Full Skid Plate Accessibility

Not sure where you're seeing that. You can see where you have to drill for the TC skid on their website for the individual skid. I wish I had paid more attention before I ordered, but it is what it is.

 

CBI skid plates have access plates for the oil filter and oil drain plug. I have mine off for an oil change at the dealer tomorrow ...

 

Al and bare? How’s it holding up?

 

Yes, they are bare aluminum. I have only been off road once since installing them a few weeks ago, so it's too early to tell. I was in some deep ruts and managed to hit/roll a moderately sized rock down the plates, some minor gouging (steel probably would have been untouched).

I don't tend to get into really ugly stuff, so I went with aluminum to save weight. Time will tell if aluminum was a good choice.

FWIW: I was very impressed with the build quality of the CBI skid plates, install was super easy. I also have CBI lower a-arm skids in steel, very nice as well.

 

Does anyone have Coastal Offroad skids? They're a weld-together kit and for 1/8" steel at $360, it seems like you could just make an oil filter access port.. considering the CBI is $900

 

I have been running a bare aluminum mobtown skid for 3 years and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Yeah it's soft and scratches easier than steel, but saves almost 40lbs. If I were rock crawling then it wouldn't be a question, but trail riding around here makes aluminum feasible. Plus the road salt

 

1/8" seems thin to me for a skid plate. My aluminum skid is 1/4" and most fab shops have at least 3/16" steel. BAMF has the ultra beefy 1/4" steel

 

Well I'm trying to play my pounds a little bit here. I already have a 65lb front bumper, I just picked up a 100 lbs bed rack, and still want to get the skids and the sliders. My truck is my daily driver and I only plan to be overlanding instead of heavy rock crawling so I was thinking aluminum. And what do you think specifically for the road salt?

 

I understand the weight issue. Most sliders are around 70lbs per side so there's another 140. Aluminum skids are more expensive, but the lack of rust and weight savings were worth it to me. I have had mine for 3 years in road salt and grime and haven't had an issue

 

Did you coat your's? You're making me lean towards the $900 CBI Al skids instead of the DIY $370 Coastal Offroad steels

 

Nope. Bare aluminum. I thought the silver color would bother me, but once it gets dirty you don't even notice

 

For anyone following: RCI also makes a full, trilogy skid plate in steel or aluminum with oil drain and oil filter access. I bring them up because they will begin a group buy discount starting 2/8 this year. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rci-off-road-spring-2021-group-buy-feeler.701779/unread
May be something worth signing up for to see the discount they are offering

 

I have a 2nd gen Rci skid on my 3rd gen, doesnt have the oil filter hole. Oh well, it was a good deal used. Probably just make a removable door myself after I get tired of taking it off

 

If you can get a discount for the RCI skids that's a pretty good deal. I only have the front skids, coated alum, they had a black friday 20% off I couldn't pass it up. Shipping is definitely pricey.