Valhalla’s Shield theft deterrent/skid plates info and ordering post

The new and old style options on the website are for replacing all the bolts on the bottom of the plates. The 3/4 bolts connecting the Z bracket to the frame stay standard hex bolts. The $45 option only replaces 4 bolts where the new/old style is 6 bolts

 

As for the tapered washers, I am looking into options here, but I need to find an option that is cheaper than the bolts…

 

I think it’s just such a specialty product that they can gouge us. But if it makes the difference between the crackhead crawling under my truck moving on or not, $10 is worth some peace of mind.

 

I am entertaining the idea of contracting stamped metal washers

 

https://www.barnes4wd.com/12-to-916-Bolt-Head-Protector_p_1306.html

 

So, doesn’t necessarily pertain to y’all, but I just had a customer buy the blemish rear cat plate and while he was here, I checked to see if my plates would fit his LX570 (same as land cruiser chassis) and I checked the mounting points, and damn, it looks like the front skid plate and front cat plate will fit, rear cat plate is a no go though

 

I might have missed it, but any love for the Sequoia? I'd like to order one up for my wife's 2020 if so...let me know.

Also, any news on Order: R344945521 | Date: 2021-05-22?

 

Oh, these fit 2008-2021 sequoias

and I should be picking up your plate today from plasma cut and off to powder coat it goes

 

That's good news, I just ordered front and rear for hers, thanks again!

 

Bumping this post up, this answered a lot of questions for me.

 

@Classy63 - Order status check please - R194419641

 

@Classy63
Tyler, Please let me know what I need to do so I will get the correct Penta bolts when I pick up my front & rear 3/16” aluminum plates. I ordered my Penta bolts the first day they were available so they are the old style. I think my plates will be the new style, so my Penta bolt order is wrong. Also any completion estimate?
Covers- R432924295 (June 16)
Bolts- R192360659

Thanks!!

 

If you plan on ordering, expect to wait for a long long time, I ordered May 23 and it is August now and I am still waiting

 

Old plasma cutter vs new plasma cutter

(New left, old right)

 

These are getting cut next week

Your order should be ready, I will need to check against other orders. As for the bolts, you still have the correct ones

 

So, I just test fit the new plates and they fit! Going to make very minor changes on the next batch but nothing those who are getting plates in this batch should worry about.

The bad news
A 1/2” bolt will not fit through the frame at the back of the front cat plate. It fits through the first hole but not the second, shame on me for not checking. For those who ordered the “new style” bolts I will be refunding you $5 since these larger bolts won’t fit. That being said, the 1/2x4 bolts won’t go to waste as they will still replace the bolts at the front of the cat plate.

Another change I will measure for the next installation I do on a tundra is modifying the Z brackets for better fitment with the transfer case. I may be able to do away with the spacers all together, but I want to check to make sure first

 

@Classy63 Any update on the 3/16 aluminum plates? On the upswing or waiting nearly 3 months.

 

I got a partial batch in today, I shipped out 2 sets. I am waiting on a lot of rear plates that haven’t been cut yet…. I should have them in the next few days

 

Tyler,
I’m almost sorry to ask since you are so busy but do you have weights for the various rear cat plates and the front skid plate? (mostly interested in the aluminum)
I read almost every post but didn’t see any that covered this question.

Maybe some of you on here can weigh yours before installing and let Tyler know so he can update the first post. (and keep him from the extra distraction)

 

As much as I'd like to sift through all 57 pages, is there an update for installation on TRD Pro models? Is it still difficult, or has a better way been found?

 

These are weights I use for shipping, not necessarily the weight of the plate
Rear cat plate weights
1/8 steel 22 lbs
3/16 steel 33 lbs
3/16 aluminum 12 lbs
1/4 aluminum 16 lbs

This is the best I can tell you for my experience
Loosen the bolts at the back of the pro plate to the point that the nuts only have a thread or 2 holding them up there. You will need to shimmy my plate in between the pro plate and the frame. Install the rest of the plates.

I say there is about a 25% chance this works. I put my impact on the bolt and run it, sometimes it grabs and tightens up without a back up wrench. If you don’t get lucky, you can fish your hands in there, it isn’t easy or fun, but I do it on hot vehicles, on a cold vehicle it would be much easier not burning yourself on hot oil pans.

 

Hey Tyler, how we looking for my R820856448 order? Think you said it was in the batch your picking up this week? I've got to drive the truck to Cali next weekend and was hoping they might be heading my way

Thanks!

 

It is in the batch I am getting next week, plasma cut was running behind

 

Are you asking if the install with a TRD Pro skid plate is difficult? If so, I didn’t find it difficult at all.

I didn’t remove the skid plate (not sure why some are having to remove it). I loosened all the bolts to the skid plate (front and rear) so there was a big enough gap to slide the front cat skid in between. You have to kind of manhandle it into the Pro skid plate slots a bit and kind of slide it in as much as possible. At first it may seem hard to slide in because it’s hitting the frame rails on each side as it angles inwards (toward the front of the truck). But just keep wiggling it in until it looks like it won’t slide in any further - almost as if it’s stuck on the frame rails while you angle it in. Then reposition your body behind it and sit facing toward the front of the truck with your feet on the back of the front cat skid (I’m 6’ tall and was able to get into that position, although it’s tight). From there, grab onto something and use your leg strength to push it in all the way.

When bolting up the front cat plate to the Pro skid. Lay down flat, looking up towards the bolts and with your feet towards the rear diff. Squeeze an arm in between the control arm to grab onto the top nut with a wrench. With the other hand use another wrench to tighten. Do that for both nuts.

That’s the hardest part of all, but compared to manhandling and stabbing a trans into the back of the engine of a fullsize Ford Bronco on a sloping driveway, it’s a piece of cake. The rest of the cat skid install is easy. Just make sure you have a 1 1/8” socket for the large bolts.

 

I was most curious about the fit. I don't want a rattle trap mess. Is it solid? How exposed are the back cats?

If your experience is the norm, then this might be the one I pick. The CBI setup looks great, but they are out if stock, and I don't know if I can retain the TRD Pro skid.

 

The fit on mine is great. No rattles or anything like that, but I tightened those bolts down real good.

 

Regarding the back cat exposure, here are a couple posts with pics on 4WD. There is a lot more access to the rear cats if you have RWD.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/valhalla’s-shield-theft-deterrent-skid-plates-info-and-ordering-post.84911/page-3#post-2147981
https://www.tundras.com/threads/valhalla’s-shield-theft-deterrent-skid-plates-info-and-ordering-post.84911/page-10#post-2163443

 

I have no rattles or buzzing, but I also have the Valhalla engine skid plate since i only had the thin factory skid and for ease of the full plate set install. Key for no buzzing on the rear cat plate is to remove the small factory skid on the transfer case and use washers as spacers, if there is a gap, on the rear brackets when bolting to the plate.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/3rdtundras-2017-double-cab-build.92631/#post-2338309

 

I understand the whole purpose of the theft deterrent purpose of these shields and was wondering where do people steal these parts when they do? I have not considered this to be an issue in the past, but am considering it now but would like more info.