Skid Plates, remove or leave on

[Salvo Jimmy]

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.

But that is probably more related to rocky, stumpy, stream trails, than the beach. In my decades of beach driving I have never experienced or known anyone who has experienced damage to the underbody. 'Course me and my fishin' buds aren't running 30 mph down the beach at night, cutting donuts either.

 

[DeepSea88]

Thank you

But that is probably more related to rocky, stumpy, stream trails, than the beach. In my decades of beach driving I have never experienced or known anyone who has experienced damage to the underbody. 'Course me and my fishin' buds aren't running 30 mph down the beach at night, cutting donuts either.

Well, first off please allow me to say, thank you for you service to our country Sir.

I'm a us navy diver right now and diving on Fast attack subs is no joke! I'd love to hear some sea stories of yours!

Secondly, I've had underbelly damage from just driving on the interstates here in CA. Lots of random thing exist on these roadways and I'm glad I have my skids. In fact, I've got a set of Shrockworks skids on the way! Anyways, I'm sure the type of terrain you're encountering will be pleasant and unassuming. Might not pose any sort of threat.

Happy trails!

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

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.

Although I've never had problems related to sand in decades of sand driving without skids, I'm leaning toward keeping the skids on. For example I had a Jimmy that went 15 yrs and a 4Runner that went 12 yrs without skids. Neither was replaced because of a sand related problem. Now that could likely be because of the low speeds (15 mph or less) involved that doesn't kick up sand with little to no spinning, with well aired down tires. Blowing sand in a stiff wind is a problem, but skids don't really help much there, if at all.

Rust proofing has greatly improved since I first removed skids, and rust from salty sand was the prime reason for removal and damage from hitting something on or off road without skids has never worried me then or now.

So I'll just see how it goes with skids on, doing my usual trick of running thru a car wash with a good chassis wash twice after each sand trip. And that trick has resulted in little to no rust on any vehicle for decades, without skids of course.

 

[greatape]

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.

Nice! been thru there a few times..quite a sight

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Nice! been thru there a few times..quite a sight

Probably even more of a sight with the wider locks that opened last year.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

So here is my thinking on the skids and sand questions.

I believe it would be easier to get unstuck in the sand with full skids due to their position at the frame and distributing the weight of the vehicle across a wider, flat surface when the wheels are dug in...so I believe in skids on.

Without skids in sand the frame rails and cross-rails, would grab more sand and get you stuck further in the softer sand, maybe?

As for having them to avoid getting sand in sensitive areas like rotating shafts etc....the skids don't completely cover things like the front CV shafts, nor do they cover the front steering linkage and not at all for the center, rear, drive shaft so all of that is exposed. I would expect the related boots and universal joint seals to be adequate protection there from getting unwanted things mixed in with the grease. As long as those parts are properly maintained of-course.

It sounds like you drive frequently in sand to the point that removing the skids for cleanup would be extremely tedious. Maybe using a strong, leaf-blower to get the sand out from under the vehicle would be the easier clean-up routine rather than removing the skids? Presuming the sand is dry of-course. Add a 10 month or some other long interval for a full skid removal and cleaning.

Those are just my thoughts as fan of keeping the skids on but understanding that there is additional maintenance associated with driving outside of paved roads.

 

[DeepSea88]

So here is my thinking on the skids and sand questions.

I believe it would be easier to get unstuck in the sand with full skids due to their position at the frame and distributing the weight of the vehicle across a wider, flat surface when the wheels are dug in...so I believe in skids on.

Without skids in sand the frame rails and cross-rails, would grab more sand and get you stuck further in the softer sand, maybe?

As for having them to avoid getting sand in sensitive areas like rotating shafts etc....the skids don't completely cover things like the front CV shafts, nor do they cover the front steering linkage and not at all for the center, rear, drive shaft so all of that is exposed. I would expect the related boots and universal joint seals to be adequate protection there from getting unwanted things mixed in with the grease. As long as those parts are properly maintained of-course.

It sounds like you drive frequently in sand to the point that removing the skids for cleanup would be extremely tedious. Maybe using a strong, leaf-blower to get the sand out from under the vehicle would be the easier clean-up routine rather than removing the skids? Presuming the sand is dry of-course. Add a 10 month or some other long interval for a full skid removal and cleaning.

Those are just my thoughts as fan of keeping the skids on but understanding that there is additional maintenance associated with driving outside of paved roads.

Great insight into the purpose of skids!

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

So here is my thinking on the skids and sand questions.

I believe it would be easier to get unstuck in the sand with full skids due to their position at the frame and distributing the weight of the vehicle across a wider, flat surface when the wheels are dug in...so I believe in skids on.

Without skids in sand the frame rails and cross-rails, would grab more sand and get you stuck further in the softer sand, maybe?

As for having them to avoid getting sand in sensitive areas like rotating shafts etc....the skids don't completely cover things like the front CV shafts, nor do they cover the front steering linkage and not at all for the center, rear, drive shaft so all of that is exposed. I would expect the related boots and universal joint seals to be adequate protection there from getting unwanted things mixed in with the grease. As long as those parts are properly maintained of-course.

It sounds like you drive frequently in sand to the point that removing the skids for cleanup would be extremely tedious. Maybe using a strong, leaf-blower to get the sand out from under the vehicle would be the easier clean-up routine rather than removing the skids? Presuming the sand is dry of-course. Add a 10 month or some other long interval for a full skid removal and cleaning.

Those are just my thoughts as fan of keeping the skids on but understanding that there is additional maintenance associated with driving outside of paved roads.

In decades of sand driving I have never been stuck. Properly aired down and not doing something dumb like driving thru water that you have no clue how deep it is or if it's like quick sand (we call it red sand) is the key. Along with when you feel you are bogging down, stop, back up in your tracks and then move fwd again trying not to spin. So I would not be concerned with skids helping me in a stuck situation.

Based on your insight on shafts, I may rethink removal. Never occurred to me. In fact the mechanic was really referring to the shafts on the front of the engine.

 

[johnbt]

"running thru a car wash with a good chassis wash"

Is there a good one in Nag's Head, Kitty Hawk or KDH?

Fwiw, I've had better luck under the vehicle using a small shop vac set to exhaust than my girlfriend's cheap battery powered leaf blower. If the hose would fit the leaf blower I'd be set.

John

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

"running thru a car wash with a good chassis wash"

Is there a good one in Nag's Head, Kitty Hawk or KDH?

Fwiw, I've had better luck under the vehicle using a small shop vac set to exhaust than my girlfriend's cheap battery powered leaf blower. If the hose would fit the leaf blower I'd be set.

John

Don't know about up that way. I typically use Askin Creek at the South end of Avon.

 

[johnbt]

Thanks. That's good to know, although I typically wait until I get back to Richmond. I'm not a property owner, so I stay all over - right now the only confirmed reservations are for Ocracoke in July.

John

 

[greatape]

Probably even more of a sight with the wider locks that opened last year.

Yes Sir Jimmy..Thank you for your Service and I salute you on this Special Weekend..

 

[WallyT4R]

But that is probably more related to rocky, stumpy, stream trails, than the beach. In my decades of beach driving I have never experienced or known anyone who has experienced damage to the underbody. 'Course me and my fishin' buds aren't running 30 mph down the beach at night, cutting donuts either.

Then do what you want. Sounds like you really want to take them off. I personally would leave them on as Toyota designed them to be there for many reasons. Hell a piece of drift wood you run over that was half buried could pop up and ruin your day....but again do what you want.

The skid plates are so easy to take off and put on anyways so a yearly cleaning would be no problem. Anti-seize the bolts. Or...You could get a full set RCI aluminum skids like I have and then you could just spray sand out with water since the RCI's have better access than the stockers.... I would also recommend you undercoat your 4runner with something like fluid film since you will be running in such a corrosive environment so frequently. The Toyota frames tend to rust quicker than other brands. But again that is my opinion based on the fact I want my 4runner to last 20 years. Good luck and thanks for your service.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Then do what you want. Sounds like you really want to take them off. I personally would leave them on as Toyota designed them to be there for many reasons. Hell a piece of drift wood you run over that was half buried could pop up and ruin your day....but again do what you want.

The skid plates are so easy to take off and put on anyways so a yearly cleaning would be no problem. Anti-seize the bolts. Or...You could get a full set RCI aluminum skids like I have and then you could just spray sand out with water since the RCI's have better access than the stockers.... I would also recommend you undercoat your 4runner with something like fluid film since you will be running in such a corrosive environment so frequently. The Toyota frames tend to rust quicker than other brands. But again that is my opinion based on the fact I want my 4runner to last 20 years. Good luck and thanks for your service.

Yeah, I tend toward removal based on 30+ years experience having them off.

However, the other vehicles were lifted with larger tires giving more ground clearance than my 2016 with no lift and stock tires. Also not intending to lift it but will go with a 275/70 when the stocks wear out. Primarily to give a slightly larger footprint when aired down. So I am leaving them on for now and will just do the chassis car wash trick.

Closing in on 80 yrs old, periodically removing and reinstalling in not going to happen. Besides you leave damp salty sand in there for even a few days, removal and clean 6 mos to a yr down the road does little to no good as far as rust goes.

And I always undercoat with something and have typically gotten 12 to 15 yrs out of my beach vehicles. Plus failure has always been in the tranny or transfer case area, never rust. Those failures likely because roughly a third of my mileage is in the sand which is tough on drive components, sort of like pulling a heavy trailer.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Thanks to all for the input.

I have decided on keeping them on for now.

 

[Concon40]

During the zombie apocalypse you may be pushed into territory where you'll need those skid plates. Better to be safe then sorry when it comes to zombies.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

During the zombie apocalypse you may be pushed into territory where you'll need those skid plates. Better to be safe then sorry when it comes to zombies.

More likely the ghost of Blackbeard or one of his cohorts down here on the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Since Blackbeard was beheaded and his head displayed in Ocracoke, his ghost has no head, at least that is the story told by those who have supposedly seen it.