Anyone here have the ARB skidplates?

Just depends on how you want to use your truck. I wouldn't trust the stock splashpans even made by ARB 8>

 

Harsh Statement

 

I meant the rest of their skids are 3/16, just their ifs comes in 1/4. I almost bought from them, their LCA skids are 1/4 plate steel for 120$ shipped.

 

2017 Thread resurrection...

Those ARB are stamped steel. Not aluminum. According to description.

3mm is about 1/8 inch. They are roughly twice as thick as OEM and only 1/16 thinner than majority of other aftermarket skids.

I had the 1/4" BAMF skid on my Tacoma. It was amazingly sturdy. Took some good hits with no damage. But it was also overkill and heavy for my most common driving areas.

I was just looking at these ARB skids last night for my 4Runner. Being a daily driver with occasional trail rides, the cost and weight savings might be worth it to me.

 

Might just go 1/4 steel if I ever manage to damage the pelfreybilt ones beyond repair

 

I don't do any 'serious' off-roading or rock crawling, but I do encounter the occasional obstacle on some of the trails I run. The photo below is from this weekend when I was surprised by a drainage culvert.

Clearly I need some better protection than the stock TRDOR plate, and if I'm going to do it I only want to do it once. I was thinking ARB because I see their bumper in my future, but after hearing how flimsy they are, I'm leaning toward BAMF. I could be convinced of another solution if there is one as hearty for my use. I know they're heavy, but I'd rather protect the truck than worry about weight.

Thoughts?

 

Not a bad hit! Ive taken similar and i run 3/16 rci skidplates. 1/4 isnt just heavy and badass, its also the cost of getting it from bamf all the way to wherever you are unless you live near to them. I will tell you that armortech offroad sells 1/4 steel ifs skids and lca skids at reasonable prices, then to keep it lighter the rest of the armor comes in 3/16 as you get below the transmission because there is more sliding done there than smashing stuff. I have found the RCI stuff to be quite stout so far with no let downs from their designs.

I know they did armor for 2nd gens, you may have to check what they make for the 3rd gens at armortech now

 

Anyone have any experience with skids not mating up to their bumper properly?

What issues arise?

Any adjustments or solutions to consider before mixing and matching skids and bumpers?

 

I had an Arb bumper and pelfreybilt skids, no problems with them

 

When people are shopping for skid plates/armor I typically ask the following question...
Which of the following use cases are you buying protection for?
1) I'm moving very quickly and I hit something HARD! When I hear scraping, I use more skinny pedal.
2) I'm moving slowly and need an underbody "slider" for protecting important bits. When I hear scraping, I typically back up.

Use case #1 requires steel and it needs to be thick. Use case #2 leaves thinner steel and aluminum as a viable option.

 

I just purchased Arb skids, I know many feel 3mm is too thin. It might be if you really abuse them, but I think they're probably fine.

ARBs design looks like they've actually done some finite element analysis on them, they have reinforcements and bends to improve strength. Many places just a 3/16 sheet, but thinner can be as strong if engineered to be. ARB also uses zinc plates steel which is nice to help prevent corrosion.

These don't flex one bit like stock does.

 

I think I’m going to get these despite what people say. It looks like a lot of thought went into them and they are pretty affordable and light. My Taco isn’t a rock crawler, I just want to slide over some stuff.

 

I still like these, but after closer inspection I'm not sure how I feel about the fittment. Where the final panel goes under the exhaust, the ground clearance suffers quite a bit. I haven't mounted them, but it might lose 2 inches there which really isn't ideal. The build qualitiy is great though.

 

Did you end up going for the ARB ones? If so, how do you feel about them after going off road and they did their job? Anyone with the ARB ones can answer this question. Cheers!

 

This quote did not age well

 

I didn't get them.

 

I have a set ,think they are pretty strong but haven't seen any trails yet

 

I got BudBuilt skids...ARBs are just too flimsy.

 

I was originally excited about the ARB skids due to the stamped construction which added bends instead of thickness for strength. After using them one time on Top of the World in Moab, they were trashed. The rear skid sits extra low compared to the exhaust and is only supported by a small diameter tube. This skid catches and bends very easy. what I did was not abuse. My truck was brand new. ARB did replace the rear skid due to the torn weld.
On a later trip I bottomed under the ifs twice in low range on a water bar and this bent the front skid up and broke one of the welded nuts loose.
In addition, the most annoying feature on these skids and the biggest reason not to buy them is that there is no access for oil changes!!!!!!! If you need to go somewhere to get an oil change and don’t want to pay an hour for removing the front two skids, you have to completely remove the front three skids in order to drive as they fit together and are supporting each other. The figment of the 13mm head bolts is also at a terrible angle, so this is not a simple operation. Not convenient in the least. Skids need access for basic service.

 

Would cutting an access hole for oil changes be worth it? Seems like an easy way to remedy the oil change part.