Skid plate vs. grill guard

I spend probably 25 days a year driving around on rough two track roads here in Montana.
The rest of the time I'm driving highway speeds in areas full of deer and in winter on icy roads.

My installer says he will have to remove and leave off the Toyota skid plate and factory tow hooks to install a Blackhorse grill guard. What should I do, not install the grill guard, or have it installed but lose the protection of the skid plate and convenience of the tow hooks?

 

Skip the grill guard, if you hit anything it will cause more damage than without... living in CO, MT and ID for 33 years I know! Get a real bumper if you want protection. Fab fours, C4, etc. with a big high bull bar will be the best and you want to add real skid plates, look @RCIoffroad

 

I'd second the above message. Also to add more vendor names in front of you, check out Victory4x4 on the forum here.
They currently only have a hybrid bumper, but their skids are available and they are working on a full bumper if memory serves me.

@brimy311 can possibly add some more info to the above once they return from their trip out west.

 

Also from Montana, I’ve got a grill guard. Lots of pheasants where I live and in my old Subaru I smoked one at 65 mph and it destroyed the grill and I ended up filing an insurance claim for the damage. $1700 in repairs.

When I got my Tundra I always thought they looked cool and it cost way less than my deductible from the pheasant in the old car so I was happy. My RCI skid fits with my Frontier guard but I did have to lose the tow hooks.

If I had a newer truck I’d get the integrated bumper style but if I wreck this thing that badly it just means it’s time to upgrade!

 

Modifications can be made to fit any thing properly, I’d ask another installer the same questions. Good luck.

 

As said, find another installer.

Anyone can install something, you need someone to fit it to your truck

 

Hard to beat the toughness of a RanchHand bumper or grill.. and yes you retain your tow hooks with the RH grille and RCI skid will fit.

 

...I do recommend forgoing the grill guard and get a RanchHand bumper/RCI skid combo.