How Do You Install TRD Skid Plate Onto A 2018 Tacoma Sport With Toytec 3" Lift Kit

It seems that the bolts and spacers are too short causing the plate to rest on diff and I was looking to see how others dealt with this problem. I was planning on painting the plate black with red TRD lettering but I'll need to deal with the bolts first since I want everything painted at the same time. Once I deal with this problem I'll post pics and properly introduce myself and GrayHaven. Do you recommend I use a body shop and have the plate painted or have it sprayed with Line-X by my 4X4 outfitter? I won't do it myself - This is my last vehicle and I want to do it right. There are a number of Mods that I have done but that"s because they would have been hard to screw up.

 

Did you install a diff drop with the lift kit?

 

Welcome to TW... You might try cruising the 3rd Gen section.

 

Yes. Hope this is how to reply back.

 

That works - Great! I believe it was a diff drop - Yes front diff drop kit.

 

Also decided on having skid plate sprayed with bedliner protection instead of paint due to chipping possibilities.

 

That's probably your issue. Easiest way is to remove the diff drop, it's not beneficial anyway.

 

I too just recently had a lift kit installed on my 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road and running into the same problem needing spacers and longer bolts to install a TRD Skid Plate. Did removing the Differential Drop fix the problem???

 

Welcome to TW. I just purchased a 2017 Trdoffroad with a toyotec 3” lift as well. I’m not super versed in the issue you are having but I wanted to say hello since we have the same lift.

 

Hello everyone. Thanks for the warm welcome! I'll post a picture of my truck soon when it's done.

 

Haven"t done anything yet. Skid plate sitting in shed right now don't really want to remove Diff Drop though I've read in TW that Diff Drops aren't needed in our cases - I'll wait. Good luck with yours.

 

Shim the back of TRD plate down about 16mm or enough to clear the pumpkin.

 

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My mechanic said he can fabricate spacers from some round stock, and get longer bolts. I'll let you know how this works. Thanks for the input.

 

That's correct. Diff drop spacers only drop the CV shaft by about half the spacer thickness - basically useless.