Front Skid Plate Question

If I'm not doing any off-roading; and even though the winters here in Vermont are very harsh, it it really necessary for me to keep my full skid plate on the 2001 4x4 Tacoma? I took it off today (I had to cut off a rear bolt because it was frozen) and the packed up mud and debris was just amazing. I would really like to keep it off or maybe just put on the front section... What are the groups thoughts on this, any advise would be appreciated.

 

Mine has been off for over 100,000 miles .

The first time I dropped a Snap on ratchet down and could not even see it.

 

I just keep the front one on to keep my radiator in one piece. Makes changing the oil a breeze

 

The front skid does protect the lower end tank of the radiator....

 

That's a classic. I really could not believe all the dried mud and little bolts and such that others had left before me.

 

I think that's the way I'm gonna' go too... Thanks!

 

I keep mine on most of the time just to keep shit from flying up inside the engine bay.

 

It's worth mentioning that the stock skid plate isn't really there for off roading. It's there to prevent road debris from hitting the oil pan and cooling lines. If you'd like those things to stay safe, then run it.

I have an old Demello skidplate (not sure he still makes them for the 1st gen) that has a beefy 3/16" plate- I swap it out with a much thinner one for mall crawling/daily driving. The thin one does have a hole cut to get to the oil drain bolt.

 

Is it just me or are those oil drain holes on the 1st gen skids useless? Everytime I remove the oil filter, it just makes a mess so you have to remove the skid to change the oil anyways. What am I doing wrong here?

 

I just put a rag under the filter right before I remove it. Then wipe down the area below it afterwards...

 

I remove my skid plates to change my oil. Yes its a pain, but it does keep my from making a complete mess of things. I wish the Toyota engineers would have made the oil filter straight up and down so it wouldn't dump oil all over your arm while removing. I did see here on TW where a member took a 1/2 gallon milk jug and cut to fit up around the filter, and he just unscrews it and drops in inside. I'm going to try this next time I change my oil. I might even try punching a hole in the bottom of the filter and let it drain before removing. Just remember to remove the oil filler cap before draining the oil.

 

Pretty easy to relocate the oil filter if you if it bothers you that much .

I am used to the oil running down my arm I hate those days I forget the oil change shirt.

 

The rear portion of my stock skidplate had gotten tweaked (my fault, I had used it as a lift support point. Never again!) I removed both front and rear sections. The front was relatively clean, but the rear must have had at least ten lbs of clumpy, greasy dirt and some small twigs. It actually came off in strips when I used a paint scraper over the garbage can.

It was pretty disgusting.