Looking to swap Trailhunter steel skids for UHMW plastic

[trailhunger]

Looking for a plastic skid for the Trailhunter front engine - for winter driving. I don’t 4x4 trail in the winter where I live it’s all pavement & mountain driving. Snow chunks & gravel deflection is the game half the year. I considered swapping all skids to 5052 1/4” aluminum but I can’t square the price when I already have it kitted in steel. My TH is 6’ bed, so naturally I’m handicapping the extreme off-roading anyway due breakover angle. The goal is to shed some weight on this rig 6-8 months out of the year. How good is that powder coat on the TH steel skids…. Rock rails probably get pulled during the winter too, maybe add a step for the lady.

A smooth plastic, not the felt-like deflector stuff on the OR. Anyone know of any shops that would have this for the TH? It’s a weird ask, but shedding ~350lbs half the year is tempting. Would rather just leave the steel engine skid on than drive it naked but the rest of the trail kit can sit in the garage until spring

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[PotatoTRD]

I don’t know of anyone making UHMW skid plates at the moment, I have been trying to convince RCI to make some! But if I’m not mistaken the skids and sliders for the trailhunter are super lightweight and you might not be really achieving that much by removing them, if I remember right that front skid is only 26lbs and the trans is similar. You would maybe be saving ~120lbs at the most if you removed everything

 

[trailhunger]

…You would maybe be saving ~120lbs at the most if you removed everything

Each rock slider is what ~100lbs? Or gross over exaggeration from people selling theirs?

 

[PotatoTRD]

I mean I personally haven’t weighed them but I can almost guarantee they are not 100lbs each. My aftermarket RCI sliders are much more robust and heavy for slider standards and are around 70 lbs each

 

[trailhunger]

I mean I personally haven’t weighed them but I can almost guarantee they are not 100lbs each. My aftermarket RCI sliders are much more robust and heavy for slider standards and are around 70 lbs each

Yea wouldn’t surprise me they’re 60lbs and fellas haven’t lifted a 100lb dumbbell in years.

End of month when I have time I’ll remove one of these TH sliders and get it hooked up to the scale

 

[MT-Taco]

Looking for a plastic skid for the Trailhunter front engine - for winter driving. I don’t 4x4 trail in the winter where I live it’s all pavement & mountain driving. Snow chunks & gravel deflection is the game half the year. I considered swapping all skids to 5052 1/4” aluminum but I can’t square the price when I already have it kitted in steel. My TH is 6’ bed, so naturally I’m handicapping the extreme off-roading anyway due breakover angle. The goal is to shed some weight on this rig 6-8 months out of the year. How good is that powder coat on the TH steel skids…. Rock rails probably get pulled during the winter too, maybe add a step for the lady.

A smooth plastic, not the felt-like deflector stuff on the OR. Anyone know of any shops that would have this for the TH? It’s a weird ask, but shedding ~350lbs half the year is tempting. Would rather just leave the steel engine skid on than drive it naked but the rest of the trail kit can sit in the garage until spring

OR has the Smooth plastic skids. I’ll be replacing mine when the budget allows? Not sure what models have the felt skids? But they are not on mine. My RCI sliders are 75lbs per side with top plates. I’d bet the Toyota sliders are around 60lbs..

 

[soupy1234]

Each rock slider is what ~100lbs? Or gross over exaggeration from people selling theirs?

I don't know about the stock ones but the ones from NYTOP are 74 lbs. each. The other aftermarket ones are similar (except for one maker that has aluminum ones).

 

[hemlockz]

Stock rails are 56 lbs each. So I’m not following, how does a steel skid plate have any effect on winter driving? Isn’t more weight better in snow?

 

[Sner]

My OR premium has felt like skids plates (if you can call them that in felt) I too would also like to see some in plastic, something stronger than the OE ones without having to spend a fortune on metal ones. I’m not doing rock climbing with the truck but would like something better than felt for the winter, I can see the OE ones deteriorating pretty quickly over a couple of winters. Years ago it’s what came on many Japanese 4X4’s, good quality plastic skid plates. I’d also love to see some cost effective plastic skid plates - yet to find any, hoping this post leads me to some.

 

[Baltimore]

I don't off-road, but I prefer the comfort of having a shield on the engine bay and transmission for road debris and grime.

The Limited Hybrid came with the crossbar but with the felt behind the air dam.

I've order both the forward and secondary plastic covers to swap things out.

Including a full bolt set (yeah, I know you know need 2-4 more, but when I order parts I order all the supporting fasteners as a CYA, just how I do things) plus the "whistle plugs" (I'll call them), it was under $250.

 

[trailhunger]

Isn’t more weight better in snow?

Traction is key. The truck is plenty heavy already. Weight distribution/ evenly spread across all contact points. The protection plates are the lowest points to the ground so yes it doesn’t hurt having them on in the winter but I’m after fuel economy. If I’m doing a trip from front range Colorado to the Wasatch in February truck will only see pavement, 98% of it dry sanded cleared roads.
I’ve seen Rivians in ditches. They’re heavy a f, batteries distributed to the lowest point in the frame. Traction & winter driving skills far more important than weight. A super light WRX w/3 Peak Nokians full send, thing sticks to the road like no other vehicle out there


But hearing how the actual weight of the TH skid plates & sliders is much lower than people have estimated probably will leave it stock this winter and wait for UHMW options to hit the market

 

[beungood]

I don’t know of anyone making UHMW skid plates at the moment, I have been trying to convince RCI to make some! But if I’m not mistaken the skids and sliders for the trailhunter are super lightweight and you might not be really achieving that much by removing them, if I remember right that front skid is only 26lbs and the trans is similar. You would maybe be saving ~120lbs at the most if you removed everything

Could always go to a Plastic Sheeting Company and have sheets cut in the shape of your current skid plates and then drill out the holes after laying out the originals on your new UHMW sheets. I did this with one of my snow plows.

 

[soupy1234]

My OR premium has felt like skids plates (if you can call them that in felt) I too would also like to see some in plastic, something stronger than the OE ones without having to spend a fortune on metal ones. I’m not doing rock climbing with the truck but would like something better than felt for the winter, I can see the OE ones deteriorating pretty quickly over a couple of winters. Years ago it’s what came on many Japanese 4X4’s, good quality plastic skid plates. I’d also love to see some cost effective plastic skid plates - yet to find any, hoping this post leads me to some.

OR should have composite ones (they call them engine covers, not skid plates).

 

[Airborne]

UGH…why did you buy this model tacoma ….?? , weight, swapping, c.mon. So many guys have bought these trucks trailhunters, pros. To why ??? Cruise the mall parking lot or home depot….ffs.

 

[Sner]

OR should have composite ones (they call them engine covers, not skid plates).

You are correct. Whatever they are made of they are flimsy not as well built as they could be. I‘d Like something better without having to go to aluminum or steel.

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