Gas tank skid plate

I ordered one of the ones from low range off road, it should be here Wed, and i am doing the frame treatment to my truck between now and then. But i wanted to check with people who have removed the gas tank skid plate.

Am i correct in that it has 5 bolts that hold it on, 3 in the front and 2 that go into the tank? and that the skid plate comes loose without the tank dropping?

Cause that would be a very unwelcome surprise to find out while i am under it and not expecting it.

 

If your truck is like my 98 the 3 bolts at the front hold both the fuel tank and the skid plate, for some reason Toyota elected to remove the front strap making the skid plate part of the fuel tank. Also carefully check the rear strap, mine failed where the skid plate bolts on, luckily I was close to home.

 

I just replaced my rear strap after it crumpled into dust. The rear strap actually has a couple of holes for the skid plate to bolt up to and the front has 2.
Either way it only took a few minutes to get it loose. To avoid stripping the bolts, you might want to use a socket on a wrench instead of an impact.
I did use PB Blaster prior to disassembly. I plan on ordering the same plate soon. Low Range Offroad has a nice PDF on installation on their website.

 

thanks, as rusty as my factory plate is, i will be surprised if the straps are not also rusted through, probably just go ahead and order them and do it once, do it right.

plate shows up tomorrow, i'll give any details anyone wants when it does.

 

sub'd

 

Did you have to wait long to get skid plate. I looked the other day and it said they were on back order. I want to order one of these but dont want to wait 6 mons to get it.

 

I placed my order on Oct 13th and it shipped the 15th, i emailed them prior to ordering and they said they were expecting new stock in a week at that time, and in the day from when i asked them about stock times, to when i placed the order, it went from backorder to out of stock on there website. So shipping time seemed to be pretty good, guessing they get a handfull of them per week or two. I might have just landed the timing right so they got new stock right as my order was processed. But i dont imagine you would have to wait longer then 2 weeks from order to shipped.

One thing to note though, while the plate might be $199, the shipping on it is $60

Edit it just showed up

 

Ive gotta get one of these ordered. Ive been driving around without mine for a month now because my stock one was rusted out.