OEM Fuel Tank Skid Plate Questions

I have a new-to-me 2018 crewmax in the Limited trim, which has no skid plate beneath the fuel tank. Judging by how low the tank hangs and how beat up the skid plate on my older Tundra (that this truck is replacing) is, I need to get one on there asap.

I don't do any high-speed off-roading or hard-core rock crawling, but I live in the mountains and drive on rough two-track regularly. So I don't need the absolute most durable - just something for low-speed protection from high-centering over boulders and ruts and fallen trees.

I know the correct answer/consensus here will be to just get an RCI plate - and I may very well go that direction - but I want to understand the OEM option(s) just in case. I can't find any pictures or even much information in the forum, so I'm hoping somebody knowledgeable can chime in and offer some explanation. Thanks in advance.

1) I know the TRD offroad package comes with a plastic one, often described as looking like a 1/4" thick cutting board (HDPE?), but I haven't seen any photos. I see lots of tales of them failing so won't get one of these, but I'd sure like to see some photos for personal knowledge.

2) The Toyota catalog seems to indicate that there are two different, applicable, OEM, STEEL skid plates available as part numbers 776060C040 and 776060C060. I can't tell what the difference would be (or if they're used together) because the illustration is the same for both parts (this would be for the 38 gallon tank in case it matters, but the catalog search should have filtered that properly):

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...Fuel-Tank-Skid-Plate/63159185/776060C040.html

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...Y---FUEL-TANK---NO-1/63392657/776060C060.html

The catalog description: "A heavy steel plate which protects the fuel tank during travel off-road."

I'd also like to see a photo of this/these, if anyone could oblige.

Likewise, can somebody tell me where these steel skid plates are used coming from the factory? Are they on the TRD Pro and exclusive to that trim only? Are they available as an aftermarket accessory piece only?

3) Finally, can anybody tell me the correct Toyota part numbers for the OEM straps with the mounting studs, for use with either of the above OEM skidplates OR the RCI one? The catalog isn't clear and, once gain, uses the same diagram for multiple parts:

https://parts.toyota.com/a/Toyota_2...AT/__6722627/FUEL-TANK--TUBE/841430-7751.html

Thanks again.

 

darn just through mine in the trash!! it was thick plastic ,when with steel from RCI

 

Did you use existing strap, or did you have to buy RCI version?

 

If your fuel tank straps have threads on the bottom you're good to go. My RCI fuel skid didn't come with them

 

That sure seems to be the prevailing opinion about what to do with the factory plastic ones. I'm really curious about the factory steel ones though. I haven't seen them discussed anywhere.

 

I will have to crawl under and look. I know it has the plastic skid plate; I wiggled its edges and poked it. Hard to believe Toyota put such a thing on its TRD Pros.

 

You might try asking Roman in the OEM parts thread. He is obviously the guru.

 

That's probably a good idea, too. I'd probably order from him anyway, if the stock factory one looks like it would work.

In case someone didn't want to click on the catalog links in my first post, here's an image of the one(s) described as "heavy steel." Are the plastic ones molded in this shape too? I was under the impression that they were just flat slabs. Your comment above, about TRD Pros also being plastic, makes me wonder if the steel ones are just vaporware.

 

You know what... I initially found this by browsing the catalog specifically for a 2018 Crewmax Ltd. (As indicated if you look at the link.) That should have automatically defaulted to a 38 gal. tank, since it's the only option available.

But now that I've posted this image and look at it in an enlarged view, the footnote at the bottom suggests that this part might be from the Rock Warrior era, which was before the larger tanks were introduced, I believe. Gen 2, actually. Perhaps these factory steel plates are only applicable to the smaller / older tanks?

 

Plastic one looks like the same shape as the RCI steel. Not like the 77606 above

 

To further support the others saying check with @Roman he is expert on parts

So I just upgraded my 19 pro fuel skid to a steel skid. The one I took off is a hard plastic type but with some flexibility. I still have it lying on my garage I can take some pictures of when I get back home tomorrow

 

Thanks. That is what I hoped. Plastic is not much of a skid plate, but I guess it is, of sorts.

 

Here you go

 

Thanks! Just to make sure I'm seeing that correctly, it is in fact plastic, right? It's very curious why so many outhers report their plastic ones as being flat instead of molded like this, and also why the catalog describes it as "heavy steel."

 

Yep. I’m no plastic expert but it’s plastic. Of some sorts

 

I got an email back from Roman, and he also confirm that the plastic/steel difference is relative to tank size. Since the Toyota catalog uses the same illustration for both conditions, I guess they just didn't bother to note that the skid is actually "heavy steel OR plastic." Combined with the fact that it's $435 ($200 more than the RCI!), there seems to be no good reason to get the factory one. Thanks all.