06-21-2021, 08:26 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
Fuel Tank Skid Options
Curious as to what everyone is running for a fuel tank skid plate and what kind of clearance it offers, any downsides, etc. Currently trying to whittle it down between Lil Skip, Coastal, and Shrockworks;
Both Coastal and Shrockworks claim to offer more clearance than Lil Skip, but it seems like many people have had issues with Shrockworks and I don't recall seeing anybody using Coastal's DIY set before (also not keen on welding it myself, with it priced so closely to completed plates). It seems like mostly everyone shoots for Lil Skip but I see his skid plate needs to be modified to run sliders, which I do plan to get some point down the road - but with that said I don't think I've read a single complaint about his set otherwise.
Thoughts? Opinions? Am I skimming over some better options on the market? Pitch in your 2 cents here.
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 08:45 PM
|
#2
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Northern NM
Age: 26
Posts: 214
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Northern NM
Age: 26
Posts: 214
|
FWIW, I didn't have to modify my Lil Skip skid to run sliders. Maybe its only true for bolt on sliders, but mine welded up just fine.
__________________
2000 SR5 - Build Thread
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 08:49 PM
|
#3
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
Fwiw I have the full set of Shrockworks skids and I really like them. I actually ripped my gas tank off prior to having them, ending the trip about 30 mins into the trail. I think it could have been entirely prevented with them. Great coverage, hella beefy, build quality and powder coat are awesome. No clearance issues with sliders, or anything. Ground clearance is great, it fits very tight to the tank. I've mentioned having skid plates to a few friends who aren't into this kind of stuff, and encourage them to look under the truck, and the reaction every time is, "holy s**t!"
Haven't used them on rocks yet, but I've bottomed out the radiator/engine skid area several times in deep ruts, and the impact is teeth rattling. Despite that, only a few spots even have the coating missing. Idk what it would take to dent that area, since it's so reinforced, but I don't think I'd want to be in the truck when it happened.
Another bonus is the entire skid area basically becomes a jack point, lol.
Only downside I can even think of is they are a pain to install, but that's just the nature of the beast. Also washing mud out of the rad skid is kind of a pain.
Just took all of them off except the gas skid to do a bunch of involved maintenance.
Last edited by PrinceValorum; 06-21-2021 at 08:58 PM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 10:07 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quantumkiwi
FWIW, I didn't have to modify my Lil Skip skid to run sliders. Maybe its only true for bolt on sliders, but mine welded up just fine.
|
I believe that is the case now that you mention it. Good to know, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrinceValorum
Fwiw I have the full set of Shrockworks skids and I really like them. I actually ripped my gas tank off prior to having them, ending the trip about 30 mins into the trail. I think it could have been entirely prevented with them. Great coverage, hella beefy, build quality and powder coat are awesome. No clearance issues with sliders, or anything. Ground clearance is great, it fits very tight to the tank. I've mentioned having skid plates to a few friends who aren't into this kind of stuff, and encourage them to look under the truck, and the reaction every time is, "holy s**t!"
|
I've read good things from those who do have them, but I've also read a couple reports on the skid not fitting right and some horrific customer service so I was wondering if it's worth the gamble. Ironically I've already tried emailing them about their front skids before on two separate occasions and have gotten no response both times. Which is a shame cause I really like how they look, and I think they'd look even better if you went and dimpled the holes
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 10:07 PM
|
#5
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 199
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 199
|
I don't know if you want to run aluminum but this is another option. 96-02 4RUNNER GAS TANK SKID PLATE | Element By RA Motorsports
__________________
1999 Limited with rear locker.
Sherpa Matterhorn | Sonoran Steel Diff Drop | SPC UCAs | DuroBumps Front and Rear | OME 890 Springs and Black Tokico Shocks | Eimkeith Reinforcements and PCK | King Coilovers | OCD Sway Bar Links | Opt Offroad Rear Arms | Lil Skips Gas Tank Skid Plate | FGP Rock Sliders | 4x Innovations Rear Plate Bumper with tire carrier
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 10:28 PM
|
#6
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
II've also read a couple reports on the skid not fitting right and some horrific customer service so I was wondering if it's worth the gamble. Ironically I've already tried emailing them about their front skids before on two separate occasions and have gotten no response both times. Which is a shame cause I really like how they look, and I think they'd look even better if you went and dimpled the holes
|
Fwiw, I bought my Shrockworks bumper off of craigslist, and asked them if I could just buy a hardware kit for my bumper, and they said no problem. I also lost one of the brackets for my gas skid before installing it and had to order a replacement from them, and I didn't have any issues. Iirc I think I had to call vs email them, but it's been a few years.
That's just been my experience, ymmv.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-21-2021, 11:57 PM
|
#7
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: San Francisco Ca
Posts: 872
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: San Francisco Ca
Posts: 872
|
Or you could just f150 tank swap lol..
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-22-2021, 12:08 AM
|
#8
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 431
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 431
|
I'm running a full set of shrockworks skids, front to back. Really pleased with how they fit and how beefy they are. You can jack the whole truck up from basically any point if you wanted to. Way overbuilt.
My driveshaft grease zerk gets torn off on my Shrockworks gas tank skid everytime I go wheeling. But I dont think thats a shrockworks problem, its more of a 3rd gen 4runner thing
__________________
2000 SR5 4x4 | Geared, Locked and Fully restored OEM+ build.
Forged and Cammed 1UZ Single Turbo, Standalone ECU + Built R150 in process. Why, you ask? Because it makes no sense in this platform, and I love it!
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
06-22-2021, 12:31 AM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by T4topher
Or you could just f150 tank swap lol..
|
This is something I've greatly considered but ultimately something I'm gonna put off for the time being, I might do it around the same time as the sliders or tire carrier whenever that may be. There's actually a 3rd gen near identical to mine a couple blocks over with the swap, and I eye it any time I pass by it. Then again, having two tanks would be pretty nice too, only filling up once a month...
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
Last edited by Devbot; 06-22-2021 at 12:33 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-02-2021, 11:49 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
bumping after a while, still can't decide and my budbuilt skid just shipped
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
Last edited by Devbot; 07-02-2021 at 11:52 PM.
Reason: typo
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-04-2021, 12:41 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,685
Real Name: Blair
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,685
Real Name: Blair
|
I'm looking at the Lil' Skip's too, and I emailed him. He got right back to me and said he would modify one of the tank skid mounting brackets a bit at no charge. I believe the tweak is only needed for us weirdos with bolt-on sliders (Shrockworks in my case). He has been making these for a long time and has probably seen every possible configuration. Bonus points for being responsive and a seemingly straight-up vendor.
***Please note, some modification might be needed when used with bolt on style sliders. Please contact me for more information***
Lil' Skip's Offroad | Fabricating parts for the offroad enthusiast
__________________
260K - Y2K/E - Clock still works
Last edited by Endlessblockades; 07-04-2021 at 12:45 PM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-04-2021, 12:52 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 3,929
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 3,929
|
I was one of the first to get the shrockworks full skid kits. You probably read my issues, but here's a summary.
Had a ton of contact issues with the driveshaft and gas tank skid when flexing. Pestered them about it until they "redesigned" it. They sent me the new version free of charge which was good on them. Still didn't fit, had contact of the driveshaft and skid. More than just ripping the zerk off, but a terrible noise and thud as the driveshaft yoke would slam into it and force it's way past. I pulled the skid, ground down the area with contact as much as possible and put a set screw in where the zerk goes for normal driving. I just pop the zerk in when greasing.
My first suspension was LC coils and LC shocks. Now with slightly shorter King shocks and OME861s I don't think I get any more contact when flexing. Honestly can't remember. That was after modifying though. It was a pain dealing with all of that, I would go with a different company the next time around.
Keep in mind I also don't have any sort of a panhard bar correction. If you have an extended one, or a drop/raise it will pull your driveshaft further to the driver side making the contact worse.
Food for thought and my two cents.
__________________
2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4x4 - Salsa Red, DD, Mostly Stock, 89k miles
2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x4 - Not Stock, Lifted, Armored, 291k miles
1987 Toyota Supra N/A - Stock, 2nd Owner, 92k miles
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-04-2021, 01:21 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Endlessblockades
I'm looking at the Lil' Skip's too, and I emailed him. He got right back to me and said he would modify one of the tank skid mounting brackets a bit at no charge. I believe the tweak is only needed for us weirdos with bolt-on sliders (Shrockworks in my case). He has been making these for a long time and has probably seen every possible configuration. Bonus points for being responsive and a seemingly straight-up vendor.
***Please note, some modification might be needed when used with bolt on style sliders. Please contact me for more information***
Lil' Skip's Offroad | Fabricating parts for the offroad enthusiast
|
Good to know, thanks! Thinking I might go with him then. Sliders are often desperately needed in my area, it's a miracle I haven't messed up my doors or rocker panels yet, but I'd really rather be able to put them on when needed and avoid rolling around with all that extra weight all the time
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unner
I was one of the first to get the shrockworks full skid kits. You probably read my issues, but here's a summary.
Had a ton of contact issues with the driveshaft and gas tank skid when flexing. Pestered them about it until they "redesigned" it. They sent me the new version free of charge which was good on them. Still didn't fit, had contact of the driveshaft and skid. More than just ripping the zerk off, but a terrible noise and thud as the driveshaft yoke would slam into it and force it's way past. I pulled the skid, ground down the area with contact as much as possible and put a set screw in where the zerk goes for normal driving. I just pop the zerk in when greasing.
My first suspension was LC coils and LC shocks. Now with slightly shorter King shocks and OME861s I don't think I get any more contact when flexing. Honestly can't remember. That was after modifying though. It was a pain dealing with all of that, I would go with a different company the next time around.
Keep in mind I also don't have any sort of a panhard bar correction. If you have an extended one, or a drop/raise it will pull your driveshaft further to the driver side making the contact worse.
Food for thought and my two cents.
|
I believe you were actually one of the reports that initially put me off of them, and that's real good to know because I'm running LC shocks+coils in rear, so thank you for the warning I'll look more into that! Really not keen on changing the rear susp, Im loving the 210v/Tokico combo! And with how expensive Dobinsons is like hell I'm gonna ditch them just for a skid plate
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-04-2021, 01:34 PM
|
#14
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 121
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unner
I was one of the first to get the shrockworks full skid kits. You probably read my issues, but here's a summary.
Had a ton of contact issues with the driveshaft and gas tank skid when flexing. Pestered them about it until they "redesigned" it. They sent me the new version free of charge which was good on them. Still didn't fit, had contact of the driveshaft and skid. More than just ripping the zerk off, but a terrible noise and thud as the driveshaft yoke would slam into it and force it's way past. I pulled the skid, ground down the area with contact as much as possible and put a set screw in where the zerk goes for normal driving. I just pop the zerk in when greasing.
My first suspension was LC coils and LC shocks. Now with slightly shorter King shocks and OME861s I don't think I get any more contact when flexing. Honestly can't remember. That was after modifying though. It was a pain dealing with all of that, I would go with a different company the next time around.
Keep in mind I also don't have any sort of a panhard bar correction. If you have an extended one, or a drop/raise it will pull your driveshaft further to the driver side making the contact worse.
Food for thought and my two cents.
|
I'm gonna have to check mine now once I get the truck back together after the timing belt job. I don't know that I've done a full flex test since having the gas skid on, but I don't think mine has ever contacted the drive shaft on the trails I've done in Kentucky (nothing too extreme). I know the zerk is still on the driveshaft.
I got my skids in mid 2018. I'm curious if they modified them again since you got your updated skid from them?
I've got 10" FJ80 Icon shocks in the rear with Superflex coils, and the SS adjustable panhard bar.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-04-2021, 01:45 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,685
Real Name: Blair
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,685
Real Name: Blair
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
Good to know, thanks! Thinking I might go with him then. Sliders are often desperately needed in my area, it's a miracle I haven't messed up my doors or rocker panels yet, but I'd really rather be able to put them on when needed and avoid rolling around with all that extra weight all the time
|
Just FYI - Shrockworks bolt-on sliders aren't something I could see pulling on and off as needed. Maybe there are other brands using different bolt-on methods, but the stick-nuts you feed inside the frame might be a pain in the ass to redo over and over.....I went bolt-on because I had no way or where to weld at the time. I could see moving them to another rig easily enough, though but I am just accepting the weight penalty.
__________________
260K - Y2K/E - Clock still works
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|