High Clearance HD Skid Plate & Radiator (96-02 4Runner, 95-04 Tacoma)

Introducing the first and only High Clearance skid plate option for 3G4Rs & 1G Tacomas. With more ground clearance, approach angle, and gusseting than anything else on the market, we are raising the bar on under armor for our community. 100% bolt-on, with optional High Clearance Radiator Upgrade included. Welded and DIY options available. Please read fitment requirements carefully.

Lead Time: 2-3 weeks.

Engineered for Hardcore Off-Roaders, Built with Style in Mind. Function & Form.

Opt Skids are designed, tested, and manufactured here in the High Desert of CA using laser cut, CNC bent American steel. This is purpose-built armor for those who demand the most out of their rig. Whether you’re navigating the rocks, mud and sand, or simply want to upgrade your cooling system and keep it safe from damage on the trail and highway, Opt Skids provide the ultimate combination of protection and performance.

Why Choose Opt Skids Over the Rest?

• STRONGER: More gusseting than any other production skid plate
• HIGHER: 2" more ground clearance. That's like going from 33s to 37s
• FLATTER: No step-downs / high spots to get hung up on. Flat bellies only!
• PLUS a radically improved approach angle & increased cooling performance

KEY FEATURES:

• Crafted with American steel - 3/16” plates & 1/4" gusseting front to back
• 100% bolt-on design, with Grade 8 hardware included for installation
• Integrates into diff mounts for stronger contact points (vs steering)
• Available as Fully Welded or DIY (weld gussets in place, that's it)
• Convenient CV axle changes, with access to CV joint pry points
• Convenient oil changes, with a reinforced oil drain access hole
• Includes stainless steel logo plate for front skid (leave it raw!)
• Ships bare, ready to paint the coating / color of your choice
• NOT diff drop compatible, requires high clearance radiator

PACKAGE OPTIONS: 

1. Vehicle / Drivetrain:

• 96-02 4Runner or 95-04 Tacoma
• 4WD or 2WD (2WD kit includes additional hardware)

2. Skid Plate Options:

• Standard (protects radiator, front differential, and engine oil pan) or Fully Belly (all that plus steering, transmission, catalytic converter and transfer case. Goes all the way to the front edge of your gas tank. Not compatible with Tacomas or 2WD 4Runners.)
• Fully Welded (ready to bolt on) or DIY (weld on the gussets, that's it)

3. Radiator Upgrade Options:

• None: If your existing radiator hangs ABOVE your frame, and you're happy with its performance
• High Clearance Upgrade Pkg: (adds Champion 1778 aluminum radiator & custom lower hose) If your existing radiator hangs BELOW your frame rails, or if you simply want more cooling performance, this is for you!

FITMENT REQUIREMENTS: (all those gains in your approach angle & ground clearance come with a *little* extra work initially. It is WELL worth it though!)

1. High Clearance Radiator Swap: [TLDR: it's required in order to install Opt Skids on most vehicles, but it's a really easy swap and will have you wondering why you didn't do it sooner. It was just plain dumb for Toyota to use a radiator that hangs past the frame in the first place. We're simply fixing that mistake.] To unlock the full potential of your front end ground clearance, Opt Skids have been designed around a radiator that sits above the frame rails (this is how it should have come from the factory). YES that means installing a shorter radiator if your existing one hangs below the frame. NO that does not mean less cooling capacity, in fact the opposite! The aluminum radiator in our kit actually INCREASES fluid capacity and cooling performance over the factory radiator, by a lot. It is a very high quality unit sourced from Champion Cooling here in Southern CA, rated for up to 550HP, and provides a lot of bang for the buck as the lowest priced full-aluminum option out there (excluding the no-name brands).

Haven't done the high clearance radiator swap yet? It's easy! Simply add the High Clearance Radiator option to your skid plate package, and you will get the correct radiator and lower hose for the swap. It all bolts in place with nothing else needed, aside from some minor trimming to the shroud and fresh coolant (Ethylene-based "Asian Red" & distilled water only). For more info, check out our Radiator Swap Menu / How-To Page (under construction, coming soon!)

2. No Differential Drop: [TLDR: the juice isn't worth the squeeze, and we aren't interested in sacrificing ground clearance for something so ineffective and potentially harmful.] Diff drops are a popular but misunderstood mod. Let me start by saying that they are perfectly acceptable (even recommended) on some applications. The goal of this kit is to prevent premature wear on the CV joints and boots after a lift, by lowering the differential down (usually an inch) thereby decreasing the CV angles at ride height. The problem: on the front end of our 3G4Rs and 1GTacos, the front diff mounts are very far forward compared to where the CV axles are. So when you install a diff drop, you are sacrificing an inch of ground clearance add the diff mounts, for only ~1/3 inch of drop at the CVs. Additionally, you are potentially fluid-starving the driveshaft pinion at the rear of the diff (since it's now tilted forward) while also negatively affecting the driveshaft pinion angle as a result. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze.

Alignment Cam Notes: [TLDR: believe me we tried, it just wasn't worth the trade-off in ground clearance. Buy KD Plates and problem solved!] Yes, we are well aware that Opt Skids leave the front alignment hardware open and visible. We deliberated on this for weeks! The only way to protect them with the use of a skid plate is to either lower the entire belly of the skid down 2in (NOPE), or complicate the skid design a ton (not cost effective). The good news is that we have a solution: KD Crossmember Reinforcement kit from Freel Good Performance is the answer to this problem, and it provides all the skid surface and added strength needed, without any of the sacrifices!

Front Crossmember Notes: We recommend checking your factory front skid plate crossmember (located right below your radiator, where the front skid bolts up) for damage, as it is very lightweight and prone to bending/cracking. Consider upgrading to our HD Skid Plate Crossmember for a much stronger point of contact for your skids!

Got questions / feedback? Use the Q&A feature below or send us an email / phone call!