Ironman 4x4 skids

Has anyone purchased the heavy duty ironman skids? They're running a labor day sale right now and they look pretty tempting. Curious to see if anyone has had them long enough to give a review.

 

Jump on them if the price is right for you. Maybe you can be the first to provide a review! To me, skids are skids and they will get destroyed either way (if you use them), only variability is the time that that occurs between terrain and what material you go with.

 

Most local fab shops have Labor Day sales. Check out some of the vendors here.

 

I just got them a few weeks ago. Happy so far. They are very well built and seem to be well engineered with good reinforcements on the back(means they can use thinner metal but retain the same or more strength as thicker ones that are just plate to save weight). Install was easy, everything fit together as intended.

The only thing I don’t like is that they don’t extend far enough back to protect the transfer, they end right under the exhaust crossover.

If people want a review I can post one eventually. I have been on the trails since install but never contacted anything with the mom yet. Don’t see any value in reviewing skids before they’ve taken some good hits. It’ll happen soon I’m sure as you could guess from the condition my stock ones were in.

edit: was autocorrected to wasn’t

 

I got their skids. It was on sale for $600 and some change shipped.

They're "light" considering it's full steel. It has a lot of cutouts for weight savings. Pretty easy to install.

It's advertised to protect transfer case, but it does not. It goes as far back as the low hanging exhaust part and that's it. No TC protection.

Front skid does not have access to oil filter, so you'll have to remove 6 bolts, 2 more than OEM, to remove front skid for oil changes.

If you're on a budget, or just need something delivered quickly (ordered on a Friday night, delivered by Wed morning), get it. I also carry a spray can of black anti-rust to cover up any signs of bare metal (mine came scratched up from delivery)

 

From the pictures they don’t offer the same coverage as other companies, much less. Don’t have panels for oil changes. They aren’t gusseted in the appropriate areas to provide adequate protection from hits.

I would consider these a light duty option for those who don’t really need skids.

 

Do they have promo pages/threads? Or is the easiest way to find them the gold ol' search function? Interested to see what else is available, thanks for the tip.

Edit:
NVM, found the vendor page: https://www.tacomaworld.com/categories/vendors.62/

 

Agree that the lack of TCase coverage is disappointing. Otherwise the coverage is good. Maybe others are wider but they’re protecting nothing with the width, everything vulnerable is covered. Also not sure what you think’s wrong with the gussets, they already have a more angular design than others and the gussets are in the appropriate spots to strengthen those.

 

Ya the wider plates usually offer additional coverage of the LCA cam bolts preventing them from getting wrecked but you can always by additional gussets to strengthen those up.

As far as the skid gussets, the front has framing on the edges but lacks anything in the middle. Not a deal breaker but I hit that spot a lot. The mid skid only has a small gusset in the middle. If you compare that to Mobtown they gusset the entire skid.

 

I think your scales off. Keep in mind that because they don’t extend as far back my plates are shorter than you think, use the hole for the jack point as reference.

The engineering is honestly really solid. I found a picture of the mobtowns and I trust this more. It has structural bends in all the key spots, that big gusset on an angle adds a massive amount strength, the mobtown mid plate is supported by the front while the Ironman is supported by the chassis and the front plate(which itself bolts to the chassis front and rear). Structural bends in the right places can do a ton for strengthening

We’ll see when they get put to the test for sure but I definitely think they’re well engineered.

 

Mobtowns bolts directly to the crossmember of the chassis.

To each their own. I’ve damage enough and even broken enough skid plates to choose what will work or not.

These will be great for overlanders

 

I was also looking at the victory 4x4 skids, They're local to me so here's hoping the put on a sale as well. Although with the additional weight I'm definitely going to need to look at upgrading the suspension in the near future as well. Still on the fence if I want to go with a lift or not or just beef it up for weight at stock height and try to fit the 255/85r16s underneath.

 

With the LaborDay25 promo I just ordered mine at $560 shipped

 

Go with BAMF they got a sale going

 

The 255/85/16 will fit right now without any mods, assuming that you have the off road.
I have the "E" rated coopers and if you like the stock handling they do change the way it drives but you'll get instant 1.5 " of ground clearance and the spare fit under the bed.

 

yeah, send a grand out to California and I’ll get em by the spring

 

Well thanks for letting me know it doesn’t cover the transfer case saved me from buying it

 

Do you have any update on these? Are they working well for you? I'm thinking about ordering them.

 

I'm curious as well. They seem fairly priced for what you get. The only downfall seems to be not having quick access when changing your oil although its only an extra two bolts. Might have to purchase it and find out.

 

Not the guy you quoted, but I ended up buying the RCI's. I'm not sure about the ironman but not covering the transfer case was enough for me to go the RCI route. I hit them pretty hard last month (ditch that I couldn't see coming over a hill) and there's not even a dent in the panel. FWIW.