Product Review:SkidMark 4x4 hitch skid

[wfo9]

Thought I would give a quick product review of something I picked up the other day and tried out this past weekend.

It is a receiver hitch mounted skid plate.
Gallery - Rear Hitch Skid Plates - SkidMark4x4.com

Some people call these beaver tails... but this one is more of a skid plate.

Overall. I like it. It saved my flimsy bumper cover a few times. I still got scrapes on the lower corners, but It did a decent job of eliminating major damage.

Very well constructed, and delivered quickly. I went with the 3/16" un-painted ~$120. Plenty strong enough. Also functions as a nice step to get up to the roof rack in the rear. I would recommend it for those wanting to push it a bit with a stock rear bumper. Just don't expect it to protect the bumper in all situations.

 

[STX4Runner]

I saw that in your vehicle last weekend and was wondering about it. I guess it works well when you're descending perpendicular off a ledge.

 

[3wbdriver]

I have considered one of those, but I had already bought an actual Smittybilt Beavertail. It serves much the same purpose and can act as a rear anchor point for a tow strap. But even having that I don't think It would have saved my rear Trail cap, which had already been peeled off from contact on the left side. I do consciously try to make that the possible impact point if I'm afraid I'm going to drag the tail now.

 

[wfo9]

I saw that in your vehicle last weekend and was wondering about it. I guess it works well when you're descending perpendicular off a ledge.

Yea, it works very well in that situation. It also works well on steep ups... as long as one corner is not the first contact point.

Let me put it this way, My previous two time out my bumper cover popped off with impact... This time it just got more scraped up (although I had also cut it this time and screwed it into the actual bumper....

I think this works much better than the other style beaver tail. It actually slides and the skid goes up under the hitch and lines up perfectly with the spare. So if you do somehow end up on the spare it will transition to the skid (if the high point is near that area)...

I got this on the recommendation from an FJ who had been running it for years with great success. Our overhangs and corners sit pretty low though compared to them. The thing that sucks so much about our bumper covers is that they are just filled with air. It could be so much tighter in the corners. I plan to eventually try to build a hybrid tube bumper for the rear.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

My entire rear bumper is a hitch skid.

:frisky:

 

[wfo9]

My entire rear bumper is a hitch skid.

:frisky:

:yo: yep, that is the ultimate way to go. I'm just trying to see what I can get by with for now.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

It is a great way to save the rear plastic. Plus in the street it's a good deterrent to get rear ended.