My take on replacing the front skid plate...

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 16, 2022

In my opinion it is MUCH needed on the black TRX especially. I didn't want to paint it because living here in PA the road debris would have the painted portion looking bad in the matter of days so this was really my only option and it is a lot more work than you may think!

Engine · Sep 16, 2022

Very nice video!

93ls1rx7TRX · Sep 16, 2022

It looks so much lower!

PotterTRX · Sep 16, 2022

About 100 bolts later it comes apart great lol

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 16, 2022

Engine said:
Very nice video!

Thank you!

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 16, 2022

PotterTRX said:
About 100 bolts later it comes apart great lol

It certainly feels that way. It isn't horrible once you get the bumper off the truck but you might as well put it somewhere comfortable because there are no shortage of bolts holding this thing together.

LDN · Sep 16, 2022

Looks much better!

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 16, 2022

LDN said:
Looks much better!

I agree. This should be at least an option on black especially.

@JC · Sep 17, 2022

They did it correctly on the Sandblast.

Informal · Sep 17, 2022

This is my painted one 1500 miles later..... $25 and less than 2 hours work

Just drove it to Phoenix and back, not one chip yet...

Been off road since I painted it, but less than 10 miles I'd guess.

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 17, 2022

Informal said:
This is my painted one 1500 miles later..... $25 and less than 2 hours work

Just drove it to Phoenix and back, not one chip yet...

Been off road since I painted it, but less than 10 miles I'd guess.

That's awesome! I know living in PA it wouldn't last, though. I've been there done that in the past and stuff gets beat up. On my last truck I painted the tow hooks red and after one winter they were peppered with chips and those have no where near the surface area of that skid plate. That might work down south but here in the salt belt, it won't fly unfortunately.

Informal · Sep 17, 2022

HorsePowerObsessed said:
That's awesome! I know living in PA it wouldn't last, though. I've been there done that in the past and stuff gets beat up. On my last truck I painted the tow hooks red and after one winter they were peppered with chips and those have no where near the surface area of that skid plate. That might work down south but here in the salt belt, it won't fly unfortunately.

Yeah, If I still lived in Reno/Tahoe.. I would have most likely powder coated it.

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 17, 2022

Informal said:
Yeah, If I still lived in Reno/Tahoe.. I would have most likely powder coated it.

Definitely. Powder coat here was going to be very similar in cost to just buying the skid plate and with the added downtime it was a no brainer for me. I got my skid plate for a hair under 200 bucks.

Frankenswat · Sep 17, 2022

thats way too much work ill just paint the shit

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 17, 2022

Frankenswat said:
thats way too much work ill just paint the shit

Once the bumper is off it's not that bad if you have it sitting somewhere comfortable. I had all the bolts out and the skid plate replaced in maybe an hour after the bumper was off the truck. Those 2 inside nuts on the frame to remove the bumper were the hardest part.

Frankenswat · Sep 17, 2022

HorsePowerObsessed said:
Once the bumper is off it's not that bad if you have it sitting somewhere comfortable. I had all the bolts out and the skid plate replaced in maybe an hour after the bumper was off the truck. Those 2 inside nuts on the frame to remove the bumper were the hardest part.

agreed. but mask and paint in 10 minutes. may have to touch up but who cares.s o fast . so quick

HorsePowerObsessed · Sep 17, 2022

Frankenswat said:
agreed. but mask and paint in 10 minutes. may have to touch up but who cares.s o fast . so quick

I care about that kind of stuff but to each their own! Mask off and paint away, my friend!

Sweatyyeddie · Sep 17, 2022

HorsePowerObsessed said:
Definitely. Powder coat here was going to be very similar in cost to just buying the skid plate and with the added downtime it was a no brainer for me. I got my skid plate for a hair under 200 bucks.

where did you order it from? Everywhere I look is about $270

4GIVEN1 · Sep 17, 2022

Informal said:
This is my painted one 1500 miles later..... $25 and less than 2 hours work

Just drove it to Phoenix and back, not one chip yet...

Been off road since I painted it, but less than 10 miles I'd guess.

What paint did you use?