I am SO glad I drive a tank!
Driving back home (to Boise, ID) from Washington following the conclusion of a nursing contract. I had to drive up through Oregon/tri cities when I started the contract due to closures on i95. So being better weather, I chose to come home via 95. It was a beautiful drive, can’t wait to explore outside the treasure valley more this summer.
So backstory out of the way, I’m about 1/2 way through my journey on 95, I’m in Idaho and chugging along at speed limits. 95 is littered with rock slide areas. I come to a bend in the road, ahead of me I see a rock. (Okay, maybe it’s a boulder, it doesn’t look that big.) it’s smack in the middle of the lane I’m driving in, 1 lane both directions. I slow down as I approach but I can’t just swerve into the other lane because a truck is coming towards me. I slow down as best I can, hit this “rock” at ~35mph.
THUD! HOLY **** I say aloud to myself. You can imagine the b***hole puckering that occurs. I SMACKED that boulder - HARD. The boulder disintegrates. I frantically look at the on screen info to see if there’s an issue. Nothing. Wow.
I stopped at the next town, got some gas, check everything out to the best of my ability. Everything is “fine.”
The factory skid plate took everything. And man did it it take it. After a long day and night of driving I make it home, zero issues (thankful as all heck). Next morning I come out to check the damage. I can’t help but laugh. Dang that skid plate did it’s job. Saved my night, saved my GX, saved me.
I’ve posted some photos of the skid plate as it hung on the vehicle. Took the skid off the next day, and again couldn’t help but laugh the whole time. This steel plate is TACOED.
There was a very slight concave on one frame member which I’ve posted as well, and a tiny amount of damage to whatever the circle thing is. But everything is fine.
By happenstance I was able to find a local deal for $100(!!!!) that includes all 3 of the OEM skid plates, even though I only damaged the engine plate. Off a ‘21 and practically brand new it was a heck of a deal.
Anyways. Long story. Sorry about that. But I can’t help but wonder how my ‘21 taco would have failed, since it didn’t even have a skid plate from the factory.
So glad our vehicles are tanks. No I shouldn’t have hit it at the speed I did. But hindsight is always 20/20..
Driving back home (to Boise, ID) from Washington following the conclusion of a nursing contract. I had to drive up through Oregon/tri cities when I started the contract due to closures on i95. So being better weather, I chose to come home via 95. It was a beautiful drive, can’t wait to explore outside the treasure valley more this summer.
So backstory out of the way, I’m about 1/2 way through my journey on 95, I’m in Idaho and chugging along at speed limits. 95 is littered with rock slide areas. I come to a bend in the road, ahead of me I see a rock. (Okay, maybe it’s a boulder, it doesn’t look that big.) it’s smack in the middle of the lane I’m driving in, 1 lane both directions. I slow down as I approach but I can’t just swerve into the other lane because a truck is coming towards me. I slow down as best I can, hit this “rock” at ~35mph.
THUD! HOLY **** I say aloud to myself. You can imagine the b***hole puckering that occurs. I SMACKED that boulder - HARD. The boulder disintegrates. I frantically look at the on screen info to see if there’s an issue. Nothing. Wow.
I stopped at the next town, got some gas, check everything out to the best of my ability. Everything is “fine.”
The factory skid plate took everything. And man did it it take it. After a long day and night of driving I make it home, zero issues (thankful as all heck). Next morning I come out to check the damage. I can’t help but laugh. Dang that skid plate did it’s job. Saved my night, saved my GX, saved me.
I’ve posted some photos of the skid plate as it hung on the vehicle. Took the skid off the next day, and again couldn’t help but laugh the whole time. This steel plate is TACOED.
There was a very slight concave on one frame member which I’ve posted as well, and a tiny amount of damage to whatever the circle thing is. But everything is fine.
By happenstance I was able to find a local deal for $100(!!!!) that includes all 3 of the OEM skid plates, even though I only damaged the engine plate. Off a ‘21 and practically brand new it was a heck of a deal.
Anyways. Long story. Sorry about that. But I can’t help but wonder how my ‘21 taco would have failed, since it didn’t even have a skid plate from the factory.
So glad our vehicles are tanks. No I shouldn’t have hit it at the speed I did. But hindsight is always 20/20..
