Victory 4x4 Skid Plate installed

[Aven2rus]

Back in garage for Victory 4x4 Front Skid Plate and Mid Skid Plate installation. Went with aluminum to keep the weight down to a minimum.

Fit and finish on these was excellent and working with the reduced weight of the aluminum is a bonus. All access points are there a cover for oil filter access is a nice feature. The packaging is the best I have seen and assures the parts arrive in great shape as well. Packed in foam, all the hardware there and securely package as well.

Pro Tip: Have mechanic wire handy. Using a piece of wire is helpful to fish the plates dropped in through the cross member into place. Then push it straight through the skid/cross member/plate and through the top cross member hole. Now drop the nut down the wire as guide and move the wire around to align nut with all parts.
Press down on he nut from the top to hold in place and thread the bolt into it.

Only issue I see is that I should have and now going to order the Victory 4x4 Transfer case skid as it protects the very vulnerable exhaust. New to Tacoma coming from the Jeep world I was not aware of this vulnerability.

 

[New Holland Overland]

Back in garage for Victory 4x4 Front Skid Plate and Mid Skid Plate installation. Went with aluminum to keep the weight down to a minimum.

Fit and finish on these was excellent and working with the reduced weight of the aluminum is a bonus. All access points are there a cover for oil filter access is a nice feature. The packaging is the best I have seen and assures the parts arrive in great shape as well. Packed in foam and all the hardware there and securely package as well.

Pro Tip: Have mechanic wire handy. Using a piece of wire is helpful to fish the plates dropped in through the cross member into place. Then push it straight through the skid/cross member/plate and trough the top cross member hole. Now drop the nut down the wire as guide and move the wire around to align nut with all parts.
Press down on he nut from the top to hold in place and thread the bolt into it.

Only issue I see is that I should have and now going to order the Victory 4x4 Transfer case skid as it protects the very vulnerable exhaust. New to Tacoma coming from the Jeep world I was not aware of this vulnerability.

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Make sure you get your exhaust high-clearanced before you purchase the trans skid. Those are great looking skids!!! Nice purchase!

 

[Aven2rus]

Make sure you get your exhaust high-clearanced before you purchase the trans skid. Those are great looking skids!!! Nice purchase!

Appreciate the input. I searched and viewed many of the methods and for longevity decided I do not want to patch anything in unless I was to remove and tig welded in V-Style band clamp flanges to a stainless patch. So going with the skid option for now as I don't see where this is going to hang up enough that I would not be happy with Victory 4x4 solution, if that changes then I would take the time to remove and do what in my mind is a proper patch.

This is an image from site of the Victory 4x4 Transfer Skid. Appears to have the option of going with a patch as well as the relief section is not welded. Also has and holes for heat to escape from the relief section I like..

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[Zebratruck]

I have all the Victory alloy skids (and lower control arm skids too). I did not reroute the exhaust yet and the hump piece they provide IS sturdy, I was catching it on everything. That’ll be a summer mod and then bolt on the flat plate.
Victory bumpers, skids, and roof rack on my truck too. Good stuff, good guys to deal with.

 

[Aven2rus]

Like that Victory 4x4 has the option. Will do the exhaust when I can find time to remove the parts and build a stainless pipe with V-Band Clamps like this.

 

[Sbr7]

I did the front and mid skid from Victory, and they are very solid. I do take off the oil filter access piece before I take it to the dealer for service, only because I dont want them messing with the parts. I liked that they had the parts in stock, they shipped quickly, and their videos are fun to watch.
Mid skid was challenging to install to say the least.