Skid Plates on TRD Sport

I am waiting on the 2018 to come out and wondering from those who have the 2016/2017 Sport, what is the quality of the skid plate? I prefer the one that's on the TRD Pro but not interested in spending $11,000 more just for that. I'm also wondering about installing an aftermarket plate. From looking at pictures it looks like the entire front bumper needs to be changed out?

 

Why spend $11k when you can just buy the pro skid plate for less then $400?

 

Only thing that gets taken off of the stock Sport is the skid plate and 2 brackets.... use SOME of the hardware over.

The stock skid is not really a skid plate... it's so small that the only thing it might protect is water getting into the engine compartment if that.

I have @Mobtown Offroad skids on my TRD Sport... cool thing is I gained 1.5 mpg with the new skids and they are bomb proof... seriously (1/4 & 3/8 steel plate).

 

The stock plates are more than substantial enough for most people. The off-road has the 4runner plate which protects the front differential as well, you can always add it to a TRD sport for cheap.

 

I don't think the stock skid plate, or any stock skid plate, is made for any kind of serious off-roading.
But it's probably enough to do all the off road that you can do with the stock tires and suspension anyway.
Anything else would probably be over-kill. Aftermarket is better suited with upgraded tire size lift, diff ratio, just IMO.

 

Aerodynamics are key for fuel economy lol. They're heavy skids BUT they cover a huge portion of the underside of the truck reduces tons of drag points. Elon Musk and his team of engineers knows what's up. The underside of the Tesla is completely covered with a flat sheet for this reason.

 

I heard the 2019 Tacoma TRD skid plate will be way better. Just wait.

Heard from a friend

 

The skids on the diesel? Yeah i heard they're awesome

 

You mean twin turbo diesel.

 

Heck, just wait until they release the Triple Cab Long bed in 2022. The entire front end is just one giant skid plate.

Heard it from a guys friend who works for Toyota Corporate. Totally legit.

 

i put a 2nd gen skid on mine. fit perfect

 

Any modification to get it to work? Might go down this road as it's cheaper than the 3rd gen TRD skid.

 

front bolts need a longer spacer between the factory skid and this one. thats it

 

Go mobtown aluminum. Lightweight, high quality, etc.

 

+2 on Mobtown

 

Just wondering if the 2 brackets you said to remove is truly supposed to be removed. I get that the OR and Sport have different instructions since our Sports don't have the extra skid on there but in the instructions, it says to leave the "member braces." Is that what you remove? Mine is on fine but wondering if I missed something during my install.

 

I love mine it was the easy to install and I just rust proofed with self etching primer and truck bedliner then I sprayed some rust stopper grey paint on the inside, ohio salty roads in the winter,

 

How many skid plates are on the off road compared to the sport?

 

I believe the OR has 2 and the Sport has only 1

 

OR has 3, front, mid, and gas tank.