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Originally Posted by Syr4RinNC
I’m curious if any has any direct experience of the stock skid plates getting punctured or bent enough to damage the drive train, engine, gas tank etc?
I understand the valuable parts underneath the car. However, so far with some off roading and mild- moderate rock crawling my stock skids have done the job.
Does anyone have any cautionary tales to share such that I should make after market skids a priority for my future upgrades?
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The 4runner skid system is surprisingly well designed. If you don't put the weight of the car on the front skid, you are unlikely to make it totally "fail".
The bigger problem is coverage. Both your transmission and transfer case are relatively vulnerable stock.
The thing is, the nibbly bits that aftermarket skids protect are all really, really expensive, or instant day ruiners. For example, if you slip off a rock and hit the actuator on your transfer case, not only could you end up stuck, but a new OEM unit is something like 3k$. On top of that, our components sit relatively low in the frame. Look under a jeep vs one of our sometime, most of the jeep components sit above the base of the frame rail (but they come with no skids stock.
Long story short, a set of skids is probably the best investment you can make in terms of longevity of an offroad rig. I'd say in terms of importance for armor the order is rock sliders, skids, a big gap, front bumper, another big gap, rear bumper. The only conditions I would say that order changes on are if you get a big lift and tires, but only plan to overland so you aren't in the rocks that much.
That said, definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" moment.... I took mine into Elephant Hill with all stock protection. Looking at the bottom of my truck, I also got lucky though.