Help regarding skid plates on 4Runner

[Naphtali]

I recently moved to Missoula, Montana, and I have options to buy nearly identical 4Runners. Are skid plates front and rear standard for 4wd [model year 2000] vehicles? If NOT -- one of the two has skid plate on front only, one I have no information about skid plates --

1. Would you advise having rear skid plate installed?

2. If YES to #1, have Toyota dealer install, or buy something after market? If AFTER MARKET, please identify what to buy. How many dollars am I looking at to invest?
***
3. I do not care for having the spare tire beneath the truck. Is there tire carrier that allows spare tire to ride on the back of the truck, pivoting out of the way to allow trunk door to open? If NOT, is there any carrier that gets the tire from beneath the truck while not taking storage from the interior of the truck?

 

[offroad_nomad]

I'm not sure how many 4Runner guys/gals stop by here since this board is geared for Land Cruisers. If you haven't already found it, check out:

YotaTech for a your 4Runner-related questions.

 

[bigndn]

I'll look under my 's 2000 4runner when I get home...........if I remember.

 

[bigndn]

OK, I looked. There's a skid plate under the engine and one under the fuel tank. HOWEVER.........IMO, they both look flimsy as hell (but I haven't taken them off to check). So my answers to your questions:

1) Yes
2) Depends on what you're going to do with it. For my wife's truck, I'd leave the OEM skidplates on, since we usually go wheeling in my mini or '40. As for cost, I don't know.........watch ebay?
3) How about a roofrack?

Good luck.

 

[Naphtali]

Affixing spare tire to roof rack is an obvious solution. However, doing so does two not-so-good things. Storage on roof is severely reduced. Aerodynamics are reduced all the time versus some of the time, when using roof for storage.

My Trooper and my Bronco II incorporated side-swinging tire carriers. Pathfinders and Xterras I've noticed also use this method. Defender 90s and 110s have a tire carrier mount on the hood.

I prefer to have tire available without having to maneuver beneath the truck; sometimes the final rest off truck is such that you cannot GET BENEATH the truck far enough to dismount a spare.

I also prefer to maintain existing storage. I don't know if this is possible. I've not seen a 4Runner with tire carriers such as I describe. Dunno if this is because 4Runner owners don't believe this is important, or because sheet metal cannot accept the added strain/weight.

 

[bigndn]

I also prefer to maintain existing storage. I don't know if this is possible. I've not seen a 4Runner with tire carriers such as I describe. Dunno if this is because 4Runner owners don't believe this is important, or because sheet metal cannot accept the added strain/weight.

Me neither.....