Fuel tank skid plates - honest need?

Hey guys,

I joined the ranks of the 3rd gen Friday night. It is a TRD Sport with the 38 gallon tank. I plan to get a better front skid plate eventually (TRD, RCI, P&P) but the fuel tank I am not sure.
I live in central PA, so no hardcore rock crawling but it will see extended use in hunting seasons on rutted up logging roads. I never hit my 26gal tank on my 2010 Tundra that I am aware of.
I crawled under and looked around although the tank is huge, it looks like if I am driving over something that is hitting the tank - it will have to have hit a bunch of other important stuff in front of it first so hopefully I would rethink my decision to go that way.

So my question is - you guys with the 38 gal tanks, have you ever actually hit your skid plate? I realize the OEM Toyota plate does not offer much protection anyway but are the big tanks that fragile that I should really look at getting a skid plate before doing any driving on anything other than pavement?

 

I have not hit my tank while off-roading. So I don’t think you need it. But, it would hurt to have it. I plan at some point to get one + the transfer case one too.

 

I have hit my tank skid off-road a number of times on trails here in northern CA. My last time out I cracked the OEM plastic skid so I will be replacing this soon with the RCI tank skid (relatively cheap insurance).

Since your truck already has the OEM tank skid I would first replace the engine skid and add the transfer case skid. If you then see that you are hitting the tank skid you could bump up the priority for replacing replacing this.

 

I've never hit in all my offroading (California/Nevada/AZ/New Mexico/Texas deserts, California logging/mountain roads). Not that it can't happen, but it just hasn't.

For big trucks like ours, I've found the most beneficial skids to be (in order, and this should also give you an idea the type of wheeling I've done): sliders, engine, transfer/transmission, ABS sensor shields (break one of these you're in limp mode; ask me how I know), LCA, rear diff. I've also found I will often need to hack my tailpipes off so they dump just behind the axle.

In my previous truck (Raptor) I needed to chop the tailpipes, dovetail the rear and remove the stock bumper/hitch in favor of a slimline/high clearance. Same with the front. The Tundra's nose is shorter so I think with my lift I'll be ok there (knock on wood). The rear is about the same, but I figure I'll roll as is for now if/until I mash something up back there, then assess. Having better approach and departure angles affords one the opportunity to pick the best lines, and with the sliders you can really cut the corners and pivot around the big stuff, all resulting in being able to avoid the need to be fully armored underneath as you'll just roll over the stuff that would otherwise scrape down there.

Your mileage may vary.

 

The 38 gal tank is no more fragile than the 26gal tank. Some design and material just bigger.
It sounds like the type of wheeling you do a metal gas tank skid isn’t necessary. The factory plastic skid if it came with your truck is fine for most uses.
Personally I have dragged my gas tank skid over a few things so for me a metal skid makes sense.

 

Welcome from NE Pa. The only off roading I do is when I drive across the dirt portion of my driveway. Sounds like a nice little project your thinking about. Keep the pictures coming

 

Unless I am crazy, I am pretty sure I do not have the plastic skid - that comes with the TRD Off Road. This is the TRD Sport, so no tank skid.

Edit: Verified, no tank skid.

 

The Sport is a package - like the TRD. Not sure if Toyota offers both together or if it's an either-or option. A quick check under the truck will confirm but it is possible that you do not have the tank skid. Unfortunately in order to add the RCI tank skid you would also need to add the tank straps that come with the OEM skid so that adds to the cost (P&P's tank skid may not require the straps).

The ABS that the tank is made of is pretty sturdy and could likely handle minor bumps and slides. If all you are doing is logging roads then you are probably OK. I would still recommend checking your tank after going out to see if you are hitting it at all.

 

I think we need them now with the price of gas and the uptick of drilling into the tanks and stealing the gas.

 

The RCI doesn't cover the sides though.....

 

Somebody will start making them. Just like the cat shields that popped up.

 

Agreed, although the extra steel will certainly be ouch $. No choice it seems.

 

Cheaper than a new $1000.00, 38 gallon tank.

 

Plus install! I wonder if Bud Bilt has jumped on that upgrade skid bandwagon. Haven't checked out Bud Bilt in a while. Same with Slee Offroad....hmmmm

 

Slee Offroad shows no products for Tundra skid ates on their website.

 

I'm half tempted to get a RCI skid for my 38 gallon tank just for more of a deterrent!

 

Do it. There is a modest forum discount all the time. There should be a Memorial Day sale if you can wait.......

 

...ates? Ha! Of course I've never had that happen. But always funny! BTW...Manny wore his Halloween Bumblebee costume a couple weeks ago at school for Superhero day! Thin Blue.....

 

Didn't know there is a forum discount for RCI?! Where at?

 

I’ve managed to make contact but nothing crazy. I do like having some steel on the bottom with gas at $4.50/gal

 

Call them when you order. Mention that you are a Tundras.com member. Modest discount. Helps a bit with shipping or taxes. A bit. Sales are much better.

 

Ah ok, so ya I'd assume their 15% off sale now is better but damn the shipping.....

 

Several of us have dragged our gas tanks off-roading, none with resulting problems that I’m aware of. Unless you’re going to balance your truck on rocks regularly (@Cruzer, ), you probably don’t need a gas plate for off-road protection. Now… as a deterrent to gas thieves, maybe. And, you onowC to complement your cat skids….

Edit: very one I know that’s dragged a tank over something also had rock sliders which probably took a lot of the load, so there’s that. But if I were to choose which to prioritize for off road protection, sliders > skids.

 

I live an hour south of RCI. Always picked up skids. Won a $250 gift card a few years ago at their Customer Appreciation Day. Bought a tank skid. Have a Frontier now and RCI doesn't make Nissan skids, but I will always recommend RCI. Local family owned CO business!

 

Ya they do make quality products for sure! Wish I was somewhat close to them and I could pick up the stuff....

 

This....

 

Head to Colorado. @Squatting Pigeon just might have a Tundras do Colorado meetup in the works again. Heck, I'll show up in my Frontier.

 

My skid is supposed to be flat but it's actually got like a banana shape to it

 

Hmm that's an interesting thought. I dont have a tank skid or need one for the sandy environment here, but fuel theft could be an issue.

I just read an article this morning, thieves in a minivan with a trapdoor stole 1000 gallons of diesel from an inground tank at a fuel station in Houston. Pretty crazy. I feel like it could be 2008 again, anything not nailed down is going missing...