I live in a state with harsh winters and roads has a ton of salt of them during the winter time.
With that being said, how important is the skid plate to my truck in wintry conditions? I don't do very much off road if at all so I know a skid plate isn't necessary for me for off roads.
However, how much will it help with winter driving on salty roads? Will it protect the under components from rusting by preventing salt?
If skid plate is strictly just for off roads, then I am thinking about removing it as for me, maybe not for others, but for me, taking that skid plate of and on with each oil change is a nuisance.
Hence, I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of having it for my truck.
Take the skid plate off and stand in front of your truck and look at all the stuff that is now unprotected, and completely open to being hit and damaged by debris on the road.
Personally I like having mine on, but I don't deal with salt. I would think having the skid plate on would help keep crap out of the engine bay? But if you don't care about that how about just take it off during the wintertime, blast everything with fluid film and change your oil at your leisure. I'm sure removal of the skid plate is not detrimental, kind of a novelty thing if you don't off-road.
Actually, the skid plate provides just as much protection
on the highway with all the crap you find there, as well as off road.
I would leave it on, even if a highway queen. Better yet, I would be
more worried about paint chips up front, because you do know this paint will chip when you drive it.
Very important. Protects your alternator, which is a pain to replace at home, against water, mud, snow, salt, sand, etc. My sports appearance package RCSB didn't come with one, I drove over a flooded section of the street very early in the morning, Made a huge splash and caught me by surprise. That afternoon, the alternator stopped charging. Luckily I was still able to get home that night.
Its best if you have a skid plate for all the reasons mentioned above. To solve the oil-change headache, consider installing a TRD Pro skid plate, which has a port to allow oil changes without removal of the skid plate.
Wont protect you against salt and rust as that stuff tends to find its way in everywhere. But it will protect from road debris or anything else you might happen to run over.
I cut a hole in mine to access the oil filter since my from receiver blocks the front mounting bolts for the skid plate. Could do the same for convenience
Saw a guy thatm ade his own door on stock skid plate like on the TRD. He cut a square out, bolted a hing in, and rivitted a locking mechanism in place. I think it was some where on this site
Yes slim just like that. If I wasn't so lazy I would have mine done by now. My single cab plow truck has no skid plate due to the plow frame. I checked around and I might be able to fit it on . I think the dealers didntt put it back on because they were lazy and don't want to have to fight with it for the oil changes. If it does fit I am going to modify it.
Mine was launched into the metal scrap bin the first oil change. There are so many different road hazards out there, the skid can't protect against all of the road hazards. It is just a band aid at best. It provides minimal to no protection of the oil pan. Some protection to the oilfilter/cooler
I've been running Toyota, 4 x 4 trucks since 1999. Everyone had the skid plate removed permanently. I have had encounters with debris on the road. Every case was a radiator or windshield. I never had any issues with caving in the oil pan while 'wheeling'. Maybe its one of those things where I just don't see myself running a $40k truck into the ground on a regular basis.
I will admit the TRD skids are much higher quality than the factory and they do look better, too. Still, no one will convince me that I'm risking the longevity of my truck by running skidless.
i agree with crunch, get a trd pro skid plate and never worry about it again. i agree that its a PITA, but it only takes 2 min and i'll wait a week or two before putting it back on.
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