Skid plates

looking for skids for a 2017 Tundra, can only seem to find a TRD from Toyota. Was hoping someone could point me in the right direction?

 

RCI Metal works

 

Great thank you

 

Sean those look awesome man. @Sean266

 

Ordered RCI during Black Friday. Can't wait to get mine.

 

@Sean266 , do u know what bolts to use when using the rci skid with a diff drop?

 

Question for anyone, How many skid plates are there or can there be for a 3rd Gen Tundra? I've seen them for the gas tank, and one for under the main part of the engine and towards the front of the truck. Can someone make me smart on skids such as how many, what are the names of them, what do they protect, which ones are the most important one to have?

I don't need to know for any real reason other to make myself smarter about my truck.
Thanks in advance for all your wise A$$ Remarks as well as answers.....

 

K. Is there a way you can find out? I'll be getting mine soon and want to be prepared.

 

ditto, Still waiting for mine to arrive.

 

I think there are 3, that I know of. Check the RCI site for better info though.

 

This forum is a blessing and a curse.....

Love the knowledge, love getting a ton of great info on things I can do to make my truck the way I want it, but.. ..

 

I think the answer to your question is in post #4 and pictures are in $5 above. From RCI, there is the Engine Skid Plate, the Transmission/Transfer Case skid plate and the Fuel Tank skid plate. The Toyota TRD Pro Skid Plate is basically to cover the engine area; stock OEM is engine cover and the rest of Toyota OEM are plastic covers that most of us do not consider to be skid plates. I hope this helps

 

You don't need any different bolts, however you will need 5 spacers (3/8" to 1/2" is perfect) that will simply go between the existing M8 bolts that mount the skid plate and the frame. If we haven't shipped your yet let me know and I can include some for you.

 

Is there a forum discount?

 

As an alternative, BudBuilt also makes skid plates for the Tundra with some different options (such as extra thickness or stainless steel). Them and RCI are the only shops that make skids for our trucks to my knowledge.

RCI
- Skids: engine, transmission and transfer are combined, gas.
- Sleeker design.

BudBuilt
- Skids: engine, transmission and transfer are separate, gas
- Provides more coverage between the transfer case and gas tank areas.
- Comes with additional frame crossmember after the transfer case that the transfer skid mounts to (also functions as frame support for various directions of stress).

For what it's worth, I have the BudBuilt transfer and gas skids. I can't use the engine or transmission skids because I have a drop bracket lift.

 

sweet. I pm'd you my order number. Thanks @RCIoffroad & @Sean266

 

Which ones did you get?

 

Aluminum engine skid.

 

Rci

It's like 3 times thicker than what came stock with the trd non pro package. It's also longer

 

Buds are what I have. Front to back. Little bit heavier than the RCIs even though I opted for the "lite" steel option. All 6 pieces weigh in at about 135ish. One of the things that is different between his and RCI, is that all of the bolts are flush with the skids. A bit of a puzzle to get them all in there and I would suggest another set of hands or a jack rather than doing it yourself with an 8 yr old giving you directions...

 

"TRD from Toyota" is the right direction.

 

We do not use flush mount screws because if you ever do manage to bump allen head bolts they are IMPOSSIBLE to remove. Our tundra skid plates use carriage bolts anywhere exposed so you physically cannot damage them in a way that would hinder removing them later

 

Can you guys send those bolts in black also?

 

Literally, I'm about ready to go out to the garage to install my RCI skid plates in a few hours...after my nap.

My primary motivation for getting the plates was the little trap door that will give me access to the oil filter.

Recently though I have started to grease my drive shafts when ever I change my oil.

So now I'm thinking I'm still going to have to remove my skid plates every time I want to grease my front drive shaft.

Or am I making too big a deal out of greasing my front drive shaft and it doesn't have to be done every 10,000 miles?

 

I never have the patience to wait to install what ever I order........needs to be done that same day or following day

 

I just finished the install.

It went fine, except I have a few washers and a few nuts left over. I hope this isn't a problem.

If you have wrenches that have a ratchet mechanism they are very handy.

I don't have any and I had to tighten some nuts in very awkward locations with a standard wrench. I felt like an animal.

These skid plates are very heavy duty and now I'm beginning to think they are way more than I will ever need driving down rough four wheel drive dirt roads when I go fishing.

They will definitely make oil changes much easier, but if I need to get under my truck for anything other than an oil change it is going to be a real pain to remove these things...way harder than the stock skid plate.

The quality seems to be first rate.

I just hope I actually need them at some point.