Thanks for the post with the final install! Would you please share the M6 bolts and washers used?
I used m6-1.0 x 25mm SEMS Hex Head Body Bolts with phosphate coating from Fastenal. They had them in stock at my local branch. The PN from Fastenal is: 0162791C for a pack of three. They are class 9.8 bolts which is in between equivalent SAE grade 5 and grade 8 and should be plenty strong enough. The factory bolts appear to be class 8.8.
Given the difference between hybrid, gas awd, and gas fwdI don’t think a skid plate for the gas tank would come out for the non off-road versions.You’ll need to fabricate your own.
curious, why go with the TRD skids? A very reputable tuner hit me up the other day after he worked on a 2021 TRD. He was shocked how ‘paper thin’ the skids are. They’re not functional. More of a gimmick.A good bump on the front plate and the plastic attachment points on the front fascia would rip off 😬 same goes for the mid plate, it would crush under impact. I run LP mid and RNOFIT front and those puppies are 5mm thick aluminum each vs the 1.5mm TRD. I know most folk don’t go off-roading but even easy trails with ruts could cause the front TRD skid to come in contact with the ground and break the support tabs if there’s not enough ground clearance 🤔
Definitely why I got rid of the plastic clips. Without question, the LP skid and others are much more robust and could handle repetitive hard hits while rock crawling. However, for our purposes this Rav4 will be used for the occasional off-beaten path to get to a primitive campsite or riverbank to drop off a canoe. I have a built Jeep TJ Wrangler and JKU Wrangler for dedicated offroad adventures/rock crawling
. While the TRD skids are thin, mounted properly they feel strong enough to handle bottoming out on ruts or deflecting loose rocks (will have to put them to the test). The skids are braced in many areas by the front frame sections when bolted down as intended. The protection is worlds better than the plastic covers, and I like how the TRD skids cover the same area without any gaps.
Is the TRD skid overpriced for what it is? I think so. But coming from the world of Jeeps and endless aftermarket parts, I have grown to appreciate the fit, finish, and longevity from OEM parts where feasible. Not to say the LP skid isn't a quality unit (hard to mess up flat aluminum plate). I don't think the TRD skids are totally useless, but the design is obviously a compromise with MPG and weight reduction in mind. If you plan on pushing the limits of your Rav4 offroad with a lift and bigger tires, then yes one should go with thicker skids like from LP. But for my intended use, the TRD skids are a good balance between on-road and off-road performance combined with the fit and finish of a factory installed part.
My 2 cents on why I went with the TRD plates! Once the skids get some use or if they end up getting ripped off, I will be sure to update this thread!
