cross member and the new cross member. There's only a about 1" gap. Plus it will not cover the new cross member with the RCD kit.

 

I wouldn't drive without one. I've had everything from tires to fallen trees appear in front of me on the road. 5 minutes of wrenching every 5k miles isn't a big deal.

 

I don't see any need for it if OP has a 6in lift and doesn't off road it.

 

My 2002 Sequoia and 2004 Tundra were the first 4WD vehicles I bought that came with skid plates under the engine and they were the first thing that I removed. I have been driving 4WD trucks for 45 years hunting, fishing and off-roading and never sustained engine damage from not having a skid plate under the engine.
I have had numerous lowered mustangs in my life, my wife drives a Camry and they have never had engine damage from road debris. So I figure if a lowered car is safe to drive down the road then my lifted 4WD should be safe from being damaged without a skid plate. I like the convince of not having if in my way for engine servicing and inspection. But if someone else wants theirs on I won't argue, we each have our own opinion.

 

The stock one isn't really a skid plate, just a splash guard. I've been driving all summer without mine as I've been working on the truck a lot. If I ever get everything buttoned up again I'll put it back on but I don't think its that important.

 

My daily driver is a lowered GTI, it has a heavy duty skid plate and its been used several times. To each their own.

 

I removed mine. I don't like the way it looks anyway. Just motivation to make something better. I'm probably in the minority of people that should have one though. Something about plowing into a sandy bank or ditch and stuffing the front end makes me cringe a little. The same goes for desert ditches in snow. Never know where I'll end up when I'm trying to carry speed to make a hill or something when it's slick and muddy/snowy in the desert. I've been alright so far though.

 

It’s so easy to zip it off and on with a cordless impact gun, I wouldn’t go without it.

 

I've mentioned this before here but several years ago in Orygun, I was headed in to town and came across a minor rockslide. I had nowhere to swerve. Two rocks took out the oil pan and disabled the car. I like skid plates.

 

The stock trd sport anyway is more than a splash guard. I gives front protection to the rubber boots cvt joints and oil pan. better than nothing.

 

When I got my truck it was missing the front splash guard/skid. I thought it looked weird without it (and I definitely like the looks better with it on), but I mainly found a used one for the protection. Lots of the A/C and radiator fins (and the drivebelt and pulleys) are exposed and I'd hate to take a rock through them. The truck sits high (2.25" lift) so there was a definite path for damage. We have a lot of tractor trailers and dump trucks here, so lots of bouncing rocks on the highways. I also didn't like the idea of water being able to splash these same areas with any rain or puddle.

 

While I can't say for certain, I would suspect it does. This skidplate uses the OEM mounting holes. So as long as those are still accessible I would think it should work.

This is one of those risk vs reward questions. The potential risks of not having a skid plate doesn't seem to outweigh the pros for me. That's just my opinion. I look at it the same way as my fire extinguisher and 9mm. The chances of me needing them are slim but the potential consequences of not having them are huge.

 

Well, because of the rarefied air that accompanies ALL Tundras, the skid plate is necessary to keep the vehicle planted on this good Earth by creating a powerful kinetic connection to the planet's gravitational force. Without the plate, Tundras would likely float away as the clouds do, when drawn by forces not of this world, for such trickery is the making of the gods themselves who have a real thirst for the great treasures of Earth, and we all know that Tundras are such a treasure. Removing the skid plate would be like removing your feet, and we all know that without our feet to anchor us to the ground, the hot air that constitutes our opinions would surely cause us to float away as well.

 

^^^ This ^^^

 

I would agree except the factory skid plate is not so much a fire extinguisher and 9mm but more a bottle of water and can of pepper spray. I've got nothing against it as it does no harm, but I also don't think its substantial enough to really help all that much either. An aftermarket armored one I would feel different about and is something I plan to make over the winter along with a new front bumper.

 

Have to agree with any and all reasons given above by others....just like Am Ex "Don't leave Home without it".
Did recently remove the front skid plate tho !

 

Their website just shows skid plates for Tundras from 1999-2006.

 

Correct. That's why this is posted in the 1st(cough:best) Gen section.

 

Here, here, what he said ^^^.

 

The skid does come off easy with a cordless driver, but it also can get installed with same cordless driver by the next retard and cross the threads.

I've been driving 4 x 4vtoyitas since 1998, is seems those bolts are cross threaded or rusted solid.

I pull mine off the 1st time I do service and toss them in the scrap pile.

I got insurance if I hit something in the road. I've had no near misses on the trail.

If you want it, keep it, if not, you most likely won't miss it.

 

Cheaper than a new engine... I've seen 4x4s dead on the trail because something holed the radiator or oil pan. I've personally hit an empty 5 gallon bucket at highway speeds that caused all sorts of discomfort to the underside of my old POS Bronco 2. No guards on that pinnacle of Ford engineering, and I had to replace the radiator due to a 2 dollar piece of plastic. Put the guard back on. Heck, you can have my old stock one if you're ever in the Richmond, VA area. Chances are you'll never need it daily driving, but why take the risk?