Is the skid plate necessary?

Looking to buy my first truck. Really liking the 2.7L, 4x4 Access cab.
Just need the 4x4 for bad weather in my city. Won't be off-roading.
Is the skid plate worth it?
My city only plows the main roads, so climbing snow drifts is all I need the 4x4 for.

 

Welcome. Where 'bouts you from?

I would say not necessary for that. But if you like them, got for it.

 

Wichita, KS.
We don't get a lot of snow, but the city is useless around here. You gotta climb/bust thru the snowdrifts they create.
Any real cons to having a skidplate. Does it affect the gas mileage or acceleration to a noticeable degree?

 

No.

But it's also aluminum, so it's not going to provide much in the way of protection from snow or anything else anyway.

If you have one I'd leave it. It isn't worth buying for your needs, so far as you've expressed them.

If you want one for aesthetics then go for it.

 

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank you.
Didn't know they were aluminum. That's good to know.

 

Might add that there is a skid plate, more of a splash shield under the engine that's standard on all tacomas, it's made of thin steel and black ish color. It helps keeping mud and debris out of the engine bay a bit.
The Optional TRD skid plate is a total POS, overpriced, made out of aluminum, ruining approach angle and God forbid you actually skid on it it will damage your lower bumper cover. If you've got it sell it to some sucker who thinks its cool.

Oh and since you're looking at the 2.7, go for the 5speed manual. The automatic is a total sloth and you will be disappointed!

 

The black steel splash pan is, in fact, a splash pan.

Not a skid plate in any sense, and not called one in any documentation anywhere.

 

You may be 100% correct but I often see people calling them a skid plate and the heavy duty aftermarket skid plates directly replace them.

 

^This is true. Save your sheckles, and if you really want a Skid plate later, it won't cost you much more than what the dealer would have charged you for a far superior product.

 

People are.. smart.

The aluminum skid states in the instructions that it should be mounted in conjunction with the splash pan since it alone doesn't protect that area from splashing.

Most remove them and run the skid solo, including myself.

 

Also true.

The price of the aluminum skids far outweighs their usefulness. Should be considered a purely aesthetic mod.

 

Just like my LT!

(I don't get out much. )

 

Looking to go bare bones on the truck and do some mods later. Since the stealership didn't have a manual I test drove the auto. It was gutless.
Gotta have the stick.

 

If you like the 'look' of the OE skid, you can find take offs from folks who replace them with 'real' skids because they do take them off road.
And they should be cheap when bought that way.

If it were me, I'd take that approach. While, as mentioned, it's not a robust part, it can be useful in deflecting small critters, or even a pile of snow that a plow has left behind at an inconvenient place. Especially if it's a frozen slush ball.

 

Welcome to the club Charli!If your not going to be offroading than no but if so yes!Love my Pelfreybilt steel skids!

 

This is the only slush Bill sees

 

And I'm glad of it. Only one or two mornings of light frost for the last 5 years or so too.

And I've never been so glad to get rid of anything as that house in NH. Approaching about a year of joy regarding that. Long and twisted story, but it made this Fl boy realize why people move south.

 

Man you guys are mean.
Thanks for your opinions, I'll take them all into consideration.

We get four inches of snow and people fly off of bridges around here.