Skid plate did it's job

[4Rager]

I decided to take a quick(pun intended) drive on a local trail on my way to my parent's house for dinner last night, when I put my front skid plate to more use than I would have liked. As you can see, it's a mild trail, but I was going a little faster than I should have been and the rock I hit was on a small bump kind of thing, so I didn't look like clearance would be an issue. Instead, to my surprise, I could feel the front of the truck lifted up by the rock. Fortunately the damage was only cosmetic. The only part behind that portion of the skid plate is front sway bar, so luckily all that happened was that the skid plate did it's job. All I need to do is take a rubber mallet to the outer edges, since you can see they taco'ed down a bit when the center was punched in. Just another example of how 1" or 2" or ground clearance can make all the different. It's also another example of how a stock TE can handle some abuse!

Here's what it used to look like:

 

[Jhalko]

Looks like you needed an extra 3" at least to avoid that rock! :wow:

 

[4Rager]

Looks like you needed an extra 3" at least to avoid that rock! :wow:

lol I was surprised how it lifted up the front of the vehicle and yet didn't touch the rear axle/diff. Then again I think it's a perfect example of one of the shortcomings of IFS; you lose ground clearance when the suspension is compressed. Like I said I was going a little fast and the rock was on top of a bump, both of which lead to the suspension being compressed at the moment of impact and therefor the ground clearance was probably closer to 6" at the time, and the rock provided the "rebound" if you will.

 

[Capq45]

Time for some aftermarket skids

 

[marshal]

i just want to let you know, there wasn't a Pun

 

[rjfowler]

i just want to let you know, there wasn't a Pun

I was wondering about that myself.

 

[On Point]

I was wondering about that myself.

glad i wasn't the only one puzzled... ha

 

[4RnR Grl]

I decided to take a quick(pun intended) drive ...... I was going a little faster than I should have been .....

Maybe that was the pun? Not really a pun....

 

[wfo9]

i just want to let you know, there wasn't a Pun

Technically, there is a pun, but timing is key to a good pun. :art:

 

[nb rob]

dude - those tires!

looks like 30k miles between the before and after photos

 

[Range]

Just plastidip it. It'll be fine.

 

[4Rager]

i just want to let you know, there wasn't a Pun

Good thing I'm not and English teacher.

Time for some aftermarket skids

They're still fully functional other than not looking pretty. New skids aren't in the budget for a while.

dude - those tires!

looks like 30k miles between the before and after photos

The first pic was when the car was 2 months old in January 2014, so about 25k miles. I had to wait 2 months for Fox to make my coilovers, so I will finally be buying new tires this month when I install my lift. I still pisses me off that Toyota spec'ed those tires in the first place, but that's a whole different story.

 

[470SNC]

yup, stock skid is good for about one solid hit, time to get an aftermarket skid!

 

[Antman]

This thread rocks.









There now. Pun.

 

[carlomagne]

Good thing I'm not and English teacher.

I see what you did there. Hopefully that was intentional.

 

[nb rob]

what are you considering for an aftermarket skid?

I've been looking at the RCI aluminum lately, the bottom of my 4r has been finding some rocks lately too. Nothing that substantial though!

 

[4Rager]

I'm not considering anything since I'm broke from ordering my lift. Honestly aftermarket skids are not even something I've researched because I never really planned to replace the stock ones. Sometime down the road when I have money burning a whole in my pocket I'll consider it, but got underneath the truck with a flashlight and other than being banged up (which is why they're there) they look, fine.

 

[NORTHERN]

dude - those tires!

looks like 30k miles between the before and after photos

Where in NB are you from ?

 

[nb rob]

Where in NB are you from ?

Just outside Fredericton.

One of my clients is in NH, and a most of my jobs are in Boston. I spend a fair amount of time in Maine/NH as well

 

[NORTHERN]

Just outside Fredericton.

One of my clients is in NH, and a most of my jobs are in Boston. I spend a fair amount of time in Maine/NH as well

Grew up off Hanwell road , been down here since 85 , was just home 2 weeks ago .