Since I am adding weight incrementally, I should ask before my natural stupidity takes over

The skid plates added 100 lbs, but serves a purpose.

My bed mat is 85 lbs (well, 94 lbs full with 10 inches of 6 ft removed).

Clearly using 185 lbs of my 1100 lb payload "always attached" is not fatal, but when have I nickel-and-dimed myself into needing a better leafpack and slightly better shocks.

 

That’s a heavy bed mat. Are you sure not 35lb?

 

Tractor Supply Company stall mat. $51 instead of $150. 4' x 6' x 3/4", cut to 5 ft.

 

Drive and see how it handles. I always felt that carrying 5 adults weighed down the truck when it was stock. 100-200lb isn’t a huge weight difference from stock, but even then nothing beats a set of custom leaf packs. I DD it stock for 5 years. Then suspension felt kind of tired so I upgraded to a mid travel set up.

 

One thing in your favor is that the weight of both the mat and skid plates are evenly distributed, better than an equal weight concentrated on the tailgate for example.

Drive it for a while and any shortcomings should become more obvious.

 

Thanks for that. I had only thought about a little less salt/sand I need to carry if I want to go sledding in my Tacoma.

I expect no issues right now, but at some point adding "always attached" weight will make some reinforcement wise.