FRONT Skid Pate fitment

First of all, thank you TunaJoe13 for straightening me out out on what I have or don't have. Since I have a Prerunner I DO have a bottom skid plate under the engine. (2010 Prerunner) Real easy to see once I got my butt out of a chair and stuck my head underneath the truck instead of up my .....nevermind.

ANYWAY, the front skid plate for up to a 2004 is Toyota Part PT212-35040, and for 2005 -->UP it is

$234 PT212-35075 Front Skid Plate

PT212-35075.

Looking at what pictures I can, the 35040 has (6) elongated holes on the front along the whole width.

The 35075 has (2) larger holes on the front on either side.

The sites I checked all say the 35040 will NOT fit a 2010. Really ?

Why not? Is it maybe a matter of re-drilling some holes and it will fit? It's only a chunk of bent metal (albeit a pricey chunk) so I am puzzling over why either one won't "fit" in the place of each other.

Perhaps the "bend" is too close on the one and it hits the bumpedrator on the later models?

Anyone out there know? This is my first Tacoma (9th Toyota) and I'm hoping somebody has or has had both OR even better has both skid plates to check out? (Heck, it never hurts to ask, right)??

-jim-

10/16/2010 Question Answered!!

After further investigation i have learned that the PT212-35040 and PT212-35075 indeed cannot be interchanged even with some simple home modifications. To further mix things up, there is available a genuine Toyota Part# 00016-35305 that is made out of Stainless Steel and has 8 or 9 elongated holes that will work on 2005 up! It's pretty nice looking but in reality is NOT a real skid plate as it only goes just under the bumpedrator and is more just for looks. Some Toyota folks have it priced at $93.00 and some have it marked DO NOT SELL. One dealer that does have it marked that way is getting one in just to see why not!