05+ Tacoma skid plates GB/Sale 3/15-4/15

Yea, $500 is nuts.

A local shop here in CO had my buddy's done and completely redid his exhaust from the cat-back. So fixed the silly dip below the crossmember, new muffer, and fixed the rear of his exhaust so the tip basically dumps just after the axle but doesn't dip any lower. All that was $300 out the door!

Find somewhere else...

 

Not to sound like a dick or anything, but everyone keeps talking about the "tough" install and I don't really get it? They're bolt on with a possibility of a little grinding right? Is the hard part just holding them up while you bolt'em on??

 

I used a floor jack installing the bolts two turns tight front to back for the IFS then added the mid skid by installing the four back cross member skid nuts hand tight and then connecting the two skids together finger tight. Then I took an impact wrench and tightened front to back. Took less then 15 minutes total and that was pushing it.

Now I will admit it took about an hour to get (Mitch's) skid on but we didn't lift up the vehicle nor does he have a lift and we used the stock bottle jack which made things all unbalanced and weird.

 

Alright, I'm reasonably new to this site, but what does +1 mean? Is like like Hi-5?

 

kinda. It means he added to his reputation.

 

The more room under your truck the easier it is to work on.

Unbolt the stock skid plates. Unbolt the skid plate supports.

Use the M8 bolts, short silver metric bolts supplied with the IFS skid, in the rear two mounts for the IFS skid. The the other four forward holes on the IFS skid you'll re-use the larger stock bolts.

Once you mount the IFS skid you'll mount your mid skid. Start by removing the four nuts on the bolts holding up the t-case cross member. Making sure the heads of the bolts face the front of the truck you can slip the mid skid over the bolts. Then you can use the 3 supplied 1/2" grade 8 bolts with nuts and washers to bolts mid skid to the IFS skid in the rear.

If you also have the t-case skid you'll need to replace the bolts with the 4 long grade 8 bolts supplied but one at a time. Then mount your mid skid. Then you can slip the t-case skid up and tighten the nuts down on the 4 bolts on the cross member. Then you can mark the holes for your t-case skid legs. It's advisable to remove the t-case skid and then drill, IMO. So pull it back off. Use a punch to mark the center of your mark. Then drill a pilot hole. Step up your bits slowly. I believe you'll need a 1/2 bit, but match your bolt to your drill bit. Drilling through the frame is a bit of a pain but go slow and you'll get there. Paint the holes when done. Then bolt back up the t-case skid to the cross member and put the two bolts supplied with the t-case skid through the legs and frame. I believe they're 7/16 bolts.

Ta-da!

Skids Bolts
IFS (2) silver M8 bolts
Mid (3) 1/2 x 3/4L grade 8 bolts with nuts and 6 washers
t-case (4) long grade 8 bolts and (2) 7/16 x 1" bolts both with nuts and washers

IIRC

I've taken em off and on a few times and I've used a floor jack and it helps but I've also done it just rolling around under the truck and using my legs and chest to help lift.

 

Nice right up! Thanks for taking the time to lay it down. Doesn't seem too difficult. I'm still just pissed that I missed out on this GB.

way

 

Just got the call, go in to pick em up tomorrow!!!

 

What am I doing wrong? The back two mounting points of the IFS have a bit of a gap and the bolts provided do not fit. What did I do wrong?

 

Has anyone tried to marry these up to an ATO IFS?

 

make sure you keep all bolts loose for initial fitting, then tighten when they're all installed. If you have a floor Jack, use it to help lift the skid into position

 

I will be soon.

 

Not sure on this as I haven't tried to install mine yet but did you remove the stock skid supports and use the included bolts for the back two bolts? And re use the stock bolts for the front? Also you might try working from the back forward.

 

Yep removed the supports. I realized I should pretty much go from back skid to front skid so I'm going to try that. Have to take a break and run errands though so I won't be able to try again until tonight.

 

Again I could be wrong here, but by design I think the skids have to go on from front to back. But individually I would try back to front. Thats what I got from the walk through anyway.

 

You do need to go front to back. I'll be posting the install info today, so hopefully I have it up by the time you start again.

 

Also, other then being heavy, would it be possible to bolt all three skids together and then lift them in place? It doesn't sound like it from the walk through but I'm still curious.

 

Anyone hook up their mid skid to an All Pro IFS skid?

 

I had the same issue with mine. I put the front 4 bolts on "loose" and then used the bottle jack to lift the rear into place. It was very tight but worked. BUT, I did manage to break one of the two bolts for the rear in the process. I am hoping I didn't mess up the treads when I drilled out the broken stud. Anyone use break cleaner or anything in there to help out with that issue?