Skid Plates?

I'm in northern NM, seems many folks in the group are in SoCal. It seems like quite a bit of manufacturing there and of course enthusiasts. I don't think I've ever heard of TW express, but I'll look at 'em. thx

 

TW express is just a term used on here haha. It's for when members on TW use one another to drive stuff to other members, like if someone from your area was driving out here to see family or something, they could pick up the skid plate and drive it back to you

There's a big TW Express thread on here where people make requests, there might even be a regional one for your area I'm not sure

I got my bed rack from a member in AZ that way, someone else from there was coming down to LA and drove it out here to me.

 

10-4, got it. That's frekin rad, love it, TW Express

 

I just called both company's. The Budbuilt 3pc. is 124 LBS. The Skid Row 3 pc is 109LBS.

 

Not much of a weight difference in the end, really. At that point an extra 15lbs isn't going to make a difference in how the truck drives or MPGs, I would just go with whichever brand you like best

 

eon_blue, I have a ? for you if you please would. The Budbuilt site says this about the 3pc. combo from them, as far as the 3rd component it's a crossmember to support the transmission skid plate or bellypan. I just realized it's not a 1) front 2) transmission 3) t.case skid plate, but rather 2 plates and the belly pan covers the t.case.
Now I see what you mean about it being big and heavy.
From site:
1995.5-2004) Tacoma Replacement Crossmember, Lefty, Custom, or Conversion

***This product is not bolt on like most of our products. This is for our shop guy’s and girl’s that want to do some modifications.***

• Our rear crossmember is designed to support the back end of our transmission skid plate.
• This reinforced steel crossmember is no exception, providing sturdy support when you need it most.

Did you install this crossmember? Says you have to drill some holes. I'm still in between the budbuilts and the skid row's.

 

Digitarus
I have a ? for you if you please would. The Budbuilt site says this about the 3pc. combo from them, as far as the 3rd component it's a crossmember to support the transmission skid plate or bellypan. I just realized it's not a 1) front 2) transmission 3) t.case skid plate, but rather 2 plates and the belly pan covers the t.case.
From site:
1995.5-2004) Tacoma Replacement Crossmember, Lefty, Custom, or Conversion

***This product is not bolt on like most of our products. This is for our shop guy’s and girl’s that want to do some modifications.***

• Our rear crossmember is designed to support the back end of our transmission skid plate.
• This reinforced steel crossmember is no exception, providing sturdy support when you need it most.

Did you install this crossmember? I'm assuming so. Says you have to drill some holes.

 

That is correct it's not 3 skid plates it's an IFS skid and a big belly pan that covers the transmission and tcase. The 3rd piece is the crossmember

It's been a long time since I installed it, and I only put it on once. I did install the crossmember, you can't mount the belly pan without it. But I definitely did not have to drill any holes to make it work

 

10-4, starting to get it. I appreciate the info.

 

If I remember right there are instructions you can download for the install off Budbilts website, will help give you a better visual idea how they mount up. Even the IFS skid has a small cross bar they provide that it mounts to in the back, gets mounted under the steering rack

 

I should have thought of that, thx for the tip to look at the site. And 10-4 on the cross bar, thx!

 

I just used existing holes in the frame to mount up the rearmost crossmember. No drilling was required.

 

Right on, good to know, I thank you. I'm in between the budbuilt's and another 3 pc set w/a separate transmission and t.case skids. I've been told the budbuilt bellypan is big and heavy and hard to take on and off. Wondering if the 2 separate plates makes sense. I'm also worried about weight, and am wondering maybe budbuilt front skid and maybe a t.case skid. Can I please ask you, has it been beneficial to have the bellypan? I know it relates to what type of driving we are doing out there.

 

Like you did, I might go w/(budbuilt) IFS front skid and skid row t.case skid, to keep weight down. I found a lighter weight gas tank skid I might get eventually. I'm wondering what the mpg will be w/the added weight. I'm going to put on an ARB front bumper in addition to the armor, etc. And like you say, I'm not going to particularly be a 'rock crawler', more trail runner. You said you like the skid row t.case skid yeah? And what front skid do you have again? Thank you.

 

Yeah for the past few years I've run the Budbilt IFS skid and a Skidrow tcase skid. Both have taken a beating and held up well, my Budbilt skid got tweaked though (kind of twisted to one side). But that can happen when the weight of the truck comes down on it against a rock. Some people weld in gussets or reinforcement material to strengthen them.

Anyway I think those two are perfect for me and what I do. I had to replace the Budbilt IFS skid with an All Pro one though because I got an All Pro bumper.

I think the Budbilt is a much better skid though than the All Pro one. The AP one leaves the lower cams exposed

 

Another thing about weights, just to add to what @eon_blue said. It's an unnoticeable difference in weight, but that 15 extra pounds could be a significant increase in strength - as long as it's put in the right places of course.

When I built my skids, I added a simple rib down the middle that added very little weight but it probably doubled the strength.

RE: gas tank skids. IMO not really that necessary. You'd have to be working *really* hard (and taking really bad lines) to tag your tank on a rock hard enough to go thru the stock skid.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm not sure you'd be able to mix/match skids like you're talking about either. Unless they're totally independent skids, most of the IFS/trans/t-case skids I've seen are all integrated pieces that bolt together.

In the end it just depends on the types of trails you do. I ran for YEARS without a belly pan, leaving my transmission "exposed". Did I ever hit it? Not even close. But now that this is my dedicated trail truck, I'm doing "all the things" to try and justify the cost of my welder, lol... So, unless you're hitting the really hard trails, none of that stuff is really "necessary". Would it suck for that one in a million shot to have a rock punch thru your transmission? Obviously, yeah... But for 99% of the overlanding and mild trails people do, they aren't necessary - they just help you look the part...

Every pound to add in armor is another pound of beer you can't take with you. If you're concerned about weight, aluminum skids are a good (but expensive) choice. They aren't as strong as steel, but as is usual, everything is a compromise.

 

I have found the budbuilt system to perfectly suit my needs. It is a solid and well designed system. But for that protection, the price is weight. To me the belly pan is worth it. It has saved my bacon on many occasions.

As far as removal and install, I do it by myself with the help of my floor jack on my flat garage floor.

 

I'm after the budbuilt IFS skid for sure, thx to you and others telling me it's better. I'm inbetween the budbuilt bellypan skid and an independent t.case skid. But I'll figure it out. I thank you guys, helpful to talk to those who've done it.

 

I hear you, I very well might do the budbuilt IFS skid as well as bellypan, thinking maybe going with he 1/8" bellypan if they even make that (think they do) do cut down on weight. I hear you about the use of a floor-jack, little helper or what some people around here call a little brother, lol. I'm not sure why, but sorta get it. I thank you.

 

jbrandt I appreciate all the info. I hear you about gas tank skids, and the bellypan issue, as well as not mixing and matching. I'm finding that to be true- the diff. makers generally aren't compatible. right on about welding, going to break out the lincoln 125 soon enough hopefully to work on the sliders when I can afford them. Thx again!