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Baltimore

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Titled as such, and opted to put this here and not in "body armor" because I believe these are not in any fashion meant to be considered equal to aluminum or steel sliders, but instead just robust underbody deflection for gravel, road debris, and grime.

If you go this route, and you have the felt-like cover, you only need 4 additional bolts for the secondary cover if you opt to do both.

Note that the front attachment points are different and you need to confirm you have the stabilizer bar as it'll be needed for the new position of the front two mounting screws. If you don't have it, you'll need to purchase that from RCI or similar.

If you only want to do a like-for-like swap, then you need engine cover #1 and no additional bolts.


Parts needed:
[x4] 12mm bolts, part # 90119-A0549
[x1] Engine Shield #1 (front), part # 51410-AK020
[x1] Engine Shield #2 (mid), part # 51420-AK021
Note: you will reuse 4 12mm bolts from your existing splash shield - you need 8 in total

Tools needed:
12mm socket (deep socket or small extension need for front two if air dam is in place)
Ramps or lift highly recommended

Time needed:
About 15 minutes if ramped/lifted


You do not need to remove the air dam, everything is behind it.

The engineering of everything on this truck is something to marvel at before it takes on grime, dirt, chips, and rust spots. Highly encourage you to just take a moment and let your eyes wander while you're under there looking up.

I opted to install the 8 plugs for anti-whistling should I ever remove the air dam (that's a 2 min job) while I had the truck ramped up. For those doing the same, they go in the four largest holes only - three in a row on the inside most edges, plus one of equal size set back in the middle. All the other holes are smaller and you leave those as they are.

It is THICK composite plastic.

I did not do before/after recordings, but my initial impression is that the change from one felt to two composite also deepened the engine idling sound slightly, as there is significantly more resonance reflection on the bottom of the engine bay after the change.

I'm toying with whether to drill two holes through the felt liner and "double stack" the front cover for a combo of road protection on the bottom and sound deadening on the top... Haven't decided.


Original felt shield
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_170554789


Front shields: felt vs composite
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_171250863


Front and mid covers
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_170939867


Thick
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_170948010


Cross member required
The felt bolts to the two positions immediately behind the air dam. The composite bolts to the threaded holes at the same spacing, but back on the cross member.
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_171408790


Installed
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_171956123
2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) PXL_20241020_172008268
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trailhunger

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Awesome thanks for this

Sounds counterintuitive doing this on a Trailhunter but I'm going the other direction in the winter 8 mo out of the year. Running 3 peak ~37lb tires, making my kit really lean / removing rock sliders, steel engine skid plate, adding Nokian Outposts on TRD Pro wheels. Sold the sport bar week one / added a Go Fast camper last week. 1/2" sag. Will probably get away with running the stock springs. Returning the Timbrens.

These hybrids can haul ass & sip gas if you don't weigh them down. Fall/Spring I'm not getting on trail either, mostly mtn biking and long haul surf trips so a simple deflection plate suite makes the most sense initially
 
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Baltimore

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Awesome thanks for this

Sounds counterintuitive doing this on a Trailhunter but I'm going the other direction in the winter 8 mo out of the year. Running 3 peak ~37lb tires, making my kit really lean / removing rock sliders, steel engine skid plate, adding Nokian Outposts on TRD Pro wheels. Sold the sport bar week one / added a Go Fast camper last week. 1/2" sag. Will probably get away with running the stock springs. Returning the Timbrens.

These hybrids can haul ass & sip gas if you don't weigh them down. Fall/Spring I'm not getting on trail either, mostly mtn biking and long haul surf trips so a simple deflection plate suite makes the most sense initially
Makes complete sense to me. If you have the rhythm of the parts add/remove down, the space to store them, and know it's finite windows of time you use it, why are you going to lug 100-150lbs of extra metal everywhere? I completely agree with your approach - clad up for the season you use it, and shed it when you don't ((unless you're one of those that need to broadcast their hobbies 24/7/365+)). I mean, how many of us haul around an empty trailer just because we use a trailer sometimes?


I will be curious if you hear or report an acoustic change when you swap from metal to plastic and let it idle.
 
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SonoranSurvivalist

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If anyone is interested in these composite skids, I still have mine I pulled off and replaced with aluminum.
 

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I ordered the OEM aluminum Trailhunter skid plate for my TRD Off-Road. I found it on sale but I have not received it yet.
 

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Did you have to order the RCI crossmember?
 

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I took off the felt plate on my Sport and put on an Off Road composite ( part # 51410-AK020 ) along with the RCI crossmember. Had it on for about two weeks. Without going back under the truck to investigate, I wonder if the felt plate could be incorporated into a mid, second, shield, with the little scoops facing rearward.
 

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trailhunger

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Parts needed:
[x4] 12mm bolts, part # 90119-A0549
[x1] Engine Shield #1 (front), part # 51410-AK020
[x1] Engine Shield #2 (mid), part # 51420-AK021
Note: you will reuse 4 12mm bolts from your existing splash shield - you need 8 in total
hit a snag trying to order based on the part sequence: there's 3 variants of these covers, I believe that I need the third kit for my Trailhunter but they're all the same part numbers. When I enter in my VIN it just shows up as "2024 Tacoma", and I know for a fact my VIN doesn't play well (yet) within Toyota's part system. Should I just label my truck as "Tacoma hybrid" and fire off the order? Are the first 2 kits pictured to the left for the non-hybrids? My TH uses that bigger embossed style of stamping...

They got a sale going, can get both plates for $160 shipped.


2024 Tacoma DIY: 2024 Tacoma Composite Plastic Splash Shields (Plastic Skid Plates) Screenshot 2024-10-23 at 8.15.21 PM


https://autoparts.lagrangetoyota.com/products/product/cover-assy-engine-under-no-1-51410ak020
 
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Baltimore

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hit a snag trying to order based on the part sequence: there's 3 variants of these covers, I believe that I need the third kit for my Trailhunter but they're all the same part numbers. When I enter in my VIN it just shows up as "2024 Tacoma", and I know for a fact my VIN doesn't play well (yet) within Toyota's part system. Should I just label my truck as "Tacoma hybrid" and fire off the order? Are the first 2 kits pictured to the left for the non-hybrids? My TH uses that bigger embossed style of stamping...

They got a sale going, can get both plates for $160 shipped.


Screenshot 2024-10-23 at 8.15.21 PM.jpg


https://autoparts.lagrangetoyota.com/products/product/cover-assy-engine-under-no-1-51410ak020
I'd did not try to reexamine, but I believe the three variants you're seeing are the composite set vs the steel set vs the aluminum set. If you use your VIN it's going to steer you to whatever your factory setup is, versus saying you're just a 24 Tacoma or 24 Tacoma Hybrid.

The part numbers I listed will get you the parts you see in my photos.
 
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Baltimore

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hit a snag trying to order based on the part sequence: there's 3 variants of these covers, I believe that I need the third kit for my Trailhunter but they're all the same part numbers. When I enter in my VIN it just shows up as "2024 Tacoma", and I know for a fact my VIN doesn't play well (yet) within Toyota's part system. Should I just label my truck as "Tacoma hybrid" and fire off the order? Are the first 2 kits pictured to the left for the non-hybrids? My TH uses that bigger embossed style of stamping...

They got a sale going, can get both plates for $160 shipped.


Screenshot 2024-10-23 at 8.15.21 PM.jpg


https://autoparts.lagrangetoyota.com/products/product/cover-assy-engine-under-no-1-51410ak020
This might help more:
https://parts.toyotaofnashua.com/search?search_str=51410-AK

The rear (#2) has only one version from trying a shortened part code

As to what the difference between the TRD off road package accommodation and non-TRD is.... 🤷‍♂️

Guess someone would have to order and compare.

Mine is a Ltd Hyb
 

WKTJR1

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My hybrid has the factory cross member
Good to know. It seems the hybrids come with the crossmember, yet some folks are saying they don't have it on their truck. I'm holding off since both you and another member have it.
 

trailhunger

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This might help more:
https://parts.toyotaofnashua.com/search?search_str=51410-AK

The rear (#2) has only one version from trying a shortened part code

As to what the difference between the TRD off road package accommodation and non-TRD is.... 🤷‍♂️

Guess someone would have to order and compare.

Mine is a Ltd Hyb
yea I’m going to put both ‘tacoma hybrid’ and my vin in the order. Can’t put order notes in with this shop but will definitely call them with my trim level. The deal is too good to pass up / ordering TRD pro wheels from them as well, ~$400 off
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