Skid Plate Options - Help Me Choose!

[Koko4]

I started looking at the various skid plate options for the 3rd gen 4Runner. I think this is a worthy investment, as once good use basically pays itself off right there. I am wondering what you guys run, and what some of the major differences I would be looking at are. I want something that I can easily do oil changes with, and I believe this rules out the Savage Offroad one, right?

I'm looking hardest at the ShrockWorks - it looks like a great quality and somewhat easy installation.

**One other MAJOR consideration is that I have an ARB front bumper, and I remember reading awhile ago about a guy that had fitment issues with the ARB and the ShrockWorks skid plates, but I wasn't able to re-find that thread.**

ShrockWorks: $879 (free s/h)
Covers: Radiator, Engine, Transmission, Transfer Case, Gas Tank

Savage Offroad: $549 (free s/h)
Covers: Engine (2pc), transmission, transfer case

Bud Built: $553
Covers: Engine, Belly Pan (what exactly does this cover??)

Skid Row Offroad

RAT Products

So..anybody have any suggestions? Thanks for the help - I always seriously overthink a big decision like this (especially when it concerns so much money!)

 

[infamousRNR]

RAT Products

So..anybody have any suggestions? Thanks for the help - I always seriously overthink a big decision like this (especially when it concerns so much money!)

my ARB bumper clears "rat" products 3/16 steel thickness option...

approximately ~$515 shipped to california..

for the $$ they are beefy

 

[masphx]

That was me with the shockworks and arb bumper. I had to cut the shockwork skids a little to make them fit. Check though my posts as I think I have a picture of it finished. Overall I really like the shockworks. I installed them once and they have been on ever since. Two dealer oil changes and a supercharger install with them on. The holes in the front skid helped with the supercharger install. I would have to remove the buds for an oil change. Got annoying after the second time doin it. I know some say it's not a big deal but it is imo.

 

[A.Wilson013]

That was me with the shockworks and arb bumper. I had to cut the shockwork skids a little to make them fit. Check though my posts as I think I have a picture of it finished. Overall I really like the shockworks. I installed them once and they have been on ever since. Two dealer oil changes and a supercharger install with them on. The holes in the front skid helped with the supercharger install. I would have to remove the buds for an oil change. Got annoying after the second time doin it. I know some say it's not a big deal but it is imo.

Yeah, removing the skids once they're made out of this heavy steal is a big PITA in my opinion.

I have the SAVAGE skids... Kinda want to get the CBI skids to match my bumpers though =p

 

[kolelt]

I got front rat skid. It's beefy as hell. He has full sets to for a good price on group buys.

 

[masphx]

Also remember it is deal season soon. Many of these skids go on sale in the next few months. I got my shockworks for $700 shipped but that was the intro pricing. I think they go on sale for like ~$750 though at times durning the year. Also remember skids are bolt on so if you need money your can resell them easily to get your money back. I sold my combo buds for $450 cash (bought them for $500). When I bought my arb bumper it ca me with a very used bud front skid. I was able to sell it for $200 pretty easily.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

for an addtl $100, Budbuilt will provide a hole with removable cover which will help with the oil change

That was me with the shockworks and arb bumper. I had to cut the shockwork skids a little to make them fit. Check though my posts as I think I have a picture of it finished. Overall I really like the shockworks. I installed them once and they have been on ever since. Two dealer oil changes and a supercharger install with them on. The holes in the front skid helped with the supercharger install. I would have to remove the buds for an oil change. Got annoying after the second time doin it. I know some say it's not a big deal but it is imo.

 

[Koko4]

That was me with the shockworks and arb bumper. I had to cut the shockwork skids a little to make them fit. Check though my posts as I think I have a picture of it finished. Overall I really like the shockworks. I installed them once and they have been on ever since. Two dealer oil changes and a supercharger install with them on. The holes in the front skid helped with the supercharger install. I would have to remove the buds for an oil change. Got annoying after the second time doin it. I know some say it's not a big deal but it is imo.

I think this will be the option I go with, especially if they offer some kind of special holiday pricing. Then I have to promise myself not to buy any more mods for awhile! Just out of curiosity, how much cutting did you actually have to do?

One thing I was reading is that people prefer a front skid that attaches to the frame up front, as opposed to that radiator cross-member. In your opinion, is this a weak point of these skids? Or will I hardly notice unless I'm literally dragging it back and forth over rocks? Haha.

I tried looking back through your posts, to find the one with pictures but didn't have any luck. I went back to 2013 (could have sworn it was more recent than that).

Edit: Found it - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/187415-arb-bumper-mount-modding-anyone-spot-issue.html

I did not find pictures of how you fixed it, though.

 

[masphx]

I think this will be the option I go with, especially if they offer some kind of special holiday pricing. Then I have to promise myself not to buy any more mods for awhile! Just out of curiosity, how much cutting did you actually have to do?

One thing I was reading is that people prefer a front skid that attaches to the frame up front, as opposed to that radiator cross-member. In your opinion, is this a weak point of these skids? Or will I hardly notice unless I'm literally dragging it back and forth over rocks? Haha.

I tried looking back through your posts, to find the one with pictures but didn't have any luck. I went back to 2013 (could have sworn it was more recent than that).

Edit: Found it - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/187415-arb-bumper-mount-modding-anyone-spot-issue.html

I did not find pictures of how you fixed it, though.

I will take a couple of pictures in the moring to show you where I cut them. Here is a pic of the buds next to the shockworks.




As you can see the buds protect more area but most are non essential. Only two essential (imo) that the bud cover and the shockworks don't are the lca bushing area and the cat. I think the bud built covered 40% of the cat deturing theft. The shockworks left the lca bushing area basically exposed. The shockworks skids (not including thr gas skid) weighs ~12 lbs less then the buds combo (front and belly) which is another reason I like them over the buds. Ok, I don't go rock crawling that often, in fact I hardly at all but the shockwork skids do have better mounts then the buds. The bud builts use the front radiator cross-member and also mount to the steering rack. Not great mounting areas for rack bashing. Shockworks mount drectly to the frame for the most part. In fact they use the same mount as the arb bumper mounts. Pictures tomorrow

 

[Koko4]

I am leaning towards the ShrockWorks - they did such a great execution and seem to have made a fantastic product. I'm looking forward to seeing how you mounted it to the ARB mount (where the tow hooks go), to see if it's something I can do myself!

 

[masphx]

Here you go. All I did to make it fit was to hacksaw the skid a little so the bumper mount would fit though.






Now for the interesting picture. I was surprised to learn these two bolts are no longer with my 4runner. Crazy!

 

[Koko4]

Definitely looks do-able. Thanks so much for those pictures. Nice 4Runner, by the way. Are those AZ plates I see??

 

[masphx]

Your welcome and it is completely doable. I did it in 30 min by hand. Yes, that is the AZ state flag. I think it looks good on the front of a vehicle and it covers my winch hole.