tg bumper

getting a low profile trail gear bumper, leave skid plates off or will it look bad without them

 

If you paid big $$$$ for some after market skid plates why leave them off ??

 

i havent ordered ordered skid plates yet

 

yes, get the skid plate for a couple of reasons. 1, it will look odd without it since its supposed to be there. and 2, it will decrease wind resistance for slightly better mpg. oh and 3, so you can protect your motor!

 

I have the factory skid plate on mine.

 

engh..... still doesn't look right

 

I'd rather have it look a little goofy than bash a rock and destroy my radiator, diff or oil pan (aftermarket skid)

 

Well that blows. Why would they make a skid guard that doesn't actually guard anything?

 

No, I'm saying it DOES protect everything. I would never run without one.

 

It is people who think the factory tool catchers are really skid plates .

 

Mine isn't within your years of trucks. I have an 04 Tacoma and same Trailgear low pro rock defense bumper with factory skid plate / tool catcher!

 

I don't really understand what you're saying

 

I'm saying I'm glad I have my stock skid plate on too. I was thinking of taking it off but it would expose too much of the innards of the front end. I just hate having to take my skid plate off every time I change my oil! Otherwise I have oil running off the skid plate for a few days and people are telling me my truck is leaking oil. Since Toyota put the oil filter in one of the best locations ever on the 3.4!

 

I dropped so many things down there the first being the oil cap!!

Off it came on to the scrap pile it went within the first week I owned it 75,000 miles ago.

If I had a need for protection down in that area I would build something.

 

I gotcha. The 4 banger is similar. I usually throw a rag on the skid to try and catch some of it.

 

I like this bumper. Looks like it can fit a winch without having to cut up the grille. Does the bolt-on front crossmember come with the bumper when you order it from Trail Gear?

 

Yup, winch bolts right on. No modifications necessary. It is, however, designed to be used with a hawse type winch fairlead only. Yes crossmember comes with it.

 

Thank you @98tacoma3rz, hawse and synthetic rope are what I want when I get a winch.

 

You can use a roller, but you lose the front receiver. I swapped to synthetic at the same time.

 

what kinda winch are you running? i just got a rugged ridge 8500 and it doesn't fit.