Transmission skid plate - increase trans temps ? yes/no ? worth installing ?

I have a 1st gen taco , with middle crossmember - was thinking of installing the trans-skid (with cat cover) from Skid Row Off Road - https://skidrowoffroad.com/collecti...ith-front-catalytic-converter-guard-1995-2004

Does anyone have experience with trans or “rear” skid plates creating more heat ? i.e. not allowing airflow over the trans pan ?

Also, I have a modest lift and 32” tires, so ive got pretty decent ground clearance , but I always think about that cross member getting bonked on a rock or root ? thoughts , opinions ?
thanks.

 

I did not notice an increase in trans temp when I put mine on. If you do run into temp issues you can always install an external trans cooler. Probably a good thing to do no matter what. I definitely think they are worth it If you play in the rocks. Adding the engine and trans skid plates is probably around 100lbs of added weight. I do not have the side cat pieces on mine though. I personally like the RCI skid plates better as they include an oil and trans drain holes so you don't have to pull the skid plates down.

 

Just manual swap it and never worry about trans temps again. And your truck will be much cooler

 

LOL... When talking about actual wheeling... 99% of the people, who think they are cool, look like dummies when they keep killing it while us auto-magic guys drive right through.

The vast majority of people who try to wheel with a manual... don't actually know how to wheel with a manual.

 

I have skids all the way back to behind the second transfer case. I think more heat is caused by the 37 inch tires than the fact I have skid plates.

As mentioned above, a trans cooler isn't a bad idea. But with 32 inch tires, you'd be fine with skid plates.

 

Skip the RCI skids. They leave the radiator unprotected.

 

But if you mall crawl, it's kooool AF

 

True but 1) considering OP said he has 32" tires and a modest lift I doubt he's doing much "actual wheeling" and 2) even if he is I'd rather suffer through that struggle on the trails to be able to bang through the gears on the way to and from the trails (also I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've stalled my truck off-road on one hand (and we've got some pretty gnarly trails to get to deer and elk camps every fall/winter).

Auto guys really get to laugh in bumper to bumper traffic though.

 

The auto transmission has an external cooler and/or it also goes through the radiator. I have IFS, transmission and transfer case skids. When I see transmission temps climbing I shift to 3rd or 2nd gear (depending on what is appropriate).