Would the increase in weight require me to do any upgrades?

My most recent trail put some dents in my stock skid plate, this made me realize I should probably skid the entire underside with quality plates as a precaution. I would go with a full skid package, so it would add a lot of weight to the truck.

Haven't decided on steel or aluminum yet, but would the increase in weight from either require me to make any modifications to my truck? As of right now, I have 5100's with OEM UCA's

 

Start with the IFS skid to replace the one you dented up.
Steel is real. If you wheel this is the way to go.
See what that does to you ride and go from there.
If you skid the whole truck with steel you are definitely going to notice.

 

I don't have any exact measurements but I lost around an inch when I added front and mid steel skids + sliders. This was more than I expected. That was on 3rd gen OR suspension. I since installed 2nd gen Pro suspension and got my height back.

If you're on stock spring rates you'll likely see a decent drop in ride height due to a full steel skid package.

 

I don't want to be a buzz kill but I feel like you need gears stock. Add weight and cry

 

Subbed. About to add full BAMF skids to my Tacoma with OME suspension and camper shell/sliders/ARB bumper already installed.

 

I have the steel BAMF trilogy, a fiberglass ARE canopy, and roof+top racks on stock suspension. I notice the weight but it doesn’t seem to be a problem on the suspension. I might consider switching to aluminum skids when I put on the rock sliders.

 

It’s very subjective especially if you don’t use any numbers in your question.

 

I think you are worrying about nothing. That's well within the payload capacity of a Tacoma.

 

With just skids you'll be fine, bring a friend that weighs 150 pounds for a ride and that's what the weight difference will feel like, except with skids that weight is evenly distributed in a very ideal spot(low down) so the passenger will feel worse.

Skids and sliders are fine on stock suspension. If you add bumpers too you'll need suspension.

Actually if you add only bumpers you're more likely to need suspension, even if they weigh the same as the skids a bumper is concentrated weight hanging off the very front of the truck as opposed to more spread out weight in the center. That lever arm gives the bumper mechanical advantage over the suspension.

 

Don’t fix what’s not broken.

 

The answer to your question is, no but yes. You don’t really “need” to do any upgrades until you notice the performance of your suspension drop beyond your expectations.

The first thing you will notice IS the sag. BAMF IFS skid and steel sliders had my front end sagging a 1/2” on the stock OR coils. The ride became harsher. My rear end was sagging about an inch with a fiberglass shell and tools in the bed. So then I decided to upgrade the suspension.

That being said, measure your suspension height before/after, pay real close attention to how the truck handles around corners, high speeds, BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS, fire roads etc etc before the armor. If the armor affects your suspension’s baseline that much then you’ll know it’s time to upgrade.