TRD Pro Imposter Skid Plate

I ordered the Lostar skid plate from Amazon about a month ago for $220, came in two days, painted silver with no dents at all. Only issue was mine had three long bolts and one short instead of two and two to mount up front. No sweat, the bolts from my removed factory tow hook were the same size so I just used those. I'd read about others getting shorted on the entire bolt pack but the seller would usually send a replacement set if so.

Great fit, will definitely give a little better protection than the sheet metal splash guards it replaced.

 

I just received a lostar in the mail today and picked up a TRD Pro em skid plate on offer up in mint condition with some oil on it the other day for $250. The OEM seems to have an inch more length not the front of the skid plate at about 6 1/2" compared to the lostar at 5 1/2" give or take. So maybe an inch longer? I really liked the lostars clean look without the trd letters but am going to return the lostar and take the $45 hit for the return label... Unless someone in LA/IE area wants it for $240?

I have some of the darker grey tuffskinz letters coming in the mail and might change the red letters since I don't have any other red accents on my truck... or remove them and fill the holes with some type of matching aluminum color, any ideas?... or black rustoleum bed spray the entire thing over the red trd letters or without any letters. Decisions decisions

 

Just installed the Lostar skid on my tacoma, pain in the ass to get it on alone but after I finally finished I noticed the skid plate didn't seem lined up perfectly. Does anyone elses plate hang more to the left side. Probably not as easy to see in the photo but its pressed up against the bolt that connects to the lower control arm on the right side but missed the bolt on the left. I doubt this is an issue but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

It's made in China, no need to say anything else.

 

Those cam bolts are also in a different position on the left and right. Lostar or whoever stamped these probably had no issue hitting their stated specs on the drawing, but didn't account for maxed alignment cams.

 

It's a slab of aluminum with bolt holes. All it needs to do is hang there and stop the occasional fist sized rock.

If you want more than that, I wouldn't recommend getting the TRD plate either, which is an equally sized slab of aluminum with bolt holes.

Not everything needs to be the best of the best of the best.

 

Oem Pro skid plate for $317 shipped at Wesley chapel. Sale ends today.

 

I like mine so far

 

I understand the concept of a skid plate, but when I pay full price for something I prefer to be the first person to dent it or scratch it all up, just saying.

 

For anyone interested in the TRD stickers for the skid, I have 4 sets available for sale. Brand is BDtrims from eBay. I have a red, black (2) and gold set. PM me if interested and will ship to you!

 

I'm also looking to swap out a steel IFS skid (Mobtown) and do 1/4" aluminum instead. Did you switch yet and if so, are you glad you did?

 

I still have my 1/8" aluminum RCI skid and have not switched out yet. I'm still on the hunt for a deal on the OEM TRD Pro skid.

 

I like my Mobtown Aluminum Skid.



I just wish I had ordered the flat skid instead of the one for the routed exhaust. (I have re-routed since then and could gain an inch) /sigh.
Anyone have a transmission and TC from Mobtown in Aluminum that is flat (without the reroute dip)

 

This is quite the tired, pre-canned, xenophobic response.

 

You didn't see the skid plate when it arrived at my house, the box looked like it was dragged behind the UPS truck all the way from Texas.

 

Been meaning to post on my experience with a faux skidplate. Read many posts decided to take a chance with a faux.
Lostar my first choice was not available. Knew none of them were oem. It's an aluminum plate to protect the underside. Found one for $208 shipped. At that moment in time, OEM through the Toyota dealers, best thing price shipped was $418. My price point for OEM shipped was $350.

My 2 cents: At $350 I would go OEM, doable with patience. I was happy with my knockoff at $208 free shipping. This may sound like sacrilege, but I purchased BD trim decals for less than tuffskinz. Love the decals went with faux carbon for the MGM with faux skidplate. Month in, love the look, makes me happy, my truck.

Install, somebody in the legit TRD thread suggested this method: Lay the plate on your legs/shins feet, kind of prop it up, you can see enough to start the first four bolts. Crawl under and start the back smaller bolts. Run them up snug and torque appropriately.

 

Has anyone jacked up their tacoma using the jack point on one of these skid plates?

 

I am in Colorado and am looking for a skid place... interested in selling your RCI locally?

 

yes, but I have a second gen…

I sold it within an hour of posting it a while ago. I highly recommend just getting the OEM Toyota one and not the knockoff this thread is about.

 

Oh cool, I had my floor jack under there and lined up but I just couldn't bring my self to put the weight of the truck on that aluminum plate. I guess worse thing that could happen...I have no friggin ideal? LOL