Skid Plates

[Larry]

Has anyone found skid plates for 03/04 4Runners?

The stock ones appear to be a bit fragile.

If I can't find one, I'm going to make one and make it so you can get to the oil filter on a V8 without removing it.

How does eight inch steel sound?

 

[Guest]

8 inch steel??

Go to yotatech.com and search for skidplates. There are people there that have made full length custom skidplates for the 3rd gen truck.

It will give you an idea of the design and materials needed.

Stock skidplates on all trucks suck. They are there for "better than nothing" protection. However, they do the job! I agree for rockcrawling, you NEED custom plates. Otherwise the weight penalty is not worth it, imo.

You could also consider custom strategic pieces to save weight and time.

Good luck with your project!

 

[Thai]

Have you guys manage to destroy the stock plates...or is this an "assumption"?? 4runner's skids are pretty good. The sole weakpoint is the transfer case skid. Otherwise, the front suspension and fuel tank skid is pretty sturdy and relatively thick.

 

[Larry]

Oops, meant eighth inch. 8" might be too much. I think much faster than I type.

Yes, I'm talking about engine and transfer case or just the transmission without a transfer case.

I'm not finding anything that suits me and I can mock one up and laser cut it and bend it into the shape needed.

Also I would like to be able to change my V8 filter from below without messing with the foward skid plate. Looks easy enough to design into a replacement.

If I make one I cound make more. I wonder if it would make sense to make up a batch of ten?

 

[Good Times]

Have you guys manage to destroy the stock plates...or is this an "assumption"?? 4runner's skids are pretty good. The sole weakpoint is the transfer case skid. Otherwise, the front suspension and fuel tank skid is pretty sturdy and relatively thick.

Thai... Believe it or not... I've managed to engrave some holes (about 2" sized ones too) on my skids. It's bad enough that I have trouble removing it when I do my oil changes now

Now I'm kinda stuck on the side lines until I can make some real skids!

As for the gas tank area, those are holding up decently but they do have lots of indentures! The tranny skid is actually pretty unscathed at the moment (odd eh).

For all ya 4th gen guys... I'm working together with a local offroad shop called Demello Offroad (socal store!). They're one of the premier armor shop! We're working on a real steel front bumper along w/ some rea skids The sliders are done (for non x-reas systems) btw.

Give em a hollar!

http://www.demello-offroad.com

Lance

 

[o9stealth5]

Response to Thai

"Have you guys manage to destroy the stock plates...or is this an "assumption"?? 4runner's skids are pretty good. The sole weakpoint is the transfer case skid. Otherwise, the front suspension and fuel tank skid is pretty sturdy and relatively thick."

I crunched my front skid plate on my '03 runner. It ended up about 1.5 inches away from all of the "sensitive stuff." Maybe I should check for big rocks before I go down a dip next time.

 

[Good Times]

Re: Response to Thai

"Have you guys manage to destroy the stock plates...or is this an "assumption"?? 4runner's skids are pretty good. The sole weakpoint is the transfer case skid. Otherwise, the front suspension and fuel tank skid is pretty sturdy and relatively thick."

I crunched my front skid plate on my '03 runner. It ended up about 1.5 inches away from all of the "sensitive stuff." Maybe I should check for big rocks before I go down a dip next time.

My front skids (the front entire section) was swiss cheese before I had it removed. My gas tank is banged/dented but no holes yet.

I ended up removing the skid and having it replaced by a 1/4" skid by Downey Offroad.

Stock skids are okay but if you do alot of offroading, they won't last long.

Good Luck