OEM skidplate is junk
I agree that the factory skid-plate is a piece of junk. I got one with my 07 FJ because the guy I bought the truck from was a "Toyota truck champion"(whatever that means) and he was able to get the skidplate and rockrails for no charge. I figured...its free, what the hell. When my truck arrived, I checked out the plate and immediatly noticed that it was strictly cosmetic. Sure enough the first time out on the trail (in deep sand in northern Michigan, the skidplate jammed into the sand (it hangs down very low) and got bent up into the front bumper. Luckily it didn't damage the bumper(now a moot point since ordering the fab fours front and warn rear bumpers...cant wait till they get here!). If you are serious about wanting a functional skidplate or if you want to protect the entire underside of your FJ, Full skidplates are available from Man-A-Fre and from BUDBUILT. The budbuilt are a little more (about 800 for full skid plates) but I've been told they are easier to install and tougher...not to mention you can get them powdercoated in ANY color! (red or yellow look sweet on Voodoo Blue.
Bottom line is that if you are not using your FJ on the trail, then the factory plate is a fine cosmetic upgrade. If you plan to actually use this truck for its intendid purpose, the Factory plate is a piece of junk which might more cause MORE damage to your vehicle if it takes a hit. And like I said, mine folded from hitting sand! I don't want to think about what a rock or hard packed dirt would do to it.
I agree that the factory skid-plate is a piece of junk. I got one with my 07 FJ because the guy I bought the truck from was a "Toyota truck champion"(whatever that means) and he was able to get the skidplate and rockrails for no charge. I figured...its free, what the hell. When my truck arrived, I checked out the plate and immediatly noticed that it was strictly cosmetic. Sure enough the first time out on the trail (in deep sand in northern Michigan, the skidplate jammed into the sand (it hangs down very low) and got bent up into the front bumper. Luckily it didn't damage the bumper(now a moot point since ordering the fab fours front and warn rear bumpers...cant wait till they get here!). If you are serious about wanting a functional skidplate or if you want to protect the entire underside of your FJ, Full skidplates are available from Man-A-Fre and from BUDBUILT. The budbuilt are a little more (about 800 for full skid plates) but I've been told they are easier to install and tougher...not to mention you can get them powdercoated in ANY color! (red or yellow look sweet on Voodoo Blue.
Bottom line is that if you are not using your FJ on the trail, then the factory plate is a fine cosmetic upgrade. If you plan to actually use this truck for its intendid purpose, the Factory plate is a piece of junk which might more cause MORE damage to your vehicle if it takes a hit. And like I said, mine folded from hitting sand! I don't want to think about what a rock or hard packed dirt would do to it.
It would save the effort of modifying and original fj and probably some $$$!