Front Skid Plate install

[gigajoe]

Well, crap,

I'm ready for the roast. Own a 09 Trail Edition and for the past few months Ive had the skid plates off doing a lot of maintenance and upgrades. Im in the process of putting the front back on and I'm confused. I only bagged 2 bolts, but it seems there should be 4? The two I think I am missing are up front near the hooks.

Now on to the hooks. I recall them hooking in to something and having to swing the skid plate down and forward to remove it. Is that wrong? What are the hooks for? Pics would be appreciated as I cant seem to find any.

 

[royal T4R]

The hooks act as a catch when removing the skid plate alone.

Insert the hooks in the respective holes and swing the front skid plate up. There are 4 mounting holes.

 

[y=mx+b]

I don't have any pics, but there are 4 m8x1.25 bolts per skid and 2 on the plastic thing. You can pick the 2 up with washers from ACE hardware, although the heads will be 13mm instead of the 12mm head JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) bolts. Maybe get 10 so that all the skids can be taken off with the same socket (4 front, 4 mid, 2 plastic trans doodad)

To install, first be prepared to get under there and hold it with your legs while bolting on with hands. An impact, drill, electric ratchet, or anything else suitable will be really helpful since its kind of a pain to hold it up and bolt up at the same time, especially if your hooks broke off like mine did. Second, put the hooks into the front skid mount under the radiator. Third, swing skid up and put in the rear bolts. Fourth, put in the front bolts.

edit: okay I found some pics

hooks in the crossmember. This one met its demise when I took of the skid.


bolt hole locations, although if you have the skid already, you are looking at the same thing lol

 

[Syr4RinNC]

No you’re about right. There are 4 bolts at each of the corners

Near the radiator support/front frame cross beam are two small slots you have to start with the front of the skid plate up and the back down - angle the hooks up and in the slots then lift the back of the skid plate up, line up your holes and bolt in

You can do it with one person but definitely easier with some help

 

[royal T4R]

You can see I have the m8 bolts where they would go with the skid plate on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gigajoe]

I don't have any pics, but there are 4 m8x1.25 bolts per skid and 2 on the plastic thing. You can pick the 2 up with washers from ACE hardware, although the heads will be 13mm instead of the 12mm head JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) bolts. Maybe get 10 so that all the skids can be taken off with the same socket (4 front, 4 mid, 2 plastic trans doodad)

To install, first be prepared to get under there and hold it with your legs while bolting on with hands. An impact, drill, electric ratchet, or anything else suitable will be really helpful since its kind of a pain to hold it up and bolt up at the same time, especially if your hooks broke off like mine did. Second, put the hooks into the front skid mount under the radiator. Third, swing skid up and put in the rear bolts. Fourth, put in the front bolts.

edit: okay I found some pics

hooks in the crossmember. This one met its demise when I took of the skid.


bolt hole locations, although if you have the skid already, you are looking at the same thing lol

Thanks!

This pic helped. My hooks must've been bent to a more vertical position when I took them off, was really throwing me off. It appears as though they are meant to bend back more. Picked up some new bolts already, should be good to go.

Thanks again!