I think I will hold on to the one I have, as it is pretty straight, unless whoever buys my truck wants it (like wants to pay more, or if its a dealbreaker if it isn't installed). I also have the valance that covers the front of the frame, but the brackets are missing.

 

mine werent rusty, but i had a problem with ripping the heads of the bolts off and the rest of the screws are stuck in the upper and lower crossmemebers. When the bottom one ripped out while 4wheeling, it just got all twisted up and i just took the thing off. Havent run with a skid in a couple years now.

 

It seems I am always under the front end checking things.

I remove the skid plate the first oil or belt change . With a new to me vehicle that is within the first few days .

It is one of the selling points when new but nowhere near strong enough to be of any real benefit in a real off road trip and there is enough weight on the front all ready to build something heavier.

At least for my uses

 

Mine has a dent or two, but I've always considered it a brush guard, not a "skid plate." I haven't abused my truck, but I've taken it over roads barely passable in stock configuration. The front guard has never been in my way, unlike the dinky rear crossmember that hangs down lower than necessary and is prone to catching on rocks.

 

i still have mine, but every few times i remove it i break another bolt and never easy out it lol. i'm down to 2 bolts left. if i break 1 more, the skid plate is going in the garbage!

 

damn I knew i forgota to pick up something at the junkyard when i went searching for an sr5 gauge. mine had one 1987 base model power nothing. but didnt come with the truck when i bought it. Had front end damage from an accident that the guy fixed before i bought it and never got a replacement. i know this for a fact since the mounts are still there for it.

 

I took mine off cuz I didnt want to have to pull it every time I changed oil, or did anything uder there. I used to put it back on afterwards, but it really dont serve much purpose, other than looking pretty.

 

Grade 8 nuts, bolts and washers using anti-seize does the trick. Or stop doing those water crossings

 

where's the fun in that?

 

I just loosen my bolts, slide it left 2 inches and its off. I drilled 2 larger holes and a channel to the right of exsisting mount holes, ( Diamond skid plate. )

 

Fumoto valve FTW!! And my OEM skidplate has saved me from a sizeable boulder sitting in the road...or what I thought was the road. Woulda done a number to my steering components without it...

 

You know, you guys really shouldn't refer to it as a 'Skid Plate" because it isn't a skid plate. Skid plates are tough protective metal shields. Toyota calls it a 'gravel guard'...a much more accurate description.

 

My used 4Runner came without one and I didn't really notice until last winter when ice built up on the wires and stuff on the front diff. I was afraid the ice would snap something so I got a front plate at a junkyard and bolted it on with stainless steel bolts.

 

yeah, if you got ADD, some sort of a skidplate up there is a must.

 

Must be a 3.0L thing. The 22re oil drain plug is aft of the skid plate.

Mine is hanging on with Zip-Ties

 

So is the veezy's. Actually, now that you mention it, I dunno why you would have to remove it to change oil. I have an extra skid that extends beyond the OEM one to protect the bottom of the IFS and front diff, which is why the fumoto valve is so great.

 

I kind of figured they were, but wasn't sure. I've been under a 3.slow once and that was to show a friend of a friend where the front differential was

Got a thread/pics about this skid plate?

 

Not really, it actually came with my skyjacker lift. It's only 1/8in steel but it serves to both tie the IFS crossmembers together (the skyjacker lift brackets are one piece crossmembers for both front and back) and keep crap from hitting the diff. It's saved me from rocks and stumps and stuff many a time.

 

eh, the stock one's is cheap and flimsy sure, but I'd much rather have it down there than not...

as said before, SOME protection is better than NONE



plus, it doesn't look half bad if you paint it too

 

Indeed