skid plate - why even put it back on if you dont go off roading??

keakar · 2017-08-25T17:57:58+00:00

on my tacoma i took the skid plate off then realized the radiator hangs down low so it was good "necessary" protection for it and i "think" i got about 1mpg less without it there so i put it back on. just changed oil on my 4runner and unlike the tacoma, on the 4runner i see no reason for it, it ads no protection what so ever and all i can imagine is its there purely for aerodynamics and better hwy mpg. i looked things over very carefully, and there is just no way anything you come accross driving on the road can hit anything under the 4runner except the frame rails or cross members if its not there at all. short of something shooting straight up in the air from under the truck such as a land mine i see nothing for the skid plate to do or protect anything from lol. i put it back on "just in case" it helps with mpg but can anyone explain what it really does other then hide things from being seen or accessed when you go under the truck? i "suppose" if you go rock climbing or drive over small to medium sized trees and thick bushes like you think you are driving a bull dozer it could help protect something but thats about it.