Pre facelift TRD skid plate question

[nwebb01]

I recently replaced the stock skid on my 2012 SR5 because it had developed a rust hole. I removed the front bumper plastic lower cover as seen in the photos below. My question is, what to do with these splash guards or whatever they are? Secure them some how or just remove them as well? Other ideas?

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[fkheath]

It appears that Toyota made a change sometime between your 2012 and the 2014 4Runner in that area. In 2014+ models (I have a 2018, but the installation instructions for the TRD skid plate are for 2014+), there is no splash plate in that area. Thus, I would just leave them off.

 

[nwebb01]

It appears that Toyota made a change sometime between your 2012 and the 2014 4Runner in that area. In 2014+ models (I have a 2018, but the installation instructions for the TRD skid plate are for 2014+), there is no splash plate in that area. Thus, I would just leave them off.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards taking them off, unless someone knows of some compelling reason to leave them and secure them? They're kinda floppy right now.

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[jeremybenton]

I just recently pulled the lower plastic off of mine. I finally got tired of seeing it droop down after getting caught on a limb on a trail. I prefer the look without it, but the front end looks a little unfinished at certain angles now. I was just thinking about trying to grab a TRD skid plate like you did. Any issues with the install? Or does it screw right in without any issues?

 

[dezertbomber]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards taking them off, unless someone knows of some compelling reason to leave them and secure them? They're kinda floppy right now.

I ziptied mine to holes under there and has worked very well for a while now. Have bombed through huge puddles. a water crossing, thick mud, high and low speed off roading, and still holdin strong. My tires rub them hard too after putting on spacers. I kept them to shield the lights from direct hits of water, mud, rock, and sand, etc.

Any snags with the TRD skid install? I'm leaning toward one instead of RCI.

 

[nwebb01]

Any snags with the TRD skid install? I'm leaning toward one instead of RCI.

Nope, just follow the well documented threads on here by Shaker about tapping the rear bolt holes. It MUCH easier if you remove the black plastic lip on the from before installing. Initially, I left mine on and it made it hard to install. If you rest the TRD skid on a jack to hold it in place it's substantially easier as well. The non TRD one had a hook to help hold it in place. The TRD one has no such hooks to hold it.

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[nwebb01]

I just recently pulled the lower plastic off of mine. I finally got tired of seeing it droop down after getting caught on a limb on a trail. I prefer the look without it, but the front end looks a little unfinished at certain angles now. I was just thinking about trying to grab a TRD skid plate like you did. Any issues with the install? Or does it screw right in without any issues?

Nope, it was pretty easy if you already removed all of the plastic junk that was attached to the factory skid. Look up other threads on the install. Get a tap to clean out the rear bolt holes. Makes it very easy. Use a jack (or buddy) to hold the TRD skid in place and you'll be fine.

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[jeremybenton]

The main reason I'm interested in the TRD is because it looks like it extends further up in the front where the piece of plastic fills in the gap for the stock skid. If the RCI skid did the same, then I would probably get it, but it doesn't make sense to pay for an extra filler piece that doesn't look much better than the stock plastic. I've seen the threads on tapping/rethreading the bolt holes, but they mention an M10 tap. It looks like M8 is the stock size for 2012s though. Did you run an M8 and just reuse the stock bolts? Or did you go up to an M10?

 

[85GT-79FJ40]

I went with the RCI because I (a) mangled my stock one and (b) it has a hole for the oil filter. The thing is rugged too. It's taken a few hits on the same trail that killed the stock one and it's barely scratched it. And I can lift from the truck from pretty much any point on it with a floor jack.