So in planning to move up to 285's, I noticed recently during my online shopping voyage that the prefab kits available for the 5th Gen aren't very similar at all?

Sure some shops like to water jet their logo or name into them, which seems like a great way to create a mud and moisture trap that rots them right back out if you ask me. But even the modification itself and the "area to be removed" seems to vary a lot depending on how each shop makes their plates to fit.

RSG- offers the nicely rounded (logo only) option for $39.99, which is about twice as much as most others, but has a nice curvature that seems to be the best option to get a close, rounded fit and max clearance.

Metaltech- offers the side-specific rounded and creased version for $24.95, which seems like a bit of a short-cut to actually rounding the piece like the RSG, but seems to accomplish the same end result in trimming the end-length off. The only issue is that they include a bunch of "installed" pics, but if you look closely at the finished piece, they all seem to have an extra tab piece welded in to the end to complete the bridge and it ends up looking a bit hacked together (although could also just be the result of a bad trim/weld).

Then there's the ORW (Off Road Warehouse) kit for $30 that uses a different longer pattern and cut on the frame than the others, which seems to leave a lot more of the original length extending passed the body mount point, and instead opts to trim a length-wise slice off the inner tire-facing face. Which seems to retain a stock look while making for a much cleaner trim and weld job, but still leaves a large section sitting in front of the tire as compared to the RSG and Metaltech.

There are others, but these three seem to be at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Naturally when making a permanent change/removal to your truck like this we only get one shot, so I was wondering if anyone has had any good/bad experiences with any of these plates and their different fitments?
Thanks!

When mine was done they just notched out a section then bent the stock material around and welded back in place. looks OEM. Some of the other people I talked to said they prefer to just make their own little filler plate as the "kit" ones are hit or miss on fitment.

Great tip thanks! I actually just found a thread from someone with an FJ that did it this way as well at home with a stick welder and 5lb sledge. Seems like they got enough room for 285s or bigger and it did still retain the stock look after it was ground smooth and refinished, great idea! I like the idea of using what's there, but I also like the idea of trimming the whole end-length off and cleaning the whole heap of welded seams up that Toyota left there by boxing it with 3/16" and added some strength..haven't decided yet.

I wonder if anyone has had any negative feedback from dealers/buyers when trading a rig with the BMC done? I could see people on both sides of that one.

assuming you've filled in and painted the body mount, i can't imagine anyone even noticing

(i doubt they'd notice even if you left it all rough and ragged)

and to your original point: don't buy a kit, just fill in as needed.

Just cut it and be done.....there is no structural reason to box it as it is High Strength Steel and the part you cut is not to support the body mount itself, but there to act as an anti-intrusion piece for the off-set collision test the Government requires. It is supposed to stop the front wheel from pushing into the footwell in a wreck. Paint the cut edge for rust protection and walk away........

Yep, I cut mine and have left them open for over 150k miles now. I'm no engineer, but I figured MIG welding the UHSS to put in a filler plate is probably causing more harm than good, not to mention introducing very high temps to the rubber body mount.

I had them custom made (rounded style) on my first Toyota. Went with Relentless plates on the current truck. I may have to go in and redo them if I step up to 35's. Nothing against Relentless, I'll just need as much clearance as possible.

If it was me, I'd go with whatever you're most comfortable with, or with whatever your installer/fabricator is comfortable with.

this is the best way....notch, bend, and then weld. No need for fancy pants engraving that nobody will ever see.

Besides, you want it to look as OEM as possible.

OR

just cut it off, if you don't care about aesthetics as others have mentioned.