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If you own a Toyota Tacoma, you already know that you're part of a cult... A cult who loves to dump hundreds, even thousands of dollars into cool mods and accessories for their trucks. For many, including myself, one of the first questions we ask ourselves and probably Google is "how can I make my Tacoma better" or "how can I make my Tacoma look more bad ass", or "what are the best Toyota Tacoma mods" lucky for you, there are hundreds, if not thousands of mods out there for you to make your Tacoma unique to you.

For many, our mods have to be planned out and budgeted financially, so I polled TacomaWorld.com, TacomaForum.com, and several Facebook groups and pulled together this list of awesome Tacoma accessories for those on a budget (like me).

These mods work with all 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 models.

Pop & Lock Power Tailgate Lock ($133)

This tailgate lock led the way in regards to the best Toyota Tacoma upgrades. It not only prevents thieves from stealing your tailgate, but when coupled with a tonneau cover, will protect your valuables as well. Originally designed for the Tundra, this pop & lock will work on your Tacoma and make it easy to lock with a push of button. This is the very first accessory that I add to my trucks. You can buy it here.

TRD Pro Style Grille (Starts at $154)

I've never met a Tacoma owner who doesn't want an aftermarket grille insert for their Tacoma. This is definitely one of the most popular Tacoma mods we see amongst Tacoma owners, so rip out that old, ugly grille and mount up a TRD pro style grille and give your Tacoma the facelift it deserves. If you're feeling crazy, you can change the letter color from standard silver to another one of our four colors and add one of four different colors of raptor lights.

You can buy the traditional TRD Pro grill here.

You can buy our new custom TRD pro grille version here or you can buy the backlit LED version here.

Regardless of which way you go your Tacoma will look amazing.

Anytime Front Camera ($79.99)

When you drive a truck, it's really hard to see what's in front of you on the ground. Adding a front camera helps when pulling into parking spaces or pulling into your garage to make sure you going in straight and not running anything over. You can buy it here.

Center Console Organizer Tray ($12.99)

If you're like most Tacoma owners, you feel like your center console is a catch all for the crap you have laying around your truck. This tray allows the bottom of your console to be the catch all for your crap, while having a nice organized section for the things you use most. If you're looking for more organized storage, this is for you! You can buy it here.

Gator Tri-Fold Tonneau Bed Cover ($249)

As mentioned in the pop & lock section, if you don't have a tonneau cover, you're missing out. A tonneau will allow you to protect what's in your bed from the harshest weather conditions and when coupled with the tailgate lock, secure them as well. There are so many different kinds of covers, some cheap, some expensive, This one is a good budget option and you can buy it here.

Cali Raised LED Side Projection Ditch Lights (Starting at $170.99)

Ditch lights are something I've never really heard of or seen before, but they help off roaders get more light coverage, up to 120 degrees on each side of the vehicle. You can buy them here.

Scotchgard Fabric Protector Spray ($39)

Scotchgard is a no brainer for anyone who has a car, truck, couches, or other fabric based furniture. Spray on 2-3 coats and watch the juice and soda roll right off your seats to your rubber floor mats. You can buy it here.

Vinyl Decal Tailgate Inserts ($12.99)

One quick way to give your truck a facelift is by installing tailgate inserts into the embossed Tacoma logo on the bottom of your tailgate. There are so many different kinds, but I like the ones cut out of vinyl. They are cheap and easy to put on and can be swapped out for different colors in the blink of an eye. You can buy them here.

Redline Hood Struts/Lifts ($99.95)

Why most cars and trucks don't come with automatic, gas spring based hood lifts is beyond me. I mean, it's 2021 people! These hood struts make it easy to prop open the hood of your Tacoma when you need to clean or work on your engine. You can buy them here.

Cali Raised Replacement LED Fog Light Pods (Start at $174.99)

If you hate your round, non LED fog lights, Cali Raised has the most affordable solution for you. Their LED fog light pods make it quick and easy to install a brighter, more powerful light at half the price of their competitors. You can buy them here.

Scosche Magnetic Phone Mount ($12)

One of the best phone mounts I've come across is the Scosche mount. It's good looking and mounts just about anywhere to keep your phone front and center while you're out on a drive. I have these in all of our family cars and everyone loves them. I think you will too! You can buy it here.

Anytime Backup Camera ($69.99)

Tacoma owners who tow a lot love the anytime backup camera. With a little wiring, you can activate your backup camera at anytime to check out your trailer, boat, or whatever you might be hauling. You can buy it here.

Tint

One of the basic mods you can make to any car or truck is adding tint. Tint not only helps keep your Tacoma cool in the summer, but helps keep the inside of your truck private to outside viewers. The tint for my Tacoma cost about $250 and it has held up great for 5 years now. No bubbles, no fading, nothing.

Matt Gecko Under Bed Rail LED Lights ($85 - $90)

If you run any sort of a bed cover, you know it's very dark in the bed of your truck, day or night. These sweet bed rail lights provided by Matt Gecko give you the light you need to see anything and everything while your cover is down. You can read about it here.

AC Drain Mod (Less than $15 and ten minutes of your time)

A lot of Tacoma owners don't realize that where their AC condensation drips out under the truck, hits the frame and causes rust. This handy little mod brought to you by the folks at Tacoma World needs to done this coming spring before you start using your AC again. Better safe than sorry. You can read about it here.

Floor Mat Anti-Slip Fastener Clips ($4.98)

Who else hates that the passenger side and second cab mats slide all around? One easy fix is to superglue heavy duty velcro to them, which works some of the time. A better solution is installing these anti-slip fastener clips. They will hold your mats in place for as long as you own your truck. You can buy them here.

Meso Customs Minimalist Key Fob ($30)

A simple, but cool mod offered by Meso Customs is a replacement key fob. It's very easy to take apart your current, black fob and put the guts into one of their color-matched, more rugged fobs. You can buy it here.

Hood Bulge Glare Blocker Sticker ($29.99)

Many Tacoma owners complain that the bulge on their Sport model casts a wicked glare and makes it hard to see on a sunny day. The solution to this is the hood bulge glare blocker decal. It deadens the rays from the sun and makes it not reflective anymore. Once I added my decal, I could tell right away that it was much easier to see during hot sunny days. You can buy it here.

Cali Raised Behind Grille LED Light Bar (Starting at $346.99)

Light bars are all the rage with serious off roaders. Even a lot of mall crawlers put light bars on their rigs. The Cali Raised behind grille light bar mounts right below your Tacoma grille and with a little wizardry, can be wired right to a push button to light it up... but please do so responsibly. You don't want to be one of those douches who blinds people on city roads. You can buy it here.

Tacoma Raptor Light Kit ($42.99)

Not sure why Tacoma owners want to make their trucks look like the Ford Raptor, but they do. On the top of the grille, the Raptor has three amber lights. This mod makes any Tacoma grille look like a Raptor when the sun goes down. These raptor lights typically come in four colors, amber, smoked amber, white and smoked white. You can buy them here.

OEM Bed Mat Short Bed / Long Bed ($169 - $169)

A bed mat is pretty self explanatory, but for those who want to keep their stuff from rolling and sliding all around the bed of their truck, the OEM bed mat is the perfect solution. It's thick and kinda grippy and does the job right. You can buy the short bed here and the long bed here.

N2 Designs Remote Start ($199)

If you love your Tacoma to always be warm when you jump into it, installing a remote start kit is vital to your comfort. The N2 Designs is affordable and incredibly easy to install. You can buy it here.

Spidertrax Wheel Spacers ($135)

For those who want their Tacoma's to have a wider, more aggressive stance, but can't afford new wheels, wheel spacers are for you. They allow you to keep your stock wheels, but give you a more beefed up look. Die hards think spacers are an idiotic thing to do to your truck, but guess what, many of us have run them for years with zero problems. If you really want a wider stance with your stock wheels, you can't go wrong. You can buy them here.

LED Interior Lights ($14.99)

These days, most of the world is powered by LEDs, so why Toyota didn't equip Tacomas with LEDs all the way around is beyond me. This mod is very easy to complete and gives you more of a daylight look to your lights. You can buy them here.

Premium Audio Upgrade - Tweeters / Front Speakers / Rear Speakers (Less than $250)

Many Tacoma owners complain about their sound system and how their music just sounds awful. I don't necessarily agree, but for those who want an inexpensive way to upgrade your system, this upgrade is for you. Here's the install video. You can buy the tweeters here, the front speakers here and the rear speakers here.

So there you have it. I hope you've been inspired by many of these Toyota Tacoma accessories. Please keep in mind that prices fluctuate daily on Amazon/eBay and the prices represented above are accurate as the day of this posting.

* Please note that some of these links are Amazon affiliate links and we make a small commission if you purchase the product.

If you’re reading this, I assume that you own a 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023 Toyota Tacoma and are hoping to upgrade your stock grille either right now or in the near future. Although the stock grilles are progressively getting better looking, I think I can speak for most Tacoma owners by saying that the grille should be one of the very first things upgraded to give your Tacoma a new, fresh look!

When creating this post, I wanted to build something to help all Tacoma owners find the right grille that fits their style. Even though we sell several grilles here at Empyre Off-Road, it was important to me to provide several different options and look at the pros and cons of each grille. At the end of the day, there are certain people who will buy from me and those that will not. This is life and business... although, I really do hope you buy from me :)

To start out the post, I'm going to feature the three grilles that we sell here at Empyre Off-Road. For the grilles not sold here, I've made sure to highlight the brand and one of their grille models that I think is pretty cool. Keep in mind that most of these companies sell several different models, so don't get scared off by the high price tags just yet. So if you're looking for a Toyota Tacoma aftermarket grille, let's jump in!

TRD Pro Style Grille with Custom Cut Letters

The custom cut TRD Pro Style Grille, which we sell here at Empyre Off-Road is another great option for Tacoma enthusiasts. The manufacturer spent a ton of time perfecting this grille and is a step above any of the Chinese knock-offs you can find on eBay. This grille gives you the look of an expensive TRD Pro Tacoma without having to spend the big bucks. You can customize it with colored letters and different color raptor lights (amber, white, smoked amber, smoked white).

Price: Starting at $270 for non-backlit option (Buy here)

Price: Starting at $339 for the led backlit option (Buy it here)

Pros: Customizable! Made out of high-quality ABS plastic and works with the TSS sensor

Cons: None

Tacoma Raptor Style Grille

The Tacoma Raptor Style Grille, which we sell here at Empyre Off-Road, might be one of the coolest looking grilles on the market. This grille takes the mesh raptor grille that you can find on eBay and other websites and gives it a facelift by adding in paint matched lettering.

Price: Starting at $400

Pros: Made out of high-quality industrial injection plastic and works with the TSS sensor

Cons: It's a little on the expensive side for a plastic grille. 

Tacoma Honeycomb Grille

If you really want to spice up the front end of your third generation Tacoma, but you’re also on a budget, then you can get this honeycomb grille for just $166. Installation is as easy as it gets: take out the boring old one, and add this sleek one. These come with raptor lights ready to go. Choose between amber, smoked amber, white, or smoked white. If you find you don’t want them later, you can remove them easily from the grille.

 

Make sure you choose the correct model year during checkout as there are some differences such as the integration of the TSS sensor. This kit includes an add-a-fuse for easy installation, and the whole deal from start to finish should take you no longer than 30 minutes.

Price: Starts at $166

Pros: Plug and play, lightweight, easy to install

Cons: It didn’t come with your Tacoma stock ;)

300 Industries

300 Industries covers the gambit of selection and price range. You have forty-nine options to choose from, and prices that range from $400 to $1,050. The level of customization drops as the price goes down, but with that amount to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like, but at a price.

Make: 300 Industries

Model: X-Lite

Price: $1,050

Pros: Highly Unique, lights up

Cons: Expensive, no customization 

Custom Car Grills

The guys at Custom Car Grills also have a few options to choose from, but some of their more popular models would be their mesh grille and their mesh grill with letters. Both are pretty plain but in a stylish way. If you decide to go with the “TACOMA” or “TOYOTA” lettering, you'll get a nice subtle black finish layered on with aggressive lettering.

Make: Custom Car Grills

Model: Mesh

Price: $279

Pros: Subtle look, inexpensive

Cons: Few options

Grillcraft

Grillcraft makes one of the most minimalist grilles on the market, which isn't a bad thing at all. If you are looking for something subtle and different, the MX model could be the one. It is a simple black mesh. No Toyota or Tacoma logo of any kind.

The MX is a nice, clean way to dress up your truck.

Make: Grillcraft

Model: MX

Price: $287

Pros: Subtle look, inexpensive, lifetime warranty

Cons: No options, company branded

Bullet Proof Fabricating

BPF is one of few grille manufacturers who provide an aluminum option. This grille is a nice lightweight option, and the design is a great improvement over what comes stock on 3rd gens. I would say it's a marriage of a bezel, mesh, and logo that go well together.

The one thing that I don't love about this grille is that you have to pay extra to remove their company logo in lieu of the Toyota logo.

Make: Bullet Proof Fabricating

Model: BPF

Price: $370

Pros: Good triple look design, lightweight, free shipping

Cons: Extra cost for “TOYOTA”, brand name too prevalent

Bay Area Metal Fabrication

Last but not least is a company called Bay Area Metal Fabrication. The folks at BAMF offer two different types of grilles, the Eco Insert ($284) and the hugely popular Recessed grille ($600). 

I absolutely love the recessed grille as it gives the Tacoma an extremely aggressive look. Both options also allow you to order a color matched backplate that slides behind the “TOYOTA” or “TACOMA” logo.

 

Make: Bay Area Metal Fabrication

Model: Recessed

Price: $600

Pros: Good design, customizable

Cons: High priced

So, there you have it. I hope that this post has been helpful and has given you a few other options to consider when looking to replace your stock grille. Please let us know if you have any questions.

The Toyota Tundra is an extremely capable truck that is designed to take a beating and be very reliable. There are documented cases of these things going over 1,000,000 miles! However, if you plan on doing any serious off-roading, rock climbing, or overlanding, you better be prepared. 

Not only are there plenty of expensive components under your Tundra that can get damaged, but paint and body work is not cheap either. How do we help stop this from happening? Skid plates and body armor! Let’s get into what it takes to protect your Toyota Tundra from the great outdoors.

What is a skid plate?

Skid plates are panels made of a tough and abrasion-resistance material that are bolted (usually) onto the bottom side of a vehicle to prevent damage from occurring to the underside of a vehicle when it makes contact with the ground.

As the name suggests, the goal is to protect your truck by not only taking an impact, but allow you to “skid” off your obstacle. Ever looked under a vehicle? There are lots of nooks and crannies for something to get wedged in. That can lead to an expensive mistake. A long flat surface in the form of a skid plate is a much better solution.

Where do skid plates go?

There are a lot of places under your Tundra you will want to protect. These include the engine and front accessories, transmission, transfer case, fuel tank, and the door sills. Each section has its own skid plate that you can purchase, and some manufacturers offer skid plates that connect together to allow you to keep the whole undercarriage of your truck protected. Add sliders to the frame under the door sills, and you’ll basically have a tank.

How much do they cost?

Skid plates are not the cheapest things, especially if you start getting some for all different areas. Your average lowest price for one component will be around $350. However, depending on the quality of material, brand, and which part it covers, prices can be well over $700. Keep in mind that while this may seem like a lot, serious off-roaders will tell you that it is far less than the cost of replacement parts and labor to fix damaged parts that you didn’t protect.

Different Types of Skid Plates

Now that you’re an expert on what a skid plate is, where do they actually go? What exactly does it protect? How much of my Tundra can I protect? These are all valid questions! While these Toyotas are designed to be durable, they shouldn’t have mountains scraping against them, so let’s get into it!

FRONT SKID PLATES

These skid plates mount directly behind your front bumper and offer a front line of protection from whatever you throw your Tundra into. Generally they make use of your truck’s existing mounting points, so no extra drilling is required. There are of course expectations to that depending on manufacturer.

Even mild off-roaders can benefit from a front skid plate. These offer a level of armor to parts such as radiators, A/C condensers, oil pans, engine accessories, and more. These are one of the panels that can be easily seen from anyone outside your truck (even if your Tundra is not lifted), so it’s also a great opportunity to get something that looks good as well to show off that you mean off-roading business! TRD makes one that shows off that logo!

TRANSMISSION SKID PLATES

No one likes transmission issues. They are expensive, and any issue with them will render your Tundra undrivable. While Toyota does make a very robust transmission, you don’t want to take advantage of that and come crashing down on a bolder. Enter the transmission skid plate. 

Designed to secure the transmission from the wild trails, a transmission skid plate will generally also mount up underneath your Tundra with no extra drilling required. While great on their own, they are even better when paired with a front skid plate and transfer case skid plate. Adding all three together will effectively armor the whole front and mid section of your Tundra in one (almost continuous) go.

TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATES

Your transfer case is designed to provide power as needed to your front and rear wheels. It is an absolute must to keep this crucial part protected during your off-road adventures. Directly behind your transmission (and transmission skid plate, if you get one), this skid plate will mount to existing factory mounting points.

While best to pair with a front and transmission skid plate due to its small size, this plate will ensure a better chance of survival of your transfer case during your next rock climb.

COMPLETE FRONT/MID SKID PLATE

If you don’t want to worry about individual components, there are companies that make one long skid plate that will cover the front, transmission, and transfercase. This is great for a one stop shop solution for covering some of the more expensive parts of your Tundra.

One of the biggest downsides could actually be its intended solution: taking damage. If you have three separate skid plates, and your transfer case skid plate gets damaged, you can fix or replace that plate. If you have one long one, the whole thing needs to be replaced or fixed. Just something to think about!

FUEL TANK SKID PLATES

Obviously a hole in your fuel tank is bad. Not only do you risk spontaneous combustion, but running out of fuel and potentially being slapped with a fine from the EPA is bad too. While very durable, if you do some serious rock crawling and can afford the extra protection, you might want to look into one of these skid plates. I could go into further detail, but hey… Holes in your gas tank are not good.

SUSPENSION SKID PLATES

While not as common, your suspension could use some love too. These are definitely more specialty products and not something everyone makes or uses, but if you’re around jagged rocks frequently, you don’t want a busted shock. Let’s get into some options.

LOWER CONTROL ARM SKID PLATES

Lower control arms are basically responsible for “holding your front wheels” in place. You can imagine the bad day you could have if you get these hung up on a rock. Thankfully there is a skid plate for that! These are designed to effectively enclose the exposed bottom and sides of your lower control arms to take the brunt of any impacts.

When shopping around, you do want to take note about fitment. Many manufacturers have special notes such as not being able to fit TRD Pro models, or models with a TRD front skid plate. They may also state trimming may be required. Do your research before you buy!

REAR SHOCK SKID PLATES

While not something you would normally think about protecting, your rear shocks are actually pretty exposed to everything. Protecting them can be a bit of a challenge since they are designed to retract and expand as needed, but there are a few options on the market for the serious off-roader who wants every bit of protection. For the reason above, most opt to protect one of the most crucial impact points: the bottom.

Scrapping and impacts to this part of the shocks are common during off-road use, and not only does this degrade the life of the shock, but it could make them challenging to remove when you go to replace them in the future if they get all bent and banged up. This may not be something to overlook! You can check out our rear shock skid plates here.

ROCK SLIDERS

Everything listed previously has been designed to protect the drivetrain and suspension, but if the side of your Tundra slams down on a rock, you can get some serious damage. Not only can your rocker panels be damaged (which will be something everyone can see), if bad enough, you might have a hard time opening or closing your door.

Sliders are designed to bolt to your frame and protect your Tundra’s body. They might have steps built in to make getting in and out of your truck easier, but keep in mind that side steps or running boards are NOT rock sliders, but rock sliders CAN have steps. You can find a selection of rock sliders for your Toyota Tundra right here on Empyre Off-Road!

BRUSH GUARDS AND BULL BARS

While more common in the 80s and 90s, brush guards and bull bars are designed to protect your front end. Depending on the size, they can protect your bumper, grille, headlights, and so on. They bolt to your frame, and extend in front of your bumper. If you hit something or need to push something, they will not only take the damage before your bumper, but will transfer it evenly across the front of your truck, since it’s attached to your frame.

These are not really “in vogue” anymore these days. However, with plastic bumper covers the norm, it’s worth having them protected. The level of protection depends on what you want. These can be a simple and small bar in front, or a much larger and elaborate setup that covers the grille and lights too.

Certain brush guards and bull bars allow the ability to mount light bars as well, which increases the utilitarian nature of them. Do not attach a winch to them. They are generally not rated for that kind of stress.

BUMPERS

A very expensive option, but very durable if you’re serious about off-roading would be bumpers. Stock bumpers look great but offer no protection while rock crawling. Off-roading bumpers are heavy but designed to take a beating. Depending on the design, you can also have the ability to attach light bars and winches. A heavy-duty steel bumper with light bars and a winch will not only protect your Tundra, but will increase its off-road capability by a lot! Let’s face it… It also looks cool. Check out the selection of Toyota Tundra off-road bumpers right here on Empyre Off-Road!

Steel or Aluminum

For a lot of these, you have the option of steel or aluminum. Which is better? Which should you get? This all depends on how you are using your truck. Steel is a very strong metal. It can take a beating and keep on going. If you are doing some serious rock crawling up the side of a mountain, you will want the protection of steel. The downside is that steel is very heavy. Weight affects the performance of your Tundra: gas mileage, acceleration, braking, balance, and so on.

On the other end, aluminum is very light. The tradeoff is that it’s not as strong. If you’re a weekend warrior who goes on a couple of trails that might have a hill or two, aluminum is the way to go. Weight will still be added to your truck, but far less than steel. Don’t be shy about protection: aluminum will get most jobs done the same way steel will, but depending on the thickness and how sharp the rock is that your Tundra just crashed down on, it could be the difference between a scratch, and a full puncture.

Like I’ve said with tires and other modifications countless times before on this blog: know your end goal, and buy accordingly.

Conclusion

Skid plates and body armor for your Toyota Tundra can be rather subjective and situational. What works for you, might not work for someone else. It’s best to just figure out exactly what type of driving you will be doing and what your budget is. Buy accordingly, and have fun while protecting your ride!

 

 

Images

Front Skid Plate - Courtesy of Detroit News

Transmission Skid Plate - Courtesy of RCI Metal Works

Transfer Case Skid Plate - Courtesy of Toytech Lifts

Full Front/Mid Skid Plate - Courtesy of CBI Offroad Fab

Gas Tank Skid Plate - Courtesy of Victory 4x4

Lower Control Arm Skid Plate - Courtesy of Victory 4x4

Rear Shocks Skid Plates - Courtesy of Sheldon Chu Photography

Rock Sliders - Right here on Empyre Off-Road

Brush Guard - Courtesy of Tundra's user "Taco-Spike"

Bumper - Right here on Empyre Off-Road

Bumpers have come a long way from when they were first designed. Originally, they were metal bars designed to be utilitarian. They then evolved to be more stylish but built the same way. Eventually, they became much larger and chrome. Automotive design took a major turn and “bumpers” turned into “bumper covers.” Large molded and painted plastic covers hid the small metal plate behind that was now designed to crunch and absorb impact.

Let’s face it. Our Toyota Tacomas are trucks, and trucks need more. Thankfully there is a massive aftermarket for our Tacos. There are countless style options, but also plenty of utilitarian and offroad bumpers in mind for both the front and rear of our Tacomas.  What works best for you?

Let’s first cover the different types of bumpers you can come across on a Tacoma. Keep in mind that there are usually more front bumper options compared to rear, so unless otherwise specified, most of these examples will be of front bumpers and bumper covers.

Stock/Bumper Cover

A stock “bumper” these days is actually considered a bumper cover. These are the plastic pieces that offer no real protection. They are designed to crumple and be thrown away in the event of an accident. They are also made up of plenty of little parts: grills, accents, lights, brackets, and more. For example, a stock front bumper and bumper cover for a 2019 Tacoma has a total of 30 parts, and the rear has 17.

The rear bumpers have more metal construction to them. While plastic is lighter and cheaper to replace compared to metal, Toyota does recognize that a Tacoma is still a truck, and that rear bumpers need to be stepped on, yanked on, bumped into, and whatever else you can throw at a truck.

Cosmetic/Looks Aftermarket Bumpers (Front and Rear)

These are once again just bumper covers, and they offer no protection or utilitarian gains at all. They just look different. Some people don’t treat trucks like trucks. They may lower them, or just make them flashy.

One of the biggest reasons for these would be color matching and chrome delete on the rear bumpers. Let’s face it... Some people just don’t like chrome. Regardless if you think it’s too hard to clean, too old school looking, or just out of place, you can color match with Bumper Shellz by ecoological that we sell here at Empyre Off road. From $120 to $200, you can ditch the chrome by adding these colored covers right over the factory chrome. If you’re feeling extra, you can get them in different colors, including multiple types of black, or you can get them “paintable” so you can do it yourself.

Low Profile Bumpers (Front)

Now we start getting into what our trucks were made for. Low profile bumpers generally attach to your frame, and wrap over the front of your bumper cover, or replace the bottom half of your bumper cover (if applicable). They are usually a few steel tubes or sheet metal welded together that are generally painted black. They are designed to be light and visually subdued, but still offer extra protection and mounting options over stock bumper covers. Some models can come with or offer mounting options for light bars, winches, and tow hooks.  Typically, these are around $550 to $2000 depending on the make, model, and options.

Off Road Bumper (Front and Rear)

When you want to treat your truck like a truck, the stock bumper covers will not last. It is unfair to dedicate just a couple paragraphs to these bumpers because there are so many different types and options, but I’ll try to sum it up.. Generally, these replace the lower half of your bumper cover and can offer some type of protection to the upper half. The lower and upper protection can vary greatly.

While some just give you the addition of a metal bumper in front of the plastic cover, some offer skid plates that help protect the expensive stuff under the truck: suspension, front-engine components and accessories, and wiring. Some also offer protection above in forms of metal grills or bars around your headlights, metal grills or bars in front of the stock grill, or both.

They allow or come with plenty of desired offroad goodies such as winches, fog lights, light bars, tow hooks, and more.

Rear bumpers are a bit more simplistic, but work the same way: plastic out, metal in. Generally, these replace the whole rear bumper and bumper cover. Like the front, they bolt to the frame to offer actual protection. They are usually visually more basic compared to stock bumper covers: one color, all metal, fewer parts, and less flash/chrome. They are robust and designed to take a beating. Generally they are solid sheet metal but sometimes are made out of tube steel for lighter weight.

While they don’t typically offer taillight protection, some more expensive models can offer storage space for fuel jugs, jacks, a spare tire, and other modular storage. Since this can take up substantial room, some offer built-in gates to hold all these extra items. To not disrupt the function of your tailgate, they can swing out of the way when needed. 

There may also be optional LED lighting and tow hook attachments built into the bumpers as well.

Push/Bull Bars (Front)

While push bars (also known as “Bull Bars”) are not exactly considered “bumpers,” they mimic the same function of a lot of the other bumper types listed in this blog. These do come in all shapes and sizes depending on your needs, but they all offer more front protection over stock bumper covers. They can be for pushing (as the name suggests), or they are great to have another line of protection before something hits your plastic bumper cover.

Basic models are a simple tube that comes up to right under the grill. They wrap over the bumper cover. More protective (and more expensive models) might replace the lower half of your bumper cover and cover a bit more of the grill. There is a bit of a grey area at some point with what is just a push bar, and what becomes an offroad bumper.

Hybrids

There dozens and dozens of bumper options for Toyota Tacomas. Those are the main categories, but there are a bunch out there that blur the lines and become a bit of both. This will give you a better understanding of what to search for when you are looking for the type of bumper that you want.

POPULAR MODELS

Now that you know what type of bumpers you may encounter, let’s take a look at what some Tacoma drivers really like. This list is based off forum results, reviews, and being in the industry.

If you want a bumper that looks great, performs well, and has complete customization, then the Tacoma Stealth Front Bumper by CaliRaised is what you need. This bumper can tackle everything you need it to while still blending into the sleek lines of your Tacoma taking that “stealth” approach. You can select a light bar either in the bumper, behind it, or have both!

Each has the option of spot or combo beams and the switches you want with them. You can also choose between two winches depending on your needs, and if you want D-Rings or not. Look out BK, because with this bumper, you can have it your way. The price starts at $1000, but will of course change with the options you select.

Are moderately low priced front bumper is the Front Lo-Pro Winch Bumper by C4 Fabrications. This bumper has a base price of $670, but with options, you can get the cost up to over $1800. It does ship with no finish (bare steel), but its rugged construction and plenty of options make it a popular choice.

A popular option for full-sized off-road bumpers would be the ARB Summit Bumper. Depending on options, these are around $1500. They give the bottom of your truck full protection, and have lots of areas to attach fog lights, LED light bars, antennas, and more. Above the lower section of the bumper is a bar that surrounds both headlights and above the grill. This will help protect your ride should you slide into a tree while offroading. They do have the option to arrive powder coated.

If you need lights, winches, and good looks, all with a fully bold-on made in America flair, ADD Offroad has you covered. The ADD Offroad Stealth Fighter front bumper, which we sell here at Empyre Off-Road has everything you need, and you can leave off everything you don’t need. There are two winch options, seven center light options, and five side light options. Of course if you already have the LED lighting you want, you can put that in as well. The central universal mount is for a 30 inch light bar, or 6 cube lights. The bumper starts at $2000, but your options will change that!

After you dress up the front of your Tacoma with ADD Offroad, don’t forget about the rear. They can take care of that too with the ADD Offroad Stealth Fighter rear bumper. Starting at just over $1600, you will have your option of four different LED lights that will flank you license plate. Aside from being also begin fully bolt on and made in America like the front bumper, there are also integrated reinforced clevis mounts accept a 3/4" d-rings which will cover your extra utilitarian needs. There are cutouts for your backup sensors as well!

If you can't make up your mind about what kind of bumper you want, Southern Style Offroad can put your mind at ease with many different bumper options. From $770 to $1500, they have the spectrum covered and allow so many custom options. Just as an example, the Southern Style Offroad Slimline Tube Bumper has two different models, optional bull bar, seven different LED lighting bat cutout options, and a bare metal ot black powder coated finish. These are made to order, so you are getting something made just for you, and not something pulled off a shelf! They also offer a rear bumper option as well to be your one stop shop!

Push/bull bars are pretty inexpensive, and a good option is the Rough Country Bull Bar. At $280, they are far cheaper compared to a complete bumper, and they offer great basic protection for getting people out of your way on the highway. This brand comes painted, and with an LED light bar already installed. While more powerful light bar options are suggested for serious use, it’s hard to beat for the price.

A good, basic hybrid would be the Barricade Off Road Brush Guard. The bottom of it is all push/bull bar, but the top is all full-sized off-road. Due to the nature of the mounting, it will not offer the same serious protection as full-sized off-road bumpers, but it will get the job done if you’re driving through some overgrown paths, or if you just want something that has “the look,” but doesn’t have the high price, you can get these for about $540, powder coated, and ready to go.

A bumper, like anything on your truck, depends on the look you want, your intended use, and how much you want to spend. Our Toyota Tacomas are very popular trucks, and that leads to many options. As with your other Tacoma mods and accessories, find what works best for you, and get it on your truck! 

Image Credits

Front and Rear Bumper Diagrams: Toyota Parts Center

Low Profile Bumper - C4 Fab: C4 Fab

Offroad Front Bumper - C4 Fab: RIGd Supply

Offroad Rear Bumper - DV8 Offroad: DV8 Offroad

Push Bar - Rough Country: Rough Country

Front and Rear ADD Bumpers - Courtesy of ADD Offroad & Empyre Off Road

Front SSO Bumper - Courtesy of SSO

BumperShellz - Courtesy of ecoological & Empyre Off Road

The Toyota 4Runner is an extremely capable SUV that is designed to take a beating and be very reliable. However, if you plan on doing any serious off-roading, rock climbing, or overlanding, you better be prepared. Not only are there plenty of expensive components under your 4Runner that can get damaged, but paint and body work is not cheap either. How do we help stop this from happening? Skid plates and body armor! Let’s get into what it takes to protect your Toyota 4Runner from the great outdoors.

What is a skid plate?

Skid plates are panels made of a tough and abrasion-resistance material that are bolted (usually) onto the bottom side of a vehicle to prevent damage from occurring to the underside of a vehicle when it makes contact with the ground.

As the name suggests, the goal is to protect your SUV by not only taking an impact, but allow you to “skid” off your obstacle. Ever looked under a vehicle? There are lots of nooks and crannies for something to get wedged in. That can lead to an expensive mistake. A long flat surface in the form of a skid plate is a much better solution.

Where do skid plates go?

There are a lot of places under your 4Runner you will want to protect. These include the engine and front accessories, transmission, transfer case, fuel tank, and the door sills. Each section has its own skid plate that you can purchase, and some manufacturers offer skid plates that connect together to allow you to keep the whole undercarriage of your SUV protected. Add sliders to the frame under the door sills, and you’ll basically have a tank.

How much do they cost?

Skid plates are not the cheapest things, especially if you start getting some for all different areas. Your average lowest price for one component will be around $350. However, depending on the quality of material, brand, and which part it covers, prices can be well over $700. Keep in mind that while this may seem like a lot, serious off-roaders will tell you that it is far less than the cost of replacement parts and labor to fix damaged parts that you didn’t protect.

Different Types of Skid Plates

Now that you’re an expert on what a skid plate is, where do they actually go? What exactly does it protect? How much of my 4Runner can I protect? These are all valid questions! While these Toyotas are designed to be durable, they shouldn’t have mountains scraping against them, so let’s get into it!

FRONT SKID PLATES

These skid plates mount directly behind your front bumper and offer a front line of protection from whatever you throw your 4Runner into. Generally they make use of your SUV’s existing mounting points, so no extra drilling is required. There are of course expectations to that depending on manufacturer.

Even mild off-roaders can benefit from a front skid plate. These offer a level of armor to parts such as radiators, A/C condensers, oil pans, engine accessories, and more. These are one of the panels that can be easily seen from anyone outside your SUV (even if your 4runner is not lifted), so it’s also a great opportunity to get something that looks good as well to show off that you mean off-roading business! TRD makes one that shows off that logo!

TRANSMISSION SKID PLATES

No one likes transmission issues. They are expensive, and any issue with them will render your 4Runner undrivable. While Toyota does make a very robust transmission, you don’t want to take advantage of that and come crashing down on a bolder. Enter the transmission skid plate. 

Designed to secure the transmission from the wild trails, a transmission skid plate will generally also mount up underneath your 4runner with no extra drilling required. While great on their own, they are even better when paired with a front skid plate and transfer case skid plate. Adding all three together will effectively armor the whole front and mid section of your 4Runner in one (almost continuous) go.

TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATES

Your transfer case is designed to provide power as needed to your front and rear wheels. It is an absolute must to keep this crucial part protected during your off-road adventures. Directly behind your transmission (and transmission skid plate, if you get one), this skid plate will mount to existing factory mounting points.

While best to pair with a front and transmission skid plate due to its small size, this plate will ensure a better chance of survival of your transfer case during your next rock climb.

COMPLETE FRONT/MID SKID PLATE

If you don’t want to worry about individual components, there are companies that make one long skid plate that will cover the front, transmission, and transfercase. This is great for a one stop shop solution for covering some of the more expensive parts of your 4Runner.

One of the biggest downsides could actually be its intended solution: taking damage. If you have three separate skid plates, and your transfer case skid plate gets damaged, you can fix or replace that plate. If you have one long one, the whole thing needs to be replaced or fixed. Just something to think about!

FUEL TANK SKID PLATES

Obviously a hole in your fuel tank is bad. Not only do you risk spontaneous combustion, but running out of fuel and potentially being slapped with a fine from the EPA is bad too. While very durable, if you do some serious rock crawling and can afford the extra protection, you might want to look into one of these skid plates. I could go into further detail, but hey… Holes in your gas tank are not good.

SUSPENSION SKID PLATES

While not as common, your suspension could use some love too. These are definitely more specialty products and not something everyone makes or uses, but if you’re around jagged rocks frequently, you don’t want a busted shock. Let’s get into some options.

LOWER CONTROL ARM SKID PLATES

Lower control arms are basically responsible for “holding your front wheels” in place. You can imagine the bad day you could have if you get these hung up on a rock. Thankfully there is a skid plate for that! These are designed to effectively enclose the exposed bottom and sides of your lower control arms to take the brunt of any impacts.

When shopping around, you do want to take note about fitment. Many manufacturers have special notes such as not being able to fit TRD Pro models, or models with a TRD front skid plate. Do your research before you buy!

REAR SHOCK SKID PLATES

While not something you would normally think about protecting, your rear shocks are actually pretty exposed to everything. Protecting them can be a bit of a challenge since they are designed to retract and expand as needed, but there are a few options on the market for the serious off-roader who wants every bit of protection. For the reason above, most opt to protect one of the most crucial impact points: the bottom.

Scrapping and impacts to this part of the shocks are common during off-road use, and not only does this degrade the life of the shock, but it could make them challenging to remove when you go to replace them in the future if they get all bent and banged up. This may not be something to overlook! You can check out our rear shock skid plates here.

ROCK SLIDERS

Everything listed previously has been designed to protect the drivetrain and suspension, but if the side of your 4Runner slams down on a rock, you can get some serious damage. Not only can your rocker panels be damaged (which will be something everyone can see), if bad enough, you might have a hard time opening or closing your door.

Sliders are designed to bolt to your frame and protect your 4Runner’s body. They might have steps built in to make getting in and out of your SUV easier, but keep in mind that side steps or running boards are NOT rock sliders, but rock sliders CAN have steps. You can find a selection of rock sliders for your Toyota 4Runner right here on Empyre Off-Road!

BRUSH GUARDS AND BULL BARS

While more common in the 80s and 90s, brush guards and bull bars are designed to protect your front end. Depending on the size, they can protect your bumper, grille, headlights, and so on. They bolt to your frame, and extend in front of your bumper. If you hit something or need to push something, they will not only take the damage before your bumper, but will transfer it evenly across the front of your SUV, since it’s attached to your frame.

These are not really “in vogue” anymore these days. However, with plastic bumper covers the norm, it’s worth having them protected. The level of protection depends on what you want. These can be a simple and small bar in front, or a much larger and elaborate setup that covers the grilel and lights too.

Certain brush guards and bull bars allow the ability to mount light bars as well, which increases the utilitarian nature of them. Do not attach a winch to them. They are generally not rated for that kind of stress.

BUMPERS

A very expensive option, but very durable if you’re serious about off-roading would be bumpers. Stock bumpers look great but offer no protection while rock crawling. Off-roading bumpers are heavy but designed to take a beating. Depending on the design, you can also have the ability to attach light bars and winches. A heavy-duty steel bumper with light bars and a winch will not only protect your 4Runner, but will increase its off-road capability by a lot! Let’s face it… It also looks cool. Check out the Stealth bumper that we offer on Empyre Off-Road!

Steel or Aluminum

For a lot of these, you have the option of steel or aluminum. Which is better? Which should you get? This all depends on how you are using your SUV. Steel is a very strong metal. It can take a beating and keep on going. If you are doing some serious rock crawling up the side of a mountain, you will want the protection of steel. The downside is that steel is very heavy. Weight affects the performance of your 4Runner: gas mileage, acceleration, braking, balance, and so on.

On the other end, aluminum is very light. The tradeoff is that it’s not as strong. If you’re a weekend warrior who goes on a couple of trails that might have a hill or two, aluminum is the way to go. Weight will still be added to your SUV, but far less than steel. Don’t be shy about protection: aluminum will get most jobs done the same way steel will, but depending on the thickness and how sharp the rock is that your 4Runner just crashed down on, it could be the difference between a scratch, and a full puncture.

Like I’ve said with tires and other modifications countless times before on this blog: know your end goal, and buy accordingly.

Conclusion

Skid plates and body armor for your Toyota 4Runner can be rather subjective and situational. What works for you, might not work for someone else. It’s best to just figure out exactly what type of driving you will be doing and what your budget is. Buy accordingly, and have fun while protecting your ride!

 

 

Images

Front Skid Plate - Courtesy of Trail4Runner

Transmission Skid Plate - Courtesy of Roof Top Overland

Transfer Case Skid Plate - Courtesy of Offroad Alliance

Full Front/Mid Skid Plate - Courtesy of Exit Off Road

Gas Tank Skid Plate - Courtesy of Victory 4x4

Lower Control Arm Skid Plate - Courtesy of RCI Off Road

Rear Shocks Skid Plates - Courtesy of Trail4Runner

Rock Sliders - Right here on Empyre Off-Road

Brush Guard - Courtesy of Aries Automotive

Bumper - Right here on Empyre Off-Road