Composite Skid Plates - WTF

No way are those plastic covers are actually "skid plates" more like aerodynamic covers to improve MPGs.

The plastic may be tough for plastic, but it won't protect anything on the other side. Like the aforementioned bullet proof vest vs ballistic plates. The plates will distribute force better than kevlar sheets.
Same for these aerodynamic covers, they may resist tearing, but if you're off-roading and drop the truck onto a sharp rock, it will transmit the force directly to whatever is behind it. A thick, heavy metal skid plate will absorb the majority of the force, distribute the force to the mounting points. It will get damaged, and it may touch on the components it's protecting, but the force onto those components is significantly reduced.

Plastic fuel tanks are pretty durable and probably better than metal because they can be tear resistant and deform on impact, but since there's liquid inside, nothing is damaged unless you hit the fuel pickup assembly.

 

Some contradictory statements there. Plastic fuel tanks are durable and better than metal because they resist tearing but they're not good for skid plates? What is the skid plate protecting? The oil pan primarily because that would effectively disable the vehicle if damaged. By your explanation, we should use plastic oil pans (like Ford) and call it good. Yes, a skid plate also protects the front diff and CV axles but damage to those parts won't necessarily disable the vehicle.

Soft body armor prevents penetration but still causes significant blunt trauma. They still save lives. Even "hard" plates sometimes have significant back face deformation which results in blunt trauma. If a composite skid plate prevents a sharp rock from penetrating the oil pan, it has done it's job. The oil pan will get dented, just like the body armor blunt trauma, but the engine will survive. The composite skid plate will also keep the CV boots from getting torn up.

Given how many Tacomas go off road and those that do, actually go over rocks that could damage the vehicle, Toyota made the right call to provide only adequate protection. Seeing as they offer two models with metal skid plates and offer the parts as accessories, those that want more protection have OEM options. Making every Tacoma more expensive for outlier threats doesn't make sense.

 

Many Gen 4s come from the factory with a front skid plate made of the composite the OP described.

 

I don't think you understand what I was saying, at all.

 

My main issue is that I haven’t seen any actual data that compares the various skid plates. So all of us are making suppositions based on other information, including our past experiences.

Advances in material sciences have brought about amazing results. I never thought my 2nd Gen "plastic" bed would have been so incredibly strong either.

But no one has shown actual data that compares the different plates.

 

I tried calling toyota customer service as well as a dealer, and they had no comparative data to provide, unsurprisingly.

 

UHMW for the win.

 

Most serious off road motorcycles that see really abusive trails like the erzberg rodeo or King of the Hammers use a ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW) skid plate, usually 3/8" thick. Not sure what thickness they use for full sized vehicles but it's good stuff. I think it's easily strong enough for a truck since they use it on Jeeps and many other vehicles. The toyota material seems kind of thin even for UHMW.

 

Yesterday @ trailhead for some work (MTB trails) I saw the plastic or whatever material my TRD OR has is surviving some marks or hits that would likely damage aluminum and some items. As said earlier, I'm not a hard core off-road enthusiast but my TRD OR works off road for MTB bike park and ski area crew. In the context of owning several 4x4s over decades, it is plenty durable and capable. It seems designed and built well for duty I'm sure most TRD models never see. It is plenty fine for a lot of reasonable off-road use.

 

You’re correct, having something in between it’s a major win. I just said UHMW for the win because I have installed stuff on some Mil spec vehicles and sxs and I like it. I made my own steel stuff for my truck. Cheers!

 

The composite truck beds are very good overall, but drop large, heavy sharp objects in them and they'll take damage.

That's my point about composite under body panels, they are not designed to take a sharp jolt, they are there for aerodynamics and keeping debris from mucking things up. Drop a truck onto a real skid plate whilst off-roading, the skid plate will distribute force and prevent most of the impact from affecting the components it's protecting

 

Unfortunately, nobody has yet been able to supply the data to back up that glass or carbon fiber reinforced polyethylene products have worse impact resistance by weight than metals. Everyone who thinks so is just working on presumption. Can't say they're right, can't say they're wrong; need the data.

 

I have a composite skid plate on my Raptor 700 and I love it. Over the years I demolished the aluminum one on my Banshee so I tried the composite. When it hits something, the shock is absorbed a bit more than aluminum and slides over rocks like it's greased. Cheap to buy too!