Trailhunter oil change without removing skid plate?

[Ron]

Can an oil change be done with the Trail Hunter skid plate without removing it ?

If not, maybe a small hole could be added for a funnel to sit in... Not sure if you can reach around to loosen the filter and drain bolt.

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[TrustButVerify]

Can an oil change be done with the Trail Hunter skid plate without removing it ?

If not, maybe a small hole could be added for a funnel to sit in... Not sure if you can reach around to loosen the filter and drain bolt.

You just have to remove 4 bolts. Is all the cutting and drilling, which requires removing the plate, worth the time to save 90 seconds every 5000 miles? Over a 200,000 mile vehicle life, your total time saved doing 5000 mile oil changes is 1 hour.

 

[trailhunger]

great question. following. Probably need to remove the entire plate for the oil filter too?

Yota's garage is claiming installing the TH skid plate can be done in under 30 minutes. I'd say it'll take longer than 90 seconds to remove those bolts! But not 25 minutes either! There's an indentation centered on this plate where you can jack the truck up. Need a floor jack or 2 sets of hands to lower it/re-install it IMO. Doesn't look too heavy in the video. A good time to clean it off or store for the winter.

 

[Ron]

Im reviewing my options before I buy a skid plate.

The Trailhunter skid is easy enough to remove but other skids allow for oil changes without removal.

Its not the only consideration but sounds useful to me.

 

[Bob A]

@Independence Overland pointed out in his video at 17:55 that they made the removal and installation of the plate a little easier by allowing the plate to hang off a front and rear bolt. Still not a easy to remove hatch like I had on my Raptors, but still helpful.

 

[Sner]

Im reviewing my options before I buy a skid plate.

The Trailhunter skid is easy enough to remove but other skids allow for oil changes without removal.

Its not the only consideration but sounds useful to me.

As one other mentioned just take the skid plate off, it’ll make for a neater tidier oil change rather than trying to change oil through a small hole and then mop up residue from removing a filter. Trust me I’ve done an oil change in my OR, taking off the skid plate allows for a really clean no dribble oil change. You’ll be saving zero time when you factor cleaning up residual oil with a skid plate In place, likely to take longer.

 

[TacoFreak]

I do all of my oil changes and I have been taking the skid plate off of my Tundra for years now and it is no big deal. You would need access to the drain plug and to the oil filter, so just removing the skid plate seems easier to me. Removing the plate also lets you take a look at the bottom of your engine to see if anything needs attention.

I would be interested in seeing some of the ones that allow maintenance access however. If anyone finds some, please post some links, although my Pro will most likely be keeping the factory skid plate.

 

[trailhunger]

For those of us with long snowy winters...what benefit of having this plate installed be besides some road grime sand deflection? Would it be more of a magnet for grime & interface with the frame?

I don't offroad in the winter, debating just leaving it off after fall trip to Canyonlands & an oil change / re-install for a Spring trip back to the desert. Shave a bit of weight in the process

 

[soupy1234]

I do all of my oil changes and I have been taking the skid plate off of my Tundra for years now and it is no big deal. You would need access to the drain plug and to the oil filter, so just removing the skid plate seems easier to me. Removing the plate also lets you take a look at the bottom of your engine to see if anything needs attention.

I would be interested in seeing some of the ones that allow maintenance access however. If anyone finds some, please post some links, although my Pro will most likely be keeping the factory skid plate.

Victory 4x4 has one.
https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/threads/victory-4x4-front-skid-plate-installed.5099/
Port looks kind of small though. I asked if anyone's done an oil change using it but haven't seen any response.

 

[Ron]

Another one
https://cbioffroadfab.com/product/toyota-tacoma-full-skid-plates-2024/

 

[Victory 4x4]

Victory 4x4 has one.
https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/threads/victory-4x4-front-skid-plate-installed.5099/
Port looks kind of small though. I asked if anyone's done an oil change using it but haven't seen any response.

The best no-spill method is to make a little paper funnel to help not spill on the skid, or do a Fumoto valve with a piece of hose after your first change. That is what I've done on all my personal trucks to date.

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