TRD Skid Plate Question

I am interested in getting a TRD skid plate for my 2020 Limited. Besides looking really nice, it also looks like it will make accessing the oil filter easier. Who is the cheapest vendor to buy it from? Anyone running any specials on it? Thanks guys!

 

Are you absolutely set on the TRD plate? Third-party vendors offer equal or better plates for less money if you don’t care about it being a TRD part. If you want the TRD part, your local dealer will probably be your best bet to save on shipping $.

https://rcimetalworks.com/https:/rcimetalworks.com/07-19-tundra-engine-skid-plate/

 

+1 on the RCI

 

+2 on RCI.

 

Where are you located? I’d sell mine to get the RCI

+3 on RCI

 

I like the TRD one because it covers more than the RCI one, but, if you plan on doing more mods, namely suspension, getting the RCI one would save you the trouble of trimming the TRD one.

 

The coverage is negligible and the RCI is a far better plate for less money.

 

If you are comparing the RCI aluminum skidplate with the TRD pro skidplate the RCI plate is not any better. They both are the same thickness and as has already been mentioned, the RCI covers slightly less.
RCI does offer their skidplates in steel, which is heavier and can rust.

 

I prefer the ventilation of the RCI over the extra width on the TRD - I get not everyone lives in the desert so that may be less important to others.

 

I do like the TRD logo on the Toyota part. I will look into the RCI though. Any forum vendors selling the TRD?

 

RCI FTW, imho

 

RCI

 

I posted something similar but nobody wrote back. For those with RCI does it work on all lifts? I was going to go with the rough country but it doesn’t work with 3” lifts for some reason. Are there any other options for the 3rd Gen? Valhalla?

 

This is posted on the RCI product page

*Not compatible with 4″+ drop bracket lift kits (Does work with all 1-3″ coilover lift kits such as Toytec Boss)

 

Do the RCI…I have the TRD and it is a PITA to install and you have to use rubber gasket material where it touches the frame otherwise it is noisy…real noisy…do a search here..there is a thread that details this.

 

Not all aluminum TRD skidplates make noise. Mine has never made a single peep and I have added CB shims on the coil overs. I have nothing against RCI, in fact I ran their transfer case skidplate for years (only replaced it recently in favor of cat protection). But lots of people continue to say it’s superior to the OEM aluminum skid, and it’s really not. The price is pretty close too.

 

I like that rci has a steel option and it's easier to install. I don't see why you would need to take the plate off with any regularity for that to matter though.

 

I just picked up the TRD plate. I wanted aluminum and the lead time for most, including RCI, was too long. Shipping can be a killer so I bought at the local dealer.

 

Check your local CL or FB marketplace for someone that removed theirs due to the install of a lift. I was able to pick mine up for $150 with all the hardware.

 

Where are ya'll finding TRD skid plates? Every Toyota site I've checked says its a discontinued item with no way to order one.

 

https://www.sparksparts.com/oem-parts/toyota-trd-pro-front-skid-plate-ptr6034190?c=az0x

 

Well yeah, with $280 shipping, I don't need one that bad.
I've been looking at all the SoCal Toyota dealerships sites and they all say product no longer available.

 

Yeah, $700.00 is insane!

 

I'll probably just go with a Valhalla's Shield skid plate to match the cat shields I already have.
Like the OP, I was really wanting the TRD plate for the appearance, but not for that kind of coin.

 

Call your local dealer. They were actually in the warehouse in CA and it was shipped to my local dealer in about 4 business days (no shipping cost). I got mine for $500 even. Worth calling around as another dealer that is typically cheaper here in the metro area for parts wanted $550.

 

Shipping was the killer for the skid. For the larger parts Sparks has them cheaper but local was the same or cheaper when factoring shipping cost. The larger parts usually did not qualify for the shipping promos.

 

The advantage of the Valhalla engine skid plate is the ease of installation with the Valhalla cat protection plates. The Valhalla design uses a 3 piece engine skid plate to easily mount the front portion and rear portion (with the front cat plate) before finally bolting on the mid piece. This makes the install much easier with the cat plates than the TRD or RCI plates. The TRD and RCI plates can be installed with the Valhalla cat plates, but some contortionism is required. More details on the Vahalla installation here.

If you don't have Valhalla cat plates, then I would go with one of the other solutions.

 

Agreed. However Tyler is not yet making a front skid out of aluminum. I would have gone that route if he was but he needs a different welding rig for aluminum.

 

Very true. I went with 1/8" steel since I live in the South and am not doing any rock crawling.

 

So Tyler's front skid plate is three pieces? I only see one big skid plate, then the front cat plate, then the rear cat plate.
Or do you mean the whole system is three separate pieces?

Edit: OK, I looked at the pics closer, so his engine skid is a 2 piece, front and mid, with the mid tying in with the front cat plate. Am I looking at that right?