Gas tank skid plate fails in first snowfall

Anyone else have this happen? First snowfall in the '21 off-road and it folded faster than superman on laundry day.
That's the front part of my gas tank skid plate, for some reason they have about 10" up front unsupported. Toyota says they won't help me with it. Unfortunately it also took some paint off the drive shaft.

 

Toyota says that’s normal. Time for a new metal skid plate.

 

Did you hit something or are you saying the weight of snow inside skid caused it to fold?

 

Did the bolts fail? been thru a winter with mine without issue and we get a lot of snow here.

 

This looks like you were running through snow far too deep and heavy that it was able to pile up in the skid, once it started to push down it only picked up more snow until it just folded.

 

Yes it does look exactly like that is the problem. The point is it couldn't happen if the skid plate was properly designed. It shouldn't be allowed to become a snow shovel under the chassis.

On the other hand, the paint off the drive shaft won't cause any particular premature issues. I think the drive shaft's might be aluminum today, not sure on that.

 

While I do agree with you, toyota would see this more as "abuse" or "a situation the truck was not designed for". After the first few snowfalls here in MN, the roads are littered with underbelly pans and splash guards from people hitting heavy snow banks.

There is also a metal shield on the gas tank side to protect it, that shield bends in heavy snow and actually cuts open the drive shafts dust boot (I dont remember if it was short beds or long beds that it cuts the boot on).

A skid plate made from the same material as what its protecting is not a great design and toyota should be ashamed to called it a skid plate.

 

Just the weight of the snow, packed in and pulled it down. Skid plate still looks new save for some scratches on the top of the front edge from dragging

 

4-6 inches of snow should not be considered too deep. Those pics are taken in an untouched driveway

 

Bolts are good, that's how much hangs out in front of the bolts, poor design

 

I don’t think snow being shoved up in there caused this, no way.

 

I plow snow with mine in Maine never had a problem. That's some pretty heavy wet snow comes as no surprise you had a problem.

 

Yeahhhhh I beat the shit outta my ‘21 and never had an issue like this. Nor have any of the other guys I snow wheel with.

 

Time for RCI skid…code November for 15% off

 

Huh?

 

I'm tired, fixed it. Hunting season has been rough. I also clearly passed on the folded like a taco joke

 

Off-road or pro? Keep an eye on it?

 

Negative on that.

 

Stock OR with the TRD Skid. And 265/75/16 ATs in that pic.
I’ll keep an eye on for sure after seeing your pic… but I am curious as to what actually happened. Defects in manufacturing can definitely happen, maybe just luck of the draw in this case.

 

I feel like something got caught somewhere and pulled it down

I don’t buy snow doing that at all