Catalytic converter theft protection?

I dont see a 2012 tacoma option on the website

 

Missing some off the bolts.

 

Now I'm looking for something to protect my gas tank from drilling!

 

RCI gas tank skid
threaded straps from Amazon to mount it

 

You won't because it was already pointed out that they don't have one. They failed at their flex.

 

I fount these to be better if you wanted to mount to the frame.

 

thanks!

 

Also as another option, is BudBuilt out of North Carolina. I've always bought his skids and sliders because ....whoever he gets the powder coating from is the best I've ever had. I'm talking a 2008 FJ with no rusting of skids (except where I dug into it with rocks).

 

Does anyone know if the RCI tranny skid works for prerunners? Just noticed they have an addon cat skid that attaches to the side of the tranny skid.

 

if it’s not a TRD off road you have to add studded gas tank straps for $20-50

your current straps holding on the gas tank otherwise don’t have studded threads to mount a skid
Check underneath

 

Honestly curious, what is it about adding a skid plate that prevents or substantially slows someone from drilling through to the gas tank?

 

Did you even read my comment? Sounds like I may go with cat security if no one knows the answer.

Also to answer your question Prerunners already come with studded threads on the gas straps since they come included with part of the TRD off road package if it is the Xtracab which include the plastic skid on the gas tank.

 

whoops sorry thought you said gas tank skid

RCI trans skid probably bolts to factory threaded holes and comes with hardware

 

Following to see if a "best" solution is identified. I want to add @Talon2006/Talon's Garage into the discussion, since they make 1/4" aluminum cat shields for both 2x4s as well as 4x4s:

https://www.talonsgarage.com/shop-tacoma

I'm a little hesitant to pull the trigger on one of these, since I don't know how it stacks up when compared to the other options out there. They don't seem to line up all that nicely with some front skid plates. Install video on a 3rd gen equipped with a Pro skid plate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jmIpr_-ZHQ

I'm also wondering what options are out there for secondary cat protection, away from the tranny towards the back of the truck.

 

Tools needed for the job. The rivet tool makes installing the two rivets easy and if your like me, I've never used one. I goggled, How to use this tool, and got plenty of videos that helped. I purchased the tool from Harbor Freight at $50.00 and kept the tool clean, since I was only installing two rivets. Afterwards I returned it for a full refund. The bit to tighten up the mounting screws is a T-40 and I inserted it into a 1/4" socket with socket wrench. I took some 1/8" double-sided adhesive insulated foam and put it between the shield and where it mounts to and tightened everything up. This should eliminated vibration or rattling noise. Job took a few hours at home.

 

I did have an alarm system installed with two extra sirens, making three altogether. The alarm is very loud and has sensitive shock sensors on the fuel tank and on the cat shield. The extra sirens are under the vehicle, one near the fuel tank and the other near the cats. That's it, that's all I can do aside from hiring a all night security guard. Yeah call me crazy but if this prevents me from spending thousands of dollars that I don't have, so be it. With the shield, the alarm and labor I spent $750, money well spent. Losing two of four cats would cost close to $4000 with parts and labor. Does anyone have a lead on fuel tank shields for a 2nd gen. Tacoma 2WD.

 

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT23SD-TNK.html

I like this one since it threads directly to the tank straps and to the frame for extra support.

 

In my opinion…. The biggest difference is if the thieves do decide to take a saw to the cat shield…. Which one is going to give the best protection. .

I sometimes wish I went a different direction with how I mounted it with the factory skids…. But then I remember why I did it. I also like how it integrates with my front skid.

 

It’s not even the money … I just want to put a bullet into these POS .. just saying.

 

Talon's is the thickest on the market, at 1/4", but in their photo I can see an open area, on the sides, where a sawzall can get in a cut the pipe ahead of the cat and then behind it and remove it with some effort? Also where their shield mounts to the front suspension I'm seeing where the mounting bolts are vulnerable and can easily be cut off. The Cat Security shield covers those area but is only 1/8" thick. I did bring up the question of the shields being cut, to the techs at Cat Security, and they said that the aluminum would clog the blades or grinding cutoff wheels and they would need to change the blades or wheels over and over before the thieves could cut the shield off. With an alarm system all this extra movement of cutting or pulling the shield would set off the alarm, and if you've got one like mine it will draw attention. I'm not puttin down Talon's shield, the thicker the better but they need to address the weak area's and they would own the market on these shields. It's ashamed that we have to do this but what are we going to do. Honestly I do feel much better knowing that I've done the best I could to prevent, not stop, these thieves from stealing my cats. The shields in the photo's are for 2nd gen. 2WD Tacoma's.