Stock 6lug skid plate on 5lugger Taco

I wanted to try this, I knew that most likely the bolt holes won't line up, however I was pretty certain that the skid itself will fit. I researched and some people make skid plates for 5lugger Tacos, however those can be expensive... around $200 shipped, that definietly wasn't in my budget....
I posted a thread in the AZ section asking if anyone has stock 6lugger skid plate laying around. I wanted to come by and test fit the skid, just to see if it works. Even used the stock 6lugger skid plate is cheaper than custom 5lug skid plate.

Fellow member OH-MAN pm'd me and told me he has two stock 6lug skid plates laying around and that I can have one. I was stoked! I came by the next day and got the skid plate from him. Many, many thanks to OH-MAN for giving me the skid plate! Thanks to him I was able to verify that stock 6lugger skid will fit 5lug Tacos!

Then I went to my buddies house where we talked about how to mount it. No holes lined up. So this had to be completely custom. I figured out where I want the mounting points to be. Two in the back and one up front. The reason for one up front, is because nowhere else on the front the skid touched in large enough area to drill & get a sturdy bolt there. I got Drill bit for hard metal from ACE hardware and some 8.8grade hex bolts, washers & nuts.

Install was easy. I had my friend hold the skid tightly to the truck, while I drilled. It turned out great and it should provide some protection. I am not certain about just one bolt up front, however I think it will be ok.

Now for pictures;





The skid even clears the front sway bar, gotta make sure that the skid is centered and that same amount of clearance is on both sides of the front sway bar.



In this picture you can clearly see the one bolt up front and two bolts in the back.

 

Nice job !!
Glad you could use it.

 

thats sweet. i will keep this in mind.

 

thats pretty sweet, i had no idea you could do that! ill probably do that in the future

 

Looks good, you just need to extend it so it covers the oil pan.

 

did you have to remove the two bars that are in the same location?

 

Nope. I didn't remove anything, just screwed it in...LOL

 

oh okay thanks

EDIT: what type of drill did you use?

 

Just a regular cordless Black & Decker drill. Make sure to get drill bit for hard metal.

 

oh alright, i might get a skid that i found for sale on here

 

Cool! If you do, post pictures of how you mounted it!

 

alright man i will if i do end up getting the skid

 

hows the clearance for getting the oil filter off?

 

The skid plate is far from the oil filter...

 

This is what I was looking for.

Wanted to see this thread before I went ahead and pulled the trigger on having a 6 lug skid shipped out to me from Cali (I'm in Ohio).

OP, with the truck parked, are you able to tell that there is a skid plate under it?

 

Yes! It looks installed the same as on any 6lug Taco...

 

Awesome Opposum.

 

im getting a skid plate too for free and now i know how to install it thanks man!

 

I did this today. I had bought one thinking that I would bolt right up. It has been sitting around for almost a year.

I cut some slots in the plate and bent down the tabs on the braces so they would fit through and support each side. Then Bent them back up once it was on.

Probably would have been better to drill through and then tap the holes in the braces.

I dont know how you had the patience to drill the braces I just used hose clamps.

And I cut away some on each side to clear the x runners sway bar.