Hey guys,

I've been reading the forum for the last year (since i bought my 4runner), but it's my first post (there will be more since i only recently took it for a light trail offroading and as expected of being a noob i damaged something.

There was an ok sized rock maybe 10x13x15 inches that i missed going down and it got stuck under my factory skid plate. As a result this is what happened:



I was kind of surprised that i got my plate all bent that easily so i am thinking of upgrading instead of replacing factory skid. I really like the look of the TRD skid plate, but i know that it needs to be cut in order to work with KDSS. Has anyone on the forum done this and made a write up? is it a good idea? How difficult would it be?

Also what is you opinion regarding this plate, it looks awesome, but how does it compare to after market plates? should i buy something else that is better? I really don't want to replace another skid plate in the future without a dramatic story of a how it happened lol. This time around it seemed too easy and uneventful.

thank you in advance!

Budbuilt.com the have a beefier set up and a KDSS option

Don't feel bad. the real shame is replacing a pristine factory skid plate and never using either for it's intended purpose. I've been running mine bashed up like that for a while, but I've still got the screen in place.

Personally, I'd look in to a budbuilt, RCI, shrockworks, or C4 before modifying a TRD skid. but that's just me.

Not to be a smart ass, but it looks like your factory skid plate did its job. It bent yes, but no damage to your T4R? I say good job to Toyota! Go for RCI aluminum if you want something light weight with the same aesthetics as the TRD skid. The modifications to the TRD skid plus the price of the skid might be in the 350 Range when it's all said and done.

haha that is true, it served it's purpose and i definitely feel better replacing something after it's done it's job rather than have it sit in my storage brand new I only started doing my research on the plates, but so far it looks like if i go with rci, i will lose 1-2 inches of clearance and since i am not lifted i really don't want to go down that path. I am sucker for TRD emblem and i have a buddy who said he'll cut it for me (i just need to figure out the cut line) that's why i was leaning in that direction at first.

On the side note, when compared to stock plate how much more abuse can a 1/4" aluminum plate take? should i bite the weight bullet and go with steel? if so, how thick?

thanks!

Get out your ball peen hammer, make some noise and bend it back. Then spend the money you saved on some led lights!

YMMV

Z

I'll be doing a TRD skid plate mod on my trail soon. I'll keep you posted

I'm with ^^^^.

If you are going to do similar trails in the future, hammer it back, spray it with a good undercoating spray and call it a day.

Next time it happens, you'll be saying "Well, it's happened before (while laughing)" vs. "Well, that was $400 down the toilet". :-)