Skid Plates and Rock Rails
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The skid plates have the bolts. However, you can reuse the bolts that attach the covers/plates that you are replacing.
If you are looking at skids, you may want to consider engine skids that bolt to the recovery points instead of the radiator supports'
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- #4
You shouldn't need any additional hardware for rock rails as your LC should have bolts, from the factory, already in the bolt holes. You just need to remove them and then reuse then for the install.
Do you have the installation PDF for the OEM rock rails by chance?
There were no rock rail bolts in mine. There are bolts for running boards in all of them from what I understand. Maybe a body vs. frame issue?
I traded my running boards for rock rails and uninstalled the running boards and installed the rock rails myself so maybe this will be helpful. I apologize in advance but I'm more "thorough" than I am "short and concise" about things. I am also not a big car guy so my terminology may not be spot on. I make artificial limbs for a living so it's a different skillset. Not all of it will necessarily pertain to your exact issue though. It's quite simple to install the rock rails. i understand you do not have running boards but thought this would be worth noting...the running boards apparently use 2 less bolts than the rock rails so you may also be short a couple bolts in your case.
One of the attachment points uses a "slotted" (u shaped slot) type attachment on the rock rail itself so put that bolt in 1/2 of the way screwed into the underside of the LC first and it will allow you to hook/latch the rock rails onto it holding it on more or less hands free in place from there on forward. You'll see on the running rails themselves that 7 (i believe it's 7 holes) of the attchment points are holes and 1 is the U shaped slotted attachment point referenced above so you can figure out which is which. Do that one first and life will be much easier from there forward. You won't have to worry about the light that comes on the running boards since that isn't applicable. That light (bulb) on mine, ended up getting tucked into a spot underneath the LC in a spot built into the LC. I really don't think you need any installation PDF but I may have some specs sheet (I found something just for torque specs) for some of this if you're truly worried about it.
If I can do it you can do it. Get a headlamp, a big piece of cardboard to lay on and maybe a deep well socket for a couple of the bolts, if my memory serves me correctly, and have at it.
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- #9
Any recommendations on skids that attach to recovery points? I’m not wheeling, just looking for some protection while I’m running the truck for hunting and fishing trips.
It also says 16 bolts are included. I can't quite tell if they're suggesting you use the running board bolts on the rock rails? Or if mine was missing something? Mine was missing the factory transmission and SDM protectors so it's not impossible the folks at the port took out the rock rail bolts too. Maybe we can get a volunteer with a 1958 to take some pictures of their frame?
The Victory 4x4 plates bolt to the recovery points, but they leave the back bolts sticking out from the skid plates which would make me a little reluctant. Another company was working on a front skid with a reinforces recovery point mounting but I haven't seen if it's released yet?
I just put Victory 4x4 engine and transmission skids on tonight. I have the transfer case skid on order. Very well made and I got the Aluminum option as I wanted to save some weight. They are well made and I’m very happy with them. Here is the trans skid next to the stock plastic “skid”.
Attachments
does it mount to the radiator bracket like the stock one?
No, the recovery points on the frame on either side of the radiator.
I might be getting the same one...after installing these do you feel like they'll protect from a good hit?
No and that’s why I went with it. The engine skid mounts to the recovery points, has a Mantenence hatch for the oil filter so you don’t need to drop the skid for oil changes..
I have the factory plates. The one thing that gives me reservations about the Victory 4x4 plate is the bolts aren't recessed.
Far better than stock id guess. The steel would be a bit better, but I didn’t want the extra weight so I went with aluminum. Contact Victory…I’m sure they can tell you more.
yikes just saw that... do you know of any skid plates that mount to the recovery points and have recessed bolts?
I still haven't found a skid plate I want
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- #20
Is it possible that we’re over thinking the fact that the factory plates attach to the radiator bracket? These aren’t cosmetic parts and certainly Toyota engineers have at least considered that. If some of the contributors here are going to take their new 60k vehicle and do some rock bashing, I get it but for the majority of even the weekend overlanding crowd, I gotta think factory skids are good and if they aren’t, you likely have bigger problems.
