Aluminum vs. Steel Skids

2018 SR5. Used mostly to get to trailheads. Want a skid for peace of mind.

You guys think I should go aluminum or steel?

Going with RCI skids

 

AL is prob fine, but I'd go for steel. little heavier, but they are really solid if you end up on a gnarly road/trail

 

Note I do also daily drive this thing.

I guess I could always just pull the skid on/off real quick depending on what I’m doing

 

Id go with aluminum, I had the same goals and it worked great until I discovered I really like rocktrails.

In reality the oem skids should be fine if you have them.

 

SR5 skid only covers the front of the engine. I’d like it to at least get back over the drain plug for the oil and the front diff

 

Depending on where you're located, there are several members selling RCI Aluminum skids on 3rd gen buy/sell/trade forum.

 

The "standard skids" supplied with an OR are thin aluminum plates that do nothing in the real world except for keeping tiny tiny rocks from jumping up off the freeway. TRD OEM skid is aluminum and covers the front and back of the engine (including the oil pan). That plate is good enough for most circumstances short of going *past* the trailhead and onto trails with some rocks.

Steel plates and full-packages are probably overkill for you.

 

What do you mean by trails with rocks? Every trail I traverse has rocks. Many of which I can drive over with ease but there are rocks

 

Ah I was thinking of the OR skids I guess.

 

I have a trail guide for AZ that rates trails, green/blue/red/black. Even green trail have rocks that can do this (see pictures of my steel RCI). If rocks are like 5 inch tall islands that sometimes cover the full width of the trail, the default thin plates are dangerous. As to aluminum surviving such a full-width-coverage trail, others can comment.

 

aluminum

 

Prolly won’t find myself on a trail where a rock is the full width. Have def traversed trails comprised of a bunch of small rocks

 

Then aluminum. TRD Pro model should be fine, and may be on sale for Labor Day through dealers if not on classified boards.

 

Those aren't skids, they're gravel spray guards.

Your use case is basically identical to mine.

I have a full RCI aluminum skid package and it does the job fine. I've dropped the full weight of the truck onto rocks and into deep trail ruts and they're holding up. That includes a trip to Moab.

 

The truck will be used for getting to trailheads, camping spots, fishing holes, etc.

I have zero intention of doing anything with this vehicle that is a specific off-road trail meant to be driven by vehicles like Moab.

The vehicle is meant to get me places out in the Colorado backcountry. I don’t want to do anything where the point is to see if your vehicle can make it. It’s a utilitarian rig meant to carry me to a point where I will then walk from

 

I like to say that aluminum skid plates are insurance against oopsies and the 50-100 pounds you save vs steel is a lot of extra gear/game.

Aluminum is fine for what you're doing.

 

HEY i got full aluminum and dropped my truck on the low exhaust section of t skid , TWICE, and it took it like a champ
small gouge on them, stepped off rock step too fast down a hill and BAM
theyre badass, id suggest them

 

OK fair enough - an aluminum engine skid plate is all you need and truth be told that scatter shield or whatever it's called that come stock on some Tacomas would do just fine. Steel skid plates are for going off road where you might drag your rig over some rocks, same with rock sliders. You don't need to weigh down your truck with that stuff. Maybe some SL rated AT tires would be nice for those type trails as well. Don't waste your $$$ steel skid plates.

 

Thanks. I’ll get the aluminum ones. Got A/T tires already. Skid be about the last thing I’ll need.

thanks again gang!!!