Mobtown skid plate set install

I'm willing to bet a 1/4" aluminum skid will satisfy 99% of Tacoma owners. Especially 2016's. I highly doubt there is a single 2016 Tacoma owner that has destroyed an aluminum skid plate. I'd be willing to bet no one has even significantly dented one.

So saying a 1/4" aluminum skid shouldn't be used off road??

 

Pretty much. They look good & offer some protection but not as much as steel.

 

They look good? No one ever really sees or notices the skids. People like them because they off protection at reduced weight. Weight is a killer in off-roading and overlanding.

I think we all can agree they don't offer the same protection as steel but some of these comments imply they offer little to none which is simply false.

 

Lol you realize what site you're on, right?

 

This one post alone saved me a lot of time and aggravation. I obviously knew to remove factory skid plate but didn't know about the bracket. When the IFS skid didn't line up I found this thread and realized there were OE skid brackets. Maybe include that on the instructions on the website. @Mobtown Offroad

 

It is on the instructions...

Step 2

http://mobtownoffroad.com/wp-conten...coma-Skid-Plate-Installation-Instructions.pdf

 

Guess I should have read the instructions first, eh?

 

Typical man

 

No hardware in the box - just the front skidplate. Is the hardware primarily for the full skid plate kit? I did appreciate finding the instructions, as they certainly were not in the box, and not readily apparent on the website.

 

Reuse the factory stuff on the front skid

 

The front skid reuses factory hardware.

We do not ship instructions with products for a couple reasons. One to make an attempt to save trees, and two because it seems like in this day and age most people pull up anything and everything on their phone to find an answer and three because more often than not, the box rarely arrives intact due to FedEx being careless.

 

Do you have a suggestion for how to make it more apparent? There's a big tab on the product page that says "Installation Instructions", similar to many product websites. I'm open to ideas since we get this comment a lot.

 

Include a note in the box to check site for instructions.

I also just got my skis plates yesterday and was a bit confused at not having instructions. Glad to have seen this thread.

Also, I'd suggest more padding around the edges of skid plates. The front skid's box was half destroyed and the skid got ground down to bare metal on a few edges/corners. I'll touch it up so it's not the end of the world, but I think some more padding (especiallly styrofoam) could have avoided that.

 

Installed the front and transmission skids today. On the side of the road, in pouring rain. So much fun was had. Due to the space limitations some of this hardware is an INCREDIBLE pain in the ass to install. I would absolutely pay a shop to do this the next time around. Thank god I bought ramps and a creeper (w/ head support!!) earlier today - this job would have been outright impossible without these items.

Couldn't fit the transfer case skid as its cross-member's frame mounting bracket interferes with my sliders - will have to get a local shop to modify the cross-member.

I followed the instructions linked above, and ran into a problem as a result of what's mentioned in step #4. This step says to remove the four bolts holding the transmission cross-member in place. Do NOT do this, as it will result in the entire tranny/driveshaft/etc. dropping on your face, it all weighs a colossal amount, and it is a HUGE pain in the ass to get things back into place. Do step #6 in conjunction with step #4: remove one OEM bolt, immediately replace it with the new (longer) bolt, then do the next bolt until you do all four. Then move on to step #5 and the remainder of step #6. Other than this, the install was pretty straightforward. Happy to say all holes on the skid plates aligned well with the locations they get secured.

 

No offense here but that's just COMMON SENSE to support the transmission with a floor jack BEFORE you remove those "Transmission Mounting Bolts". Look at WHERE it is mounted too!!! That's like saying "Do not remove the lugnuts off the wheels because it will fall on your legs"...Well DUH!!! Common sense PEOPLE!

 

If you've done it before, sure. If you're a mechanic, sure. Following directions from the manufacturer, not so much.

I actually considered this possibility when I was doing it, which is largely why I still have a face that has yet to be kissed by 200lbs of transmission, but I figured the instructions would have mentioned something as important as this, and that the tranny was probably going to stay in due to some other factors I'm not aware of. Not so much.

Look at any guide or instruction from any large manufacturer in just about any sector. Every conceivable detail, from A to Z. No assumptions, ever.

The instructions (for these two steps) are very poor, and possibly even dangerous.

 

I haven't done this mid skid before but then again I just used good common sense on any vehicle.

Just look at google maps for an example even they will tell you to use common sense and don't go word for word. What's so hard about that?

 

I would suggest maybe spending the $30 on having a custom stamp made for the box that lets people know to check website for instructions.

 

It's common sense that common sense is not that common.

 

Sorry for the troubles that you faced. It certainly isn't a simple install but can be done with a couple hours and basic hand tools. Obviously your situation added some stress in the environment that you had to deal with.

Yes, you're right about the cross member bolts. The instructions should've mention to do them one at a time. I do that when I install them but glossed over that tip on the instructions.

Whose sliders do you have? We haven't seen someone with an interference issue yet so it'll be good info for us.