Full Skid Plates???

I really do try and search before asking, but can't ever seen to pull up a relevant thread. I want to put full length skid plates on my 2022 OFF ROAD. I also want to protect (anti-theft) my cat-conv.'s and gas tank. As far as I can tell by searching online, I'm looking at 4 pieces. Am I missing something? Is there a complete set out there that covers everything?

Also, what ever I get for the front, I want to be able to change the oil and filter without removing the plate.

Thanks

 

Best way to go is to add “Tacomaworld” before your search and use google.
This one is a couple pages long
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/full-skid-plate-accessibility.704690/

 

Pretty much, unless you want to spend a grip on a single piece: Toyota Tacoma 3G Bellypan Skid Plate– Artec Industries

There are skids for all the nooks and crannies under the truck though, just depends how much you need to protect.

 

With a solid one piece skid is if you ever need to work on something you will have to drop the whole thing. Or get some major damage to the skid you have to replace the whole thing.

Just some things to think about.

 

There are a handful of companies out there that have skid trio packages. They don't all mix and match, so you'll pretty much just want to pick the brand you want to support and go with them. Many make this choice off of what fabricators are regionally closest to them, because shipping will be freight (often expensive). You'll also pick between steel or aluminum (this will further narrow down your choices) depending on your intended use/budget. You're looking for an engine skid, mid skid, and transfer case skid. Something to note for the transfer skid, you'll have options for "with exhaust re-route" or "without reroute" meaning with or without modification to your exhaust. "With re-route" will require exhaust modification, but will allow an entirely flat belly surface. "Without" will require no extra modification (besides drilling holes in frame possibly) to exhaust and will have a little hump to account for the low hanging exhaust. If you don't intend to rock crawl or have clearance concerns, there's probably no need for the reroute. As for gas tank skids, there's only a couple options out there, so you'll just have to pick the one you like best, and ensure it works with your particular truck. If I remember correctly, there are differences in gas tanks between certain trims. Also, as far as engine skid and oil changes, they all have a removable access panel to get to the oil filter, and a hole cutout to access the drain plug.

 

Hi. I would say it depends on what kind of trails you are running. I went to an offroad park in Central Texas called Hidden Falls. The trails are rated Green- Beginner, Blue- Medium, Red- Hard. I have full skid plates from Cali Raised and I am very happy with them. I would recommend Steel. I scuffed the front skid a little and actually bent the transmission skid a bit otherwise no damage and it was easy to paint over. This was due to us playing follow the leader who took us from a green to a red the first day. Because it's in sections like armor plating you can repair one piece if needed. This pack includes: Front skid, transmission skid, Transfer skid, lower control arms skid and fuel tank skid for the Tacoma. Well worth it and free shipping.

COMPLETE SKID PLATE COLLECTION FOR TOYOTA TACOMA – Cali Raised LED

 

RCI

Skid package
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/05-19-tacoma-full-skid-package-deal-copy/

Cat theft
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/catalytic-guard-05-present-tacoma/

Fuel tank
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/2016-tacoma-fuel-tank-skid-plate/

 

Also, do the exhaust reroute and get the skids for it. You will gain some clearance and not have something that hangs up on your skid.

 

+1 for RCI

 

I went with ARB because they are thinner steel. Iirc, they are 3mm and most steel plates are 5mm. They weight about 90lbs while thicker ones tend to be around 120-130, again, iirc. I wanted the weight savings but not the $$ of aluminum, and the physical properties of steel. They are still plenty tough which I tested when I slipped of a rock and dropped onto another rock on mosquito pass. No oil filter/dran plug doors though. If I was planning on dragging my truck across rocks regularly, I'd have gone thicker.

 

Or for even better results after your search term type site:www.tacomaworld.com

 

I can’t remember which brand I got but if I could go back I’d go with aluminum instead of steel.

As others said make sure to the exhaust reroute first so your skids are flat.

 

I have the engine kid and transmission skid with the cat guards all from RCI. My only problem with them is that the cat guards rub against the catalytic converter on the driver side and cause a ton of vibration that can be felt through the pedals when idling, low speed driving and reverse. I'm not sure how this would be solved and RCI made 0 mention of this on their website.

 

Weird, I've got a ton of clearance from my RCI cat guard to my cats on my truck.

 

This. I had the oem pro skidplate, it was dead after 4 moderate off-road trips. Go steel not aluminum if you plan on wheeling the truck. RCI has given me amazing customer service, and they have gotten me everything to me in a week or less, and I’m Canadian. Cannot say enough good things.

@3JOH22A @tacoma16 @Norilsk @Shveet have had similarly good experiences, IIRC, and some of them beat the piss and shit out of their trucks

 

Perhaps a stupid/naive question ...

RCI steel is 3/16, RCI aluminium (for our British friends) is 1/4. Does the material difference make up for the 1/16 less? I know that to make aluminium usable for airplanes took materials-engineering magic because pure form is soft.

Steel front specs at 47 lb and aluminium front specs at 22 lb. Steel full-plate is 122 lb vs 66 for aluminium. I have not modded my truck with racks and winch-capable from bumper (and ... and ...) but extra weight is a factor.

 

Steel slides easier, can be bent back into shape without cracking, but is heavier. The 3/16 steel is still stronger than the 1/4 aluminum.

 

Thanks for the answer.

 

Another RCI guy here. Went with aluminum front and trans skid, RCI threw in the cat guards for free that don't rub at all. Very happy with my purchase...

 

I'm running the TRD skid and the RCI trans skid in aluminum. I did the exhaust reroute but am not running a T case skid. I guess it is how you intend to use them. I do moderate wheeling and have banged it a couple of times. It is really there for if/when i misjudge something. If I were wheeling harder I would consider steel.

I have not seen anyone make one but I like the idea of a 2 piece instead of a 3 piece. A front skid and a single piece to cover the transmission and T case.