Skid plate really necessary?

2007 2WD Limited 5.7 didn't come with one.

 

Put the RCI on...money well spent plus it looks bad ass

 

It hangs by 2 hooks on the front.

 

Yep, I found them.

 

I’m not sure if it does, but sometimes I think it might cause unnecessary drag and the plate streamlines the air underneath. My truck did not have one when I bought it.

 

I thinks its more of an offroad feature, but carried over for aero dynamics ….

 

If we're talking about the stock splash guard, you'll be fine without it. It's good for stopping water and sand spray and that's about it. If someone needs a skid plate, they need something else anyway.

 

It would help keep some of the road debris from splashing up. We get a lot of rain here in the PNW.

 

I had an immaculate 4Runner engine bay for 15 years. I did the CV axles at 240k and forgot to put the skid plate on. I had to go through some watery ruts to pull someone out and the splashes must have hit the fan because every bit of pride I put in that engine bay was forever gone in that moment. The engine evaporated the water and everything in the bay was forever brown.

 

Also, I wouldn't be worried about messing up the stock plate if you cut a little too much. People buy heavy skids all of the time and the stock (gently used/junkyard) part doesn't command a lot of money.

 

I don't have anywhere near an immaculate engine bay. I'm going to try to clean it up but the aluminum engine parts look like crap. I doubt there's much I can do there. The plastic still cleans up OK.

 

I kind of like what this guy did.
Skid plate hole for filter replacement

 

Way back when a coworker had a 85 Celica GTS. One night while out and about on the interstate a car next to her hit something in the road and it must have sent it in front of her car. Before she realized it the oil light came on. She tried to pull over but by the time she could the damage was done. She didn't spin a rod bearing but her oil pressure was terrible so she still had to have the engine pulled and rebuilt.

I would leave it on if you have one. It may not be the strongest thing but it could save your engine. Plus it does stop water from spraying up on your engine. Do you need a seat belt? Most likely not..... until you do.

 

Wise words.

 

I have one but it's for a 2018 so I doubt it will work. Still yours if you want to come pick it up!

 

At 402K miles mine has been off and on about 80 times. Still there.

 

I think the only off roading I ever do is to drive my truck on the unpaved areas of my property.

 

I've been wanting to add the RCI offroad fuel tank skid, and transfer case skid on mine

 

Just FYI since I ran into this (my fault ... didn't read enough about it) but the RCI fuel skid uses the factory TRD Off Road package fuel tank straps. So if you don't have the off road package already then you'll also need to buy them from Toyota. Not a big deal and a pretty simple install to swap them but it's an extra $150 or so if you have the 38 gallon tank.

I saw some others that don't require the straps and have points that mount to the frame around the fuel tank instead. That being said i'm not regretting the RCI fuel tank skid at all but I might have gone in another direction if I had bothered to actually read their website

 

I would run it on. Reason has nothing to do with Toyota. I had a 95 f250 whose suspension design had no skid plate. One day realized I was leaking oil. Assumed this wa as due to rusty oil pan as was common on these trucks. Topped it off and put it off till the weekend. Got underneath and realized no issue with the pan. Then I realized there was a puncture hole in the oil filter from the road exposed side from road debris. This is why even though the factory plate is not much, I would run one.

 

I took mine off when i changed the oil and i left it off as i was intending to oil my underbody. I then lost the bolts so its leaning against my porch. In the spring im going to clean it up, paint, and reinstall. Meh.

 

Yes the filter is in a much more vulnerable place on the 4.7 than it would on a Ford V8. I still have a 94 F150 so I know.

 

Thanks...but I’ll have to pass. Won’t fit

 

I figured but i'm hoping to get it out of the garage before spring ... then I have to toss it in the trash so it's not taking up space.

 

Put it on Craigslist, someone will take it.

 

I have a 2019 TRD Pro....will I need the off road package fuel tank straps?

 

I would think the TRD Pro has a factory fuel tank skid. Just look underneath the fuel tank and if it's metal you can remove the 6 nuts that hold it to the strap and replace it with the RCI fuel tank skid plate. Should be a quick swap.

 

I've contemplated taking mine off and also adding an oil filter access hole.