What to choose..........

[007]

I would say neither, because of weight and access to maintenance. The stock skids take a good beating and when they are shot you can find them pretty cheap if not free. The oil pan is pretty tucked up so its hard to hit anyhow. The gas tank will dent but not likely rupture.

It has been my experience (but I'm all ears to yours) that the stock skid will bend and form around the parts, but still protect them. The gas tank will get dented and reduce capacity by maybe a gallon but not rupture.

I like the idea of reinforcing the stock skids, and saving the money for something else.

 

[ttora4runner]

Small Frye, Lil' Skips Off Road Gas Tank Skid Plate is not compatible with the Sonoran Steel 1.2 or 7.2 lift kits, they have too much articulation.

That's the first I've heard on it not being compatible.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I would say neither, because of weight and access to maintenance. The stock skids take a good beating and when they are shot you can find them pretty cheap if not free. The oil pan is pretty tucked up so its hard to hit anyhow. The gas tank will dent but not likely rupture.

It has been my experience (but I'm all ears to yours) that the stock skid will bend and form around the parts, but still protect them. The gas tank will get dented and reduce capacity by maybe a gallon but not rupture.

I like the idea of reinforcing the stock skids, and saving the money for something else.

That's all fine and dandy until they take a couple of decent smacks and then are so warped and tweaked that you'll never get the bolts to line up again. My last Tacoma had the stock skid, it had been beat back into shape, welded and repainted a handful of times. All said and done the time and effort I went through to put it back on each time (read BFH) wasn't worth the effort. When the stock skid on my current DC Taco ripped off like a soda can in a deep desert bog, I wasn't about to start that pattern again. Bud setup did the trick.

I did modify the Budbuilt setup, trimmed some places that it didn't have the clearance I was looking for and added a dozen+ holes in the flat plates to allow mud/debris to drain out.

 

[007]

That's all fine and dandy until they take a couple of decent smacks and then are so warped and tweaked that you'll never get the bolts to line up again. My last Tacoma had the stock skid, it had been beat back into shape, welded and repainted a handful of times. All said and done the time and effort I went through to put it back on each time (read BFH) wasn't worth the effort. When the stock skid on my current DC Taco ripped off like a soda can in a deep desert bog, I wasn't about to start that pattern again. Bud setup did the trick.

I did modify the Budbuilt setup, trimmed some places that it didn't have the clearance I was looking for and added a dozen+ holes in the flat plates to allow mud/debris to drain out.

Fair enough That is all very true.

However, I come from a family of blacksmiths so I'm obligated to cobble things back together as opposed to purchasing a nice prefabbed remedy :bike_rider:

 

[Mr. Leary]

That's the first I've heard on it not being compatible.

There are a bunch of guys over on the T4R forum having rubbing issues with the stock gas tank skid. Crazy flex, like running 9 wrap LC coils and no rear sway bar. There are guys over there with upwards of 22" in wheel travel. Dangerously flexy, IMO.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Worst case scenario is you have to trim a little off the rear near the yoke.

 

[PolarXJ]

My vote is for the gas tank skid. I've put holes into my tank before, ended up rubbing a bar of soap over the holes to plug them then covered it with duct tape.

 

[ttora4runner]

There are a bunch of guys over on the T4R forum having rubbing issues with the stock gas tank skid. Crazy flex, like running 9 wrap LC coils and no rear sway bar. There are guys over there with upwards of 22" in wheel travel. Dangerously flexy, IMO.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Worst case scenario is you have to trim a little off the rear near the yoke.

You mean like Brain2Sun.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...However, I come from a family of blacksmiths so I'm obligated to cobble things back together as opposed to purchasing a nice prefabbed remedy :bike_rider:

Don't get me wrong, there is some real gratification beating something back into shape but at some point you (well I) have to throw in the towel

 

[laxtoy]

i got a skid row front and transfer case skid to replace the stock front skid after i put about a 6 inch long slice in it. stock skid is pretty worthless, being so soft, that's why it's so easy to "readjust"