Skidplate

[TacoTraveler]

My 2002 Tacoma has no skid plates because the previous owner was a wierdo and took them off...
I don't want just a stock replacement, I want something that will protect me.
I've heard Bud Built? Can anyone confirm or deny this company or list others?

Thanks,

Joseph

 

[Terracoma]

BudBuilt

Skid Row Offroad

I believe that All-Pro Off-Road also offers a small skid plate that should fit.

Not sure if Demello Offroad still offers one, you might need to contact them directly.




No personal experience with any of them, so I'm not much help there.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I have Bud's plates on my Pickup (so the configuration is a little different than your Taco). Happy with them and Bud is a super nice guy. But one thing, if he gives you an option of 0.120" or 3/16" plate, don't try and save a few pounds. Go with the heavier stuff.

 

[CA-RJ]

I'll add my recommendation for Bud Built. I have the front skid and the belly skid on my 4Runner and they are stout. It does make changing the oil a pain though.

 

[Jacket]

Budbuilt is the benchmark for quality skidplates. They are heavy SOB's, and are designed to carry the full impact of your truck in heavy off-road usage. If you are a mild user heading to the fireroads, the added weight may not be worth it to you.

 

[Redline]

x3 for Bud Built!

I have no experience with the others but do have a full set of BB skids under my 4Runner (front, middle, rear & gas tank). They fit well, the powder-coat was excellent and they were very well packed when shipped to me (not easy to do with heavy metal items.

As noted, Bud himself is a very fair, friendly, & helpful guy and this is the kind of man and company I like to trade with.

I have Bud's plates on my Pickup (so the configuration is a little different than your Taco). Happy with them and Bud is a super nice guy. But one thing, if he gives you an option of 0.120" or 3/16" plate, don't try and save a few pounds. Go with the heavier stuff.

 

[sami]

The Budbuilt on my '85 held my frame together for 200 miles back to my house. Both sides of the frame failed completely at the very front of the frame. The Budbuilt was the real only component keeping the truck together at that point.

Had i known the severity of the damage to the frame earlier i would not have driven on it at all. But it was when we got back and inspected the damage that we realised that the frame on both side was completely torn around the entire frame... Scary

Thanks Budbuilt!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm rocking the BudBuilts too! There are some really minor fit/clearance issues but overall I would do them again in a heartbeat. I've installed Budbuilts on older Toys, Tacomas and we just did his FULL kit on an FJC, top notch all the way around!

 

[Stealth 4x4]

Yep, BB's on mine as well, and they have taken some damned hard hits and protected the truck nicely. I rattle-can over the rockrash every so often to keep the rust at bay. Also had the passenger side rear corner of the belly plate get bent up by a hard hit, which caused the corner of the plate to hit the rear cat and make a hell of a racket (sounded like the someone was hitting the plate with a hammer when I went over the bumps). I just had to bend the plate back out a little with a pipe wrench to fix it.

I installed my skids and sliders when the suspension was stock on the truck, and I did notice the weight made the front susp. a little mushy. As was already mentioned, they are heavy steel plates. But they sure do the job. No problems fitting mine on the '03. They go on and off pretty easily once you've done it a time or two.

And yeah, Bud is a good guy. His plates will be on all of my off-road rigs as long as he keeps manufacturing them.

 

[CYi5]

Budbuilts are good, but the steel adds a good amount of weight. He also makes an aluminum version, you just have to ask for it specifically.

 

[DenCo40]

I built one out of UHMW. It covers all the way back to the transfer case. One of the best mods on my rig.

 

[cid 96]

skids

Just added the BB skids to my Taco. They are heavy. Lowered the front end by 1/4 in or so, but lowered the rear a full inch. They are designed to support the full weight of the truck though. Excellent product.

Sid

 

[7wt]

For the Budbuilt Taco guys, were you ever worried about the extra weight bolted to the front cross bar thingy? The bit of metal under the radiator looks a little weak to support 60lbs or so. I am wanting to put his skid on my truck but I was worried about that, am I crazy?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

For the Budbuilt Taco guys, were you ever worried about the extra weight bolted to the front cross bar thingy? The bit of metal under the radiator looks a little weak to support 60lbs or so. I am wanting to put his skid on my truck but I was worried about that, am I crazy?

I would be a bit worried with the OE member, but I have an ARB winchbar and as part its installation you replace the OE piece with a much sturdier ARB component. As a side note the BB front plate works very cleanly with the ARB splash plate

 

[Jacket]

For the Budbuilt Taco guys, were you ever worried about the extra weight bolted to the front cross bar thingy? The bit of metal under the radiator looks a little weak to support 60lbs or so. I am wanting to put his skid on my truck but I was worried about that, am I crazy?

Good question. On mine, I've broken 1.5 of the stock mounts for the front IFS skid. It wasn't so much the crossbar as it was the OEM fastener mounts that Bud reused for my application. It hasn't been a problem so far, as the remaining bolts are holding fine, but at some point I'll have to deal with it.