Front AND rear skid plate?

Really want to get a front skid plate for my truck, not sold on the aluminum OEM one tho since I had it on my 2010, and it got wrecked.

I'd rather have steel that I can pound the dents out of. Any product suggestions you guys are running on your trucks yet? Pictures would be greatly appreciated

Also... This may seem like a weird question, but is there a rear skid plate available that bolts to the hitch receiver? I personally see this being useful for cross ditches and deactivated logging roads where good approach angles are hard to achieve (I know some of you will disagree with this as an option, and tell me to put a lift kit and big tires instead, but that's currently not something I have the money for, so hold your breath)

 

I just installed RCI Metalworks. They are solid.

 

Oh man that looks slick! What's it made of?

What are your thoughts on a hitch mounted skid?

 

It's made of Unicorn horns

I have no thoughts on a hitch skid.

 

All pro has aluminum and steel IFS skids ready for 2016s. I have the steel version mounted with black powdercoating. Super stout!!
This pic is from their website (they used my truck for the pic! )

 

Like it.

 

RCI Skids are the only ones so far I have seen that has the service opening so you don't have to remove it every time during oilchange.

 

Ok I'm sold. Just took a look at their website. Want front mid and rear skid... But probably only need front and mid... Aluminum would be nice but damn pricey. Oh well... Save on fuel in the long run

 

IMO the low hanging exhaust is the most vulnerable spot under there. Get all 3 skids.

 

You can see the hole in the Allpro skid in this picture, it's a pretty standard feature on all skids I've seen for Tacomas

 

Here's the back side of the RCI front plate. Reinforced area around oil filter cover.

 

Nice! I love that they reinforced it. Very smart. So you went with the steel plate over the aluminum weight savings? (I'm thinking of going steel since it's easier to pound dents out with a hammer)

 

Need new Exhaust now also... Reroute is inevitable

 

OP, for what you say you are using your truck for, a skid plate will probably make things worse. The plate keeps you from getting hung up but also reduces your clearance. For the rear a skid plate as you describe would kill you clearance angle, there are hitch skid plates that attach to the receiver that should serve your purpose, they are cheap and easily removable.

 

You're referring to install of a front skid plate? I can't see that killing my clearance that much. Honestly, next time I'm going to just load that washout with more rocks. Could have drive back on the trail and picked up a load to literally fill the hole right in. (Hindsight is 20/20)

However, for the trails a skid plate would be handy, once I hit the underside of my truck on saturday. Once too many...

 

As someone that takes full advantage of my skidplates I'm telling you that you will lose clearance, you sacrifice clearance for a smooth surface that wont hang up on obstacles. But the low hanging components aren't that fragile and most of the protection is in the form of a barrier preventing rocks and sticks from coming up and poking things which the stock splash plate does very well. A 54 lb steel plate up from will also put more strain on your stock coils.

 

These are very good points.... Something to seriously consider. Thanks for the advice! I'm still so used to my 1st gen '83 and only having to clear the axles, bigger tires almost always solved that problem!

Definitely some food for thought tho. Hopefully the above information helps others decide skid plate vs no skid plate.

That being said, now it's a pretty easy decision to choose between steel and aluminum. At half the weight, plus $100 more expensive, the aluminum skid plate(s) wouldn't just save gas in the long run, it would also lessen premature component wear by adding more weight up front (which has me seriously itching for ARB's aluminum front bumper when it becomes available as opposed to the steel bumper)

 

You realize guys get banned for basically posting just so they can sell stuff .

If you look in the banned thread you'd see and as some mods have said this is not Craigslist

 

@StreetTiresJay go to www.skidmark4x4.com. they've got I think exactly what you are looking for.

 

I’m not posting “just” to sell stuff.. but you “have” to have 50 posts first and I legit have some stuff to sell. I’m a legit user but I only just bought my truck. I’m new! Also wondering about the skids tho.