Darn that OEM aluminum skid plate.

The powder coated finish is wrinkle silver and it's preventing me from applying my vinyl TRD decals.

 

First World Problems - you've got em

 

Get a new skid plate

 

I believe it's bare sandblasted aluminum.

 

Nah. It's powder coated. I've done powder coating in the past and there's a difference in feel between bare sandblasted aluminum and wrinkle powder coat.

 

Good to know.

I've never handled blasted aluminum, so I totally assumed.

 

The thing you'll notice the most is how quickly blasted AL will absorb any kind of dirt and grease that touches it. Easy enough to clean off, but such a pain to keep clean before powder coating.

 

Is that because the blasted finish is finer? Or nah?

 

Scuff it, spray it with primer, then silver single stage automotive spray paint, then wet sand until it's smooth as glass, then put your decals on

 

less decals is better imho

 

It's just the nature of aluminum. Lots of store sold aluminum is bright and shiny and resistant to dirt because of the polish. If you media blast AL, it becomes pretty porous because it's a soft metal. I used to use glass media, which gave a very smooth finish, but it still made AL porous.

 

That's a lot of work. Haha. I thought of that or just spraying clear coat on it. I came up with a different solution. I hope it works out.

 

I just ordered a plate because of unchained's specials. My plate came with a very considerable gouge in the top part of the plate, so it was visible while it was on. I won't complain to the seller about it. It really doesn't bother me that much because I was able to grind most of it down. But while doing this I did notice this plate is not necessarily built to be the best thing in the world. The powder coat is rather thin.
My plate however is just for looks so it's no skin off my nose. I've decided that if if get's banged up over time I probably will have it Line-Xed white to match my truck.

I do know that some people have chosen to paint their plate and it looks like they were able to get vinyl TRD stickers to stick on.

 

Get a real skid plate.

 

Funny. I'm pretty sure it's a real skid plate. I mean, I can pick it up and everything.

 

It's more for looks than it is anything else... the aluminum is so malleable it bends just looking at it.

 

Haha. Yeah, I know. No offense taken. It's only for looks. I don't off road at all. It's my daily driver.

 

I like the look of the TRD as well which is why I bought one. Love the off-road ones but don't like the weight.

 

I'm thinking about getting the OEM plate because my off-roading consists of driving through cornfields at 5mph and the occasional wooded trail on the farm. The biggest reason for adding it would be added protection from the occasional unavoidable chunk of retread on the highway. Sometimes, changing lanes is not an option. I'd rather square up and go right over it.