2021 Venture model skid plates SUCK!!

[Titan_Bow]

LoL, ok so I still love my 4Runner, and have put 20k miles on it so far this year. This is my first Toyota and I occasionally run across things that I do not like.
A few weeks ago I was out in Nebraska doing some hunting. It was a little muddy in some areas and didn’t think too much about it. Fast forward to this weekend, and I went to change the oil. The front skid plate had about 10 pounds of dried mud in it, and when I took off the oil pan access door, there was a solid mass of dried mud underneath. That second skid plate that covers the oil pan was literally packed right with mud, and that mud had turned solid once it dried. I had to get under there with a garden hose and a long screwdriver to break up and clear out all of this.
Anyone else notice these factory skid plates do not let the mud escape? Are there any aftermarket plates that work better?


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[02SE]

If you want the undercarriage to be mud-free after mudding, you're going to need to make the effort to clean it. That holds true for the stock skidplates, or any aftermarket skidplates, or no skidplates at all.

 

[CajunMikeR]

Yeah, after mudding you're supposed to wash your shit...or at least rinse all the mud out... before getting back on with daily life. Mud is horrible about causing rust, brake, and suspension problems if left in place for extended periods.

This is known. [emoji6][emoji38]

 

[mrblah]

LoL, ok so I still love my 4Runner, and have put 20k miles on it so far this year. This is my first Toyota and I occasionally run across things that I do not like.
A few weeks ago I was out in Nebraska doing some hunting. It was a little muddy in some areas and didn’t think too much about it. Fast forward to this weekend, and I went to change the oil. The front skid plate had about 10 pounds of dried mud in it, and when I took off the oil pan access door, there was a solid mass of dried mud underneath. That second skid plate that covers the oil pan was literally packed right with mud, and that mud had turned solid once it dried. I had to get under there with a garden hose and a long screwdriver to break up and clear out all of this.
Anyone else notice these factory skid plates do not let the mud escape? Are there any aftermarket plates that work better?


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what did you expect? You will be washing out mud out of your under carriage for years and years, a little bit here and there will flow out of the nooks and crannies for years to come.

One of the reasons why I avoid mud as much as possible.

 

[ragin_cajun]

So you're upset that you went through mud, and mud got on the skid plates and stayed there because you didn't clean it?? What did you think was going to happen? Mud isn't going to miraculously fall off on it's own

 

[Titan_Bow]

Ok ok thanks for the smartass remarks [emoji12]. I did go through the car wash on my way home and thought I had got the majority of mud out of there. I wasn’t intentionally mudding, but dirt roads in western Nebraska and Eastern Colorado get really really nasty with just a little moisture.
I’m comparing this to my previous vehicle, which was a 2012 Xterra Pro-4X. Same roads and trails, similar weather as I’ve experienced out there in years past. I never had so much mud collecting in places that I couldn’t get to it easily.


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[honda250xtitan]

Ok ok thanks for the smartass remarks [emoji12]. I did go through the car wash on my way home and thought I had got the majority of mud out of there. I wasn’t intentionally mudding, but dirt roads in western Nebraska and Eastern Colorado get really really nasty with just a little moisture.
I’m comparing this to my previous vehicle, which was a 2012 Xterra Pro-4X. Same roads and trails, similar weather as I’ve experienced out there in years past. I never had so much mud collecting in places that I couldn’t get to it easily.


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duuuude....shouldve kept the xterra.

 

[Ripper238]

Remove all the skid plates. Problem solved.

But yeah, the stock skids have a lot of openings in them that trap mud.

 

[srsrogerissrs]

Remove all the skid plates. Problem solved.

But yeah, the stock skids have a lot of openings in them that trap mud.

Sounds like he wants more openings to let mud escape. Welp, time to start drilling some holes.

 

[spartacus]

After market skids have better coverage specially up front but I agree with you its a pain to clean.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Car Undercarriage Pressure Washer | Obsessed Garage

 

[GRFD#723]

Our Ventures skids were garbage anyway. Only thing worse I’ve found was coming with Bridgestone H/T tires on them. Only had ours since august but first two upgrades were to 33’s (snug but zero rubbing so no trimming) and C4 belly armor. It’s much sturdier and easier to clean out. I have a pressure washer so that makes it easier too.

 

[02SE]

All kidding aside, I've had numerous 4wd trucks and SUV's. When driven in mud, the undercarriage on all of them would be packed with mud, until it was washed off thoroughly.

An Xterra isn't impervious to mud. If it had less accumulated mud, then conditions weren't as bad.

 

[Titan_Bow]

I definitely like my 4Runner better than the Xterra, but the Xterra was definitely easier to clean! I will look at aftermarket skids for sure


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[graysquirrel]

Heavy rain

From living 5 years in South Dakota, the only way I ever found to clean the undercarriage of any vehicle I owned was to drive them on the highway during a massive rain storm. That seemed to be the the only way to get all of the crap out of the wheel wells and under the skid plates and everywhere else.

 

[Saker]

Put a sprinkler under the vehicle and let it run!

 

[josephp732]

My AR MAX2200 Pressure Washer and this undercarriage cleaner works nicely.

Amazon.com: M MINGLE Pressure Washer Undercarriage Cleaner, Under Car Wash, with 45 Degree Angled Wand : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[rdruss]

Same goes for the winter accumulation of road salt and crud. First spring thunderstorm, get out and drive in it!

 

[Nalcyon]

Same goes for the winter accumulation of road salt and crud. First spring thunderstorm, get out and drive in it!

I used to love mud but got real tired of jacking up the vehicle, removing the wheels, letting the suspension sag, and spending tons of time cleaning. I no longer seek out mud but if I have to be in it my favorite time is on a rainy day as the wet keeps the mud from sticking, especially, (as has been said), if you get to drive on the highway at speed during a heavy rain before the mud has a chance to get real hard and dry.

 

[02SE]

Same goes for the winter accumulation of road salt and crud. First spring thunderstorm, get out and drive in it!

If someone whats their 4Runner to remain rust-free, wash the salt off frequently, throughout winter.