Has anyone replaced fuel-tank skid plates?

[michael90630]

I have put some large dents on my stock fuel-tank skid plates during moderated off-roading recently. I don't do any hardcore off-roading or rock-crawling but still managed to bent the stock one.

Has anyone replaced the stock one with another stock? Toyota dealer Parts dept. says they are $490 apiece.

Is the the removal and installation easy? Supposedly there are 6 bolts when hooks. If removal and installatio is easy, I will just consider temporarily removing it and taking the dings out and re-installing it back. The price from Toyota is too high. I am checking this forum and others for after-market options.

Thanks

 

[Lilrichey85]

what year is your runner? also is it lifted to make it easy to access it?

 

[michael90630]

Lilrichey85

I have a 2007 SR5 V6 4WD. It's stock - no lifts or other mods. Stock Michelin tires P265/65R17

Thanx.

 

[Uneek]

Check out this thread.

 

[Lilrichey85]

Should be easy if you have access to a lift or maybe a jack or somting like that. The link above has some good info. Good luck

 

[michael90630]

Thanks Uneek and Lilrichey85 for the suggestions.

I was able to remove the fuel-tank skid plate. Only one bolt in the inside (front right side) was difficult to get to. The drive-shaft is in the way. Luckily I have a boxed 12mm ratchet which has pivots.

The fuel tank was not touched or scratched.

Once off I used my truck jack to flatten out the bending and dimples and than hammered out the remaining. Almost as good as new. Bolted everything back.

 

[Lilrichey85]

Glad that you got it all worked out.

 

[MAC4Runner]

Check out BudBuilt for a true aftermarket replacement.

 

[fourwd1]

I'd have to 2nd that, anything Bud makes is killer strong, and his prices and service are the best.

 

[michael90630]

I think I have to agree with you guys. After I saw the recommendation from "MAC4Runner", I spent my entire lunch talking to quite a few of these vendors, and Bud seemed to be the most helpful and knowledgeable. Here is what I found out which might be of interest to someone:

1) Downey in Santa Fe Springs, Southern CA (http://www.downeyoff-road.com/) does not have skid plates for the fuel-tank.
2) Neither does shrockworks.com (http://www.shrockworks.com/). SW have rock sliders and skid-plates for transmission and transfer case area. The rock sliders are mostly bolt-on except it needs drilling one hole that is required for installation.
3) Another company I called is Total Chaos (http://www.chaosfab.com/) and they also did not have any skid-plates for fuel-tank for 2007 4Runner SR5 V6.
4) Demello Offroad (http://www.demello-offroad.com/catalog/) I believe has skid plates but they are welded. I prefer to install bolt-ons only.
5) Bud (http://www.budbuilt.com/new/) has something which pretty much seem to cover the entire under-carriage. He mentioned 5 pieces - I guess 4 skid-plates and one tubular cross-member. The tubular cross-member acts as a support and strengthens all the separate pieces when its bolted together as one-piece. All of them can be bolted together or installed separately. Also the one over the oil drain-plug has a hole which means changing oil does not require taking off the skid plate. His web site has some nice pictures however for full view of all the installed skid-plates he recommended I check out the following site:

http://www.toyota120.com

Click on Forum on the left side.

Scroll down to Offroad Tech under the section "Offroad Tech and Tips"

Next Click on BudBuilt Skids link.

Start from the last page, which are the latest posts and you can see all the different sections.

http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=900&page=18

I asked him if I wanted the Shrockworks rock sliders, will it interfere with any of his attachment points? He said no because he is aware of these rock sliders and work with SW to make sure the tubular cross member or anything else does not have any problems.

 

[Lilrichey85]

Great info! Thanks for passing it along!

 

[Chaplain]

Here is a picture of that gas tank skid plate. I'm thinking of replacing my because the stock one makes a loud humming noise on rough roads. I hate rattles.

Let me know if you get one. Buds whole setup looks nice. $800 ouch