Different TRD skid plates?

I haven't done much to my truck since the year I've owned it and got the itch to come to forums and look at all the cool stuff I suddenly want to do my truck.
I noticed someone else posting a picture of their TRD skid plate and noticed it looked nothing like mine (2013 TRD). Did Toyota offer different levels of skid plates? I would have thought that I bought a TRD, it would come with TRD stuff.
Can anyone shed some light on this?

The one that is on my truck now looks like this one I found on google.

 

That's the regular run of the mill skid plate (some call it a splash guard), the TRD piece is aluminum and was an option, I think.

 

Is the TRD (sport) supposed to come with the aluminum skid plate?

 

Damn. Thanks though, that explains a lot.

 

I could be totally and completely wrong.

 

all Tacoma's have that black OEM skid/splash guard

the upgrade aluminium TRD one is an option, no trim level comes std with it

 

You are probably seeing some aftermarket skid plates. Check out some of the vendors here at TW.

 

Yet another one of Toyota's TRD accessories.

 

Kukui Grove action

 

The TRD in TRD OR is the suspension / upgrade package that gives you a bit better shocks and such and a rear locker. The aluminum skid plate is an option (about $250 from the dealer) that actually bolts over the existing one on your truck....a little bit better protection at the loss of some clearance....go figure? If you want a real skid there are ones offered by various vendors on the site that do a much better job of actually protecting stuff.

 

Are you planning on offroading at all? If you are, you will THRASH the TRD aluminum skid plate so fast you still won't believe it's not butter. In all seriousness though, you will want to get an all steel skid plate. The stock TRD one bends just by looking at it, and I'm not talking about the shetmetal splashguard either, I'm talking about the silver/ gray one that Toyota calls an "upgrade." There are tons of vendors on this site. Relentless Fabrication, SOS Concepts, Famous Fabrication, Armortech, Pelfreybilt, 4xinnovation, and all pro, just to name a few. All great designs and they offer them in lighter 3/8 steel or you can get the thicker 1/4 steel for better resistance to bangs and bumps. One plus side to getting these skids are since they tie centrally into your frame, they now create a jacking point on the front of your truck which you can lift it from.

Hope this helps, and welcome once again to the madness! Go crazy!

 

Speaking of this a friend of mine just got a TRD Sport, brand new, and was able to haggle a TRD skid plate out of them. FTW!!!

 

^^^^Beautiful!!

 

except for the mis-matched 5k and 3k lights

 

What's the problem? Aren't you into the pseudo Japanese Domestic Market look?!

 

I just ordered one from Bullet Proof Fabricating. $220 + shipping. 10 ga steel powdercoated with TRD stamped in it. I do not wheel much,mostly got it for looks.

 

Mine is a TRD offroad :/ But thanks for the advice! I'll look into a real one!

 

Lol you know it!

 

Lol way better shot than Uncle Ronald's parking lot

 

Get a real skid plate