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What does the OEM skid plate protect?

Discussion in 'Armor' started by wildalaska, Feb 14, 2018.

  1. Feb 14, 2018 at 7:53 AM
    #1
    wildalaska

    wildalaska [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Conor
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    Hey guys, I just got my Tacoma a month ago and I'm looking at all the different things I can do to mod my truck. I'm curious as to what the OEM front skid plate that came with the truck protects. I see a bunch of aftermarket IFS skid plates that look similar to it, so I'm assuming they're the same protection-wise? In addition, what armor would you recommend I go with first? My plan is rock sliders first, but for underneath I'm not certain what is most important to protect. I plan to do some light to moderate off-roading, not very interested in rock crawling or mudding now or in the near future.
     
    CmdrTrekk likes this.
  2. Feb 14, 2018 at 7:56 AM
    #2
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    In all honesty that stock one will be fine for now, while you figure out how your truck best suits you. I would say your first piece of armor should be sliders, as the rocker panels are expensive to fix. Being up in alaska, you're going to get killed with shipping, so I would see if there is anyone local that can make you a set.

    If you want bolt on, check out mobtown. They're having a 15% off sale that ends tonight on their armor, code TaxMan15

    http://mobtownoffroad.com/product/no-drill-bolt-on-rock-sliders-2/
     
    scottalot likes this.
  3. Feb 14, 2018 at 7:57 AM
    #3
    Sandman614

    Sandman614 Ex-Snarky TWSS elf, Travis #hotsavannahdotcom

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    The stock "skid plate", more like a splash guard, protects from small debris and twigs. The aftermarket options are 3/16" (SOS Concepts uses 1/4") steel plate and they can take hits from large rocks without more than a scratch. Sliders and at least an IFS(forward most) skid are good places to start. Sliders offer good protection from bratty kids, ignorant people, and shopping carts at the mall or other parking lots.

    The SOS Concepts 20% off Tax Time Sale starts tomorrow
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sos-concepts-20-off-2018-tax-time-sale.531690/
     
  4. Feb 14, 2018 at 7:58 AM
    #4
    wildalaska

    wildalaska [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have quoted a few placers on their sliders, and yeah shipping was averaging between $400-$500 :( but I'm moving back home to Colorado in a few months so I plan to wait and buy them when I get back there. And Mobtown is my number one choice so far! And thanks for the response, I'm glad I'll be okay with just the OEM skid plate for now.
     
    EatSleepTacos[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Feb 14, 2018 at 8:00 AM
    #5
    nat103

    nat103 Well-Known Member

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    I have Mobtown sliders and full skids, love them. Factory skid only protects the front of the truck and is very lightweight. I've slid along a few rocks with my mobtown skids and no harm done
     
  6. Feb 14, 2018 at 10:58 AM
    #6
    MattCowsmasher

    MattCowsmasher ( -_・)ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘

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    Factory skid is weak sauce I barely tapped it with a wrench...got a dent. But good for grass an water is about all an holding all your bolts together.
     
  7. Feb 14, 2018 at 11:09 AM
    #7
    Wesintex

    Wesintex Well-Known Member

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    Tolerances must be pretty wide on the factory skids then. A pretty painful sounding group of rocks that hit mine off-road mostly just left some white residue on the plate. Though, on my dads '17 the same rocks left a decent dent. Nothing too bad overall. They by far exceeded my expectations; they obviously aren't as beefy as a lot of aftermarket ones.
     
  8. Oct 24, 2018 at 12:40 PM
    #8
    dualstroke

    dualstroke Well-Known Member

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    Not much. Mines all bent up.
     
  9. Jan 22, 2020 at 10:16 PM
    #9
    CaptainBart45

    CaptainBart45 Well-Known Member

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    After some research, I have found, the factory braces behind the factory skid plate make it pretty durable. I read many post about " factory skid plate bent the to the shape of my under carriage" etc but haven't seen any photos of those skid plates? No doubt if you are going serious off roading you need to upgrade the factory skid plate. I go out in the desert exploring and the factory skid protects the oil pan from rocks that the tires throw up.
     
  10. Jan 23, 2020 at 5:31 PM
    #10
    nat103

    nat103 Well-Known Member

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    It’s your funeral
     
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  11. Jan 26, 2020 at 11:04 AM
    #11
    Bumble Bee Tuna

    Bumble Bee Tuna Well-Known Member

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    Like the above research has shown, it protects a lot. Although it’s very thin and can’t take a big front impact like steel or aluminum, it retains the factory braces.

    I run a steel front skid plate from RCI. However in hindsight I should have kept my factory skids awhile longer.

    Just look up/google MAD STZ his truck has been through A LOT, and he runs factory skids (last I checked). That crazy bastard shows you that a lot more can be done with factory skids than you think. Although not much else is factory on it....

    But whatever it’s your truck and your money.

    Side note this post is over 2 years old wonder if the OP still got his truck
     
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  12. Jan 26, 2020 at 11:12 AM
    #12
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    It's rare I see any big damage to the factory plate if you're doing simple trails.

    The offroad has the second plate thats shared with 4runner that covers the engine oil pan as well.

    The big armor is for boulder crashing, river crossings, and blind 4x4'ing. But for an average joe you won't get into any trouble with the factory plate.

    I remember my dad bent our 99 4runners plate and he was embarrassed. I was proud :)
     
    CaptainBart45[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jan 26, 2020 at 6:55 PM
    #13
    CaptainBart45

    CaptainBart45 Well-Known Member

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    Removing the factory braces to install most after market skids is what has me second guessing.
     
  14. Feb 11, 2020 at 3:57 PM
    #14
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Why?

    I can understand if you don't really have much in the way of fabrication skills, but that hasn't stopped me, lol


    The factory braces on my 1st gen practically fell off:

    I replaced them with some custom ones made from some 3/16" steel:

    @wildalaska as for what type of armor to get first just ask yourself what is most important to you to protect. What kind of trails are you hitting right now? Are you self limiting yourself because you don't want to damage your truck?

    From my perspective, it's generally a better idea to protect your engine and transmission pans, vs. something like your doors or rocker panels. Poking a hole in your transmission pan is a deal breaker, vs purely cosmetic damage to a door. But you should also consider the chances of actually hitting your transmission based on the trails you drive. For the most part, you'd have to try pretty had to hit your trany pan, but at the same time, that would absolutely suck.
     
  15. Feb 11, 2020 at 8:32 PM
    #15
    CaptainBart45

    CaptainBart45 Well-Known Member

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    I hear Ya! LOL, I was thinking that maybe the factory skid plate with the braces had some value. Reinforcing makes for durability, was what I was thinking.
     
  16. Feb 12, 2020 at 8:25 AM
    #16
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    I think the stock skids (they are actually called "splash guards" from the factory) are certainly better than nothing. I ran mine for a good number of years, right up until the point I took them off to start building my skids.

    They are definitely adequate for most driving, and even up to moderate trail use. I even modified mine when I did a diff drop when I lifted it (welded some spacers to the mounting surfaces).

    Modifying it, maybe welding an extra plate to the bottom, or maybe just so 1" wide flat bar in strategic locations would certainly be easier than fabricating your own from scratch like I'm doing.
     
    CaptainBart45[QUOTED] likes this.

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