1100 Remington Man
Member
What additional Skid plates work to add to a TRD Pro not replace for a little more protection ? In Aluminum preferred. Trying to keep weight down, and I live in the rust belt.
2022 4Runner TRD Pro Skid Plate ?
- Thread starter 1100 Remington Man
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Are you asking if there are skids that go over your skids? If so, there is nothing out there that goes over the factory stuff, as far as I know. Doesn't make sense to do that. Plenty of companies make replacement skids that are much stronger than the factory TRD one and come in aluminum. Victory, CBI, RCI, SSO, etc.
Going aluminum is up to you. They aren't as strong and cost more, but no rust and less weight. I'd personally go for steel as the weight is as low as you can go on the vehicle anyway. I live in the rust belt too in NJ. Keep it painted and you're ok. It's not going to rot away any time soon.
thatoneguy
New member
While we're on the topic, is the TRD PRO aluminum front skid plate horrible value for money, or merely bad? I don't mind aluminum skids, I only need medium protection, and, well, I really like how the TRD one looks.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
Ditch it for CBI or Bud Built aluminum.
Another option is to look for a company that has a TRD pro-skid integration kit for a full set. I run RCI aluminium integrated with the factory Pro skid plate (they basically have a separate front piece that you purchase versus their full coverage front plate).
Don't listen to all the aluminum haters unless you are realistically going to spend a lot of time scraping rocks regularly. Plus you don't have to worry about rust with Al.
No, it's not bad at all. I went with it too because I like the look and only do moderate offroading with my set up as well. Some people beat them up pretty good and then replace them with a stronger one later.
One big advantage of the OEM TRD Pro skid plate is that it goes higher than the others, almost up to the bottom of the front bumper. The others only go up to the front cross member.
I got the RCI integration skid plates in aluminum so I can keep the TRD Pro skid; I too, like the looks.
As others have said, the aluminum skids don't rust.
I did get a big dent in my TRD skid plate which scraped one the letters off. Was able to replace the letters with some I found on the internet. I feel that the TRD skid plate did it's job.
1100 Remington Man
Member
That’s what I was looking for an integrated with the Factory Skid plate.
matoolie
New member
Agree with all this. I am also using TRD skid with the aluminum RCI integration plate to go with aluminum RCI transmission and transfer skids.
TRD Integration Skid Plate | 10-Present 4Runner / FJ Cruiser – RCI Off Road
You have to remove the OEM TRD skid for oil/filter changes. Many people have replaced the mounting bolts with studs to make that easier (there is a thread on this forum telling how to do that).
Good skids cover everything up, thus you would have to remove them to get to what they cover -- transmission, transfer case, etc.
Some of the aftermarket skids have an access plate for oil changes, but I believe that is not a good idea, for that would weaken the skid, and if the access plate gets damaged from a rock hit, you may not be able to remove it.
thatoneguy
New member
I'm really thinking I want that TRD skid plate. The dealer may very well be doing oil changes on this vehicle for its lifetime. Hopefully the lube monkeys do not damage the skid plate or its bolts/threads, and if they do and I catch it, I'll hold them to it. It does not seem to be a huge enough problem for me to come out of retirement on self oil changes.
TRD PANTHER
New member
The factory Pro skid has a reinforced rhombus shaped spacer on the inside for a jack point in the lower center of the skid. Curious if the CarTrimHome aftermarket copy with the oil access panel is reinforced.
If you go with the OEM Pro skid do the stud modification as fkheath mentioned previously. Forum member Saker did a complete thread and write up with pics on this mod.TRD Skid Plate Mounted w/ Studs 2010-2021, 2022, 2023
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I have the CTH skid and yes it is reinforced at the jack point just like OEM. The oil access panel is a game changer when changing oil. If it gets damaged than I'd just have to go back to being a barbarian I guess and remove the whole skid once a year to change my oil.
thatoneguy
New member
I assume that it's the dealer's responsibility to zip this thing off and on during oil changes, and that they won't whine when my 2023 shows up for oil changes with this skid plate on it?
The TRD 4Runner comes from the factory with the TRD skid plate. The dealer should be used to seeing it. But the dealers have been noted for damaging the threads on the bolts and over tightening them with impact wrenches. That is why I converted my bolts to studs to make the job easier and the possibility of less damage.
