Skid Plates, remove or leave on

[Salvo Jimmy]

I searched and didn't come up with anything relevant.

All my off road is on beach sand on the Outer Banks of NC. Little to no chance I would ever hit something that a skid plate would protect, particularly with a 15 mph speed limit and paying attention to where I'm going.

For decades I've always removed skid plates. They collect salty sand and you can almost never get all the stuff off them, particularly where it's stuck on stuff above a skid plate, and it does get there. Plus I've likely tried every trick in the book, short of a hydraulic lift in a service bay, to get the sand off when plates are on.

Recently, however, I had a mechanic I trust tell me in his opinion without the plates, it is easier for sand to get around things like pulley shafts and cause seal damage.

On the other hand another has the opinion that residual salty sand under there on stuff above the plates is more likely to cause rust damage that sand on pulley shafts being a problem. I tend to go along with this theory based on decades of experience and no shaft problems.

So given my off road environment and the fact I'm probably far more likely to hit some unavoidable debris on a highway than on the beach, what are the thoughts on removing the skid plates.

And yeah, based on experience, I've likely answered my own question, but I am curious what other opinions are out there.

 

[e60ral]

i would want some kind of splash tray in the front at least

 

[Engineer]

I would leave them on - cleaning may be difficult but its doable and it certainly adds some protection. Maybe every 6m remove the skids, toss the truck on a lift and do a good underbody blast/wash.

 

[Dalko43]

I would leave them on - cleaning may be difficult but its doable and it certainly adds some protection. Maybe every 6m remove the skids, toss the truck on a lift and do a good underbody blast/wash.

Skid plates really aren't something you'll want to remove and put back on that regularly...at least not all of them.

Keep the skid plates on. Yes they get dirty and collect crap. They'll eventually rust out and/or break. They're wear items so treat them as such. Use a wire brush and some paint to clean them up if they're getting bad, or otherwise toss them and get a new set (OEM or ARB are decent enough for general driving).

Your undercarriage is going to get dirty and rusty, and while the skids might trap a little extra crud under there, it's a very good idea to have protection for some of your key components down there (fuel tank, transfer case, engine).

 

[Engineer]

Skid plates really aren't something you'll want to remove and put back on that regularly...at least not all of them.
QUOTE]

Because of the effort involved or some mechanical reason? I see no reason you couldn't take them off every day if that suited your fancy. Gas tank skid is the only one I find a pain. If your point was the juice isn't worth the squeeze, I agree whole heartily but if there is some other reason to not remove the skids on a periodic basis I am all ears

 

[Antman]

On the interstate at 75mph the Semi in front of you blows a tire. Big chunks fly off the wheel and land in front of you. You can't change lanes because of traffic and run over the shredded tire. Would you want skidplates then? I would! Something like that hitting your oil filter, for example, could cause major damage.

That's just one scenario- I'm sure you can think of many more that would apply.

Leave 'em on!

 

[Dalko43]

Because of the effort involved or some mechanical reason? I see no reason you couldn't take them off every day if that suited your fancy. Gas tank skid is the only one I find a pain. If your point was the juice isn't worth the squeeze, I agree whole heartily but if there is some other reason to not remove the skids on a periodic basis I am all ears

Honestly because it is a PITA to remove them and and put them back on and you do wear out the threads and bolts if you remove them with increased frequency.

So basically, yes, the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

 

[phillyd2]

I searched and didn't come up with anything relevant.

All my off road is on beach sand on the Outer Banks of NC. Little to no chance I would ever hit something that a skid plate would protect, particularly with a 15 mph speed limit and paying attention to where I'm going.

For decades I've always removed skid plates. They collect salty sand and you can almost never get all the stuff off them, particularly where it's stuck on stuff above a skid plate, and it does get there. Plus I've likely tried every trick in the book, short of a hydraulic lift in a service bay, to get the sand off when plates are on.
Recently, however, I had a mechanic I trust tell me in his opinion without the plates, it is easier for sand to get around things like pulley shafts and cause seal damage.

On the other hand another has the opinion that residual salty sand under there on stuff above the plates is more likely to cause rust damage that sand on pulley shafts being a problem. I tend to go along with this theory based on decades of experience and no shaft problems.

So given my off road environment and the fact I'm probably far more likely to hit some unavoidable debris on a highway than on the beach, what are the thoughts on removing the skid plates.

And yeah, based on experience, I've likely answered my own question, but I am curious what other opinions are out there.

Have you tried drilling drain holes? For sand I would do at least 1-2" diameter.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Ill throw in my experience although it is not with sand.

I remove them after an off-road trip.

The skids need to be removed for oil changes on mine at least and I don't want any of the bolts to end up seized.

With the skids removed I then get to power-wash the undercarriage as well as the skids.

Fresh anti-seize gets put on the bolts too when I put it all back together so that I don't worry about a rusted bolt or such in the future.

I agree with what [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] said as well, going down the highways and roads I am more confident with the skids on underneath in case of road-debris.

It's a giant PIA to take them off and put them back on but it gets you under the truck and you get to look around for any drips or things that might need replacement or attention.

 

[Dalko43]

The front skid is the only that needs to come off for an oil change. The bolt holes on mine are already misaligned (or maybe came that way from the factory) so putting the plate back on is a huge PITA.

I do agree with inspecting an cleaning your undercarriage as best you can, but unless I'm really driving my 4runner hard, I only really do that every 10k or so when I change my oil. Taking off, cleaning, and re-installing all of your skid plates whenever your 4runner gets dirt and mud on its undercarriage (which happens frequently for my driving style) just isn't practical or needed. There are drain holes in most of the stock skid plates, so spray the underside to wash it as best you can and call it a day.

I'd be very surprised if anyone actually took off their skid plates to clean all the nooks and crannies.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

i would want some kind of splash tray in the front at least

Have a front hitch receiver there as well.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

On the interstate at 75mph the Semi in front of you blows a tire. Big chunks fly off the wheel and land in front of you. You can't change lanes because of traffic and run over the shredded tire. Would you want skidplates then? I would! Something like that hitting your oil filter, for example, could cause major damage.

That's just one scenario- I'm sure you can think of many more that would apply.

Leave 'em on!

Yeah there is that scenario as I sort of indicated about hitting unavoidable debri on a highway. But again what are the odds, plus considering I'm just as likely to be with the wife in her sedan with no skid plates when it might happen.

 

[kgbagent]

I searched and didn't come up with anything relevant.

All my off road is on beach sand on the Outer Banks of NC. Little to no chance I would ever hit something that a skid plate would protect, particularly with a 15 mph speed limit and paying attention to where I'm going.

If you stay down south in Salvo, you may get away with that...but if you ever run up to Swan Beach and Corova there are stumps and driftwood on the beach. Be careful.

 

[Leucifer]

Yeah there is that scenario as I sort of indicated about hitting unavoidable debri on a highway. But again what are the odds, plus considering I'm just as likely to be with the wife in her sedan with no skid plates when it might happen.

Odds are pretty damn good. Really. Hell, one guy on here ended up connecting with a lawn mower that dropped off a vehicle in front of him.

And don't underestimate truck tires. As a motorcyclist, I steer way the f**k clear of trucks. For a car, that kind of mass will put a nasty dent. On a bike, that CAN kill.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

If you stay down south in Salvo, you may get away with that...but if you ever run up to Swan Beach and Corova there are stumps and driftwood on the beach. Be careful.

I've run up there for decades. Just need to watch what/ where your are doing/going.

 

[greatape]

Keep them on and another note, your profile pic? I take it that is just a tourist photo..right?

 

[DeepSea88]

IMO skid plates are on there because so many folks had underbelly issues that the auto company decided that they were necessary for all future vehicles. Also, I have always lived by the montra of "it's better to have and not need than to need and not have".

Happy trails!

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

your profile pic? I take it that is just a tourist photo..right?

Nope, I was the first skipper of that boat, USS Omaha SSN692. That is me in kakis on top of the sail by the guy in red pants, the Panama Canal Pilot. We are taking the boat thru the canal on our way to Pearl Harbor in 1978. The picture was made by parents of a crew member who happened to be on a cruise ship headed the other way in the lock next to us. That's the only tourist connection.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

BTW no one has directly addressed the issue of sand and rotating shafts/seals being more of an issue without skid plates.

 

[Fusious]

Sand is very fine and as you mentioned from your mechanic, it can find its way up to other places that you definitely don't want. Your alternators casing for example is pretty open. I would rather collect sand on top of the undertray vs collecting sand in places that could damage your truck.