Can we talk Skid Plate?

Sometimes the snow can get a bit high. I have ripped out the bottom plastic cover on my Ridgeline. When I get my Tundra, I was thinking of a skid plate.

Are there other options other than Toyota's as it is expensive at $550. Other brands?

Are they easy to install?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Lots of options. Install is pretty simple, but it can be tight under the truck. Especially when you are trying to bolt up a heavy piece of metal. I personally went with RCI Offroad because I wanted their rock sliders as well, but there are tons of options. If you just type "Skid Plate" in the search bar (upper right of the screen) then you should get lots of info.

 

Depending if you go off roading a steel skid option should be looked at but it isn’t cheap, but neither is a broken differential or gas tank or lower control arms. All depends on the level of protection needed.

 

RCI and Victory4x4 are good options and wont break the bank. much Heavier duty than the Toyota ones too.
RCI plate is good but the h/w started rusting on me real quick fyi.

 

Good to know. Was it the installation HW that rusted, or the little bolts for the filter door, or both?

 

both. supposed to be SS h/w but it rusted in no time and I'm in CA !..I bought replacement bolts at Home Depot since then.

 

I went with the steel RCI and love it—access door to the oil filter and much greater protection.

I’d suggest steel over aluminum—steel “slides” when aluminum “catches.” Don’t know any other way to explain it without a three hour lesson in metallurgy but I’m sure some know what I’m talking about.

 

Hmmmm. I don't like the sound of that. I'll keep an eye. Don't want a skid or a slider to fall of my truck. I will be pretty ticked if they gave me non SS bolts. I know it's not a ton of money for the HW, but that same logic can be applied to them providing it. Especially since they say they do.

 

yeah they were supposed to send me replacement bolts but I never got it

 

They drop the ball so I’ve heard and I had some washers missing for my skids, had to run to Ace and just ruined the flow of the assembly...

 

That sucks. Even if they were going to send me replacements, I would not be real happy. Some of those bolts were a PITA to get on and I don't wanna do it again.

 

I dunno maybe a bad batch but I wasn't the only one. There was a thread on it. It's really just the h/w, the plate is great.

 

RCI shipped out a few skids with non SS hardware due to a supplier shortage. That problem was quickly resolved and if I recall correctly, RCI shipped replacement SS fasteners for free if you needed them

 

Nice, but I was in the middle of my install when I had to get the washers from Ace...

 

ACE is my go to placeFYI.....it's always good to check contents for complete and correct parts before starting anything. I hate surprises.....

 

My being naive to think parts would be complete lol. But not a lot of mods for me to install now...

 

https://rcimetalworks.com/product-category/toyota/tundra/07-20-tundra/

 

I had extra fasteners. The right ones though.

 

Ohh you got the parts I was supposed to get lol

 

Still have them, but I might need them for my new skids when I get to that........

 

I broke down and had Toyota add their skid plate to the build. Does a skid plate make changing the oil and issue?

 

I bought the trd pro skid plate. I got it from Roman for the Black Friday deal. Free shipping and I think it was around $350 so I think that’s a good deal for it.

 

The factory skid plate has to be removed in order to change the oil. It’s not hard, but does get you in cramped quarters under the truck, and of course the first time you have to locate the bolts and screws, unhook the front of the plate, and remember how everything goes back.

plus, lots of criticisms about how flimsy the factory skid plate is.

 

bud built

 

This. First upgrade I did for my truck. Nice, solid skids.

 

Leftover parts just means you were much more efficient assembling it than the designers....
At least that's what I always tell myself

 

Now that's funny All these years of leftover parts and I never realized how efficient I was being.

 

@T-Guy69 the tundra comes with a skid plate. Definitely sufficient for where we live.

Did you order the TRD PRO skid plate?

 

Here is my OEM skid plate compared to the RCI one. I don't have a pic of it installed but definitely thicker gauge plus the access to do oil changes. I think if you kept the factory one and did your own maintenance you would probably end up just getting rid of it. At least I would. Damaged the factory one first day of off roading.

 

And, I have the rci one as well, definitely upgrade over stock and well worth it to me at least