Cali Raised LED Complete Skid Plate Collection
Cali Raised LED Complete Skid Plate Collection
If you have been buying your Tacoma skid plate armour one piece at a time, this is the kit that ends that. The Cali Raised LED complete skid plate collection covers the whole vulnerable run of your undercarriage in a single order: front, transmission, transfer case, lower control arms and fuel tank. Five plates, one checkout, and no gaps left between them where a rock can find something expensive.
We sell plenty of individual Toyota Tacoma skid plates, and there is nothing wrong with building up slowly. But most people who start with a front skid come back inside a year for the rest, usually after a trail finds the one bit they left bare. A full Tacoma skid plate kit bought together also means one material decision, one finish, and one install day instead of five.
Read This Before You Order
4WD only. This kit does not fit a 2WD Tacoma. The transfer case and front crossmember geometry are different, and there is no workaround.
Tell us if you have a manual transmission. There is a selection for this at checkout. The transmission skid differs between manual and automatic trucks, so getting this wrong means a plate that will not line up.
The rear shock skid is not in this kit. It is sold separately. If you want the rear shock mounts covered too, add that plate to your order.
What the Five Plates Actually Cover
These Toyota Tacoma skid plates are not five copies of the same part. Each one protects a specific failure point. Here is what sits behind each plate and why it is worth armour.
| Plate | What It Protects | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Front Skid | Radiator support, steering rack, front crossmember | The first thing to touch down on an approach. Also the plate that takes the most repeated abuse. |
| Transmission Skid | Transmission pan and bellhousing | A cracked pan on a trail means a tow and a rebuild. Differs between manual and automatic trucks. |
| Transfer Case Skid | Transfer case housing and output seals | Sits at the lowest point of the driveline on a 4WD Tacoma. Easy to hit on a rut crossing. |
| Lower Control Arm Skids | Lower control arm and front suspension pivots | Protects the arms from side strikes on rock shelves and ruts. Supplied as a pair. |
| Fuel Tank Skid | Fuel tank and tank straps | The one with the worst consequence if it goes. Hangs low and wide behind the cab. |
Steel or Aluminum? Here Are the Real Numbers
You choose the material at checkout, and this is the decision that matters most on a kit this size. 3/16" steel takes a harder hit and shrugs off scraping. 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum saves a serious amount of weight at the nose of the truck, where it affects ride and front suspension sag more than anywhere else.
Cali Raised chose 5052 aluminum specifically because it is stronger than the aluminum alloys usually used for skid plates, so the weight saving does not cost you as much protection as you might expect. Here is how the published weights compare, plate by plate.
| Plate | 3/16" Steel | 1/4" 5052 Aluminum | Weight Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Skid | 49.2 lb | 20.5 lb | 28.7 lb |
| Fuel Tank Skid | 37.9 lb | 16 lb | 21.9 lb |
| Transmission Skid | 31 lb | 14.6 lb | 16.4 lb |
| Transfer Case Skid | 35 lb | Not published | Not published |
| Lower Control Arm (each) | 7 lb | Steel only | n/a |
| Full kit, all steel | 167.1 lb |
On the three plates where both weights are published, aluminum saves 67 lb. That is a real difference you will feel in how the truck sits and rides, particularly at the front axle. A full steel kit comes in at roughly 167 lb across all five plates, counting both lower control arm skids.
Which One Should You Pick?
- Go steel if you run rocky technical trails, slide the truck over ledges, or care more about never thinking about the plates again than about weight.
- Go aluminum if you are building an overland rig that already carries a rooftop tent, a bed rack and water, and every pound at the nose is working against your suspension.
Two parts are always steel, whichever material you pick. The lower control arm skids are only made in powder-coated 3/16" steel. The transfer case skid's supporting crossbar is also always 3/16" steel, even when you order the main transfer case plate in aluminum. So an "aluminum" kit is never entirely aluminum, and you should budget for that in your weight planning.
Why This Kit Rather Than Five Separate Orders
Zero Modification
Every plate is 100% bolt-on. No drilling, no cutting, no trimming. The plates use a mix of factory mounting points and Grade 8 hardware supplied with the kit.
One Install Day
Doing all five at once means the truck goes up on stands once. You are not repeating the same jack-and-crawl routine five weekends in a row.
Matched Finish
All plates ship in the same durable semi-gloss black powder coat, so the underside looks like it was designed as a set rather than assembled from whatever was in stock.
Fits Both the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen Tacoma
This is unusual and worth understanding. Cali Raised builds these plates as a universal fit across the 2nd gen and 3rd gen Tacoma, which is why one kit covers 2005 right through 2023. You are not ordering a generation-specific part number.
That matters in two practical ways. If you run a 2nd gen Tacoma skid plate setup now and upgrade the truck later, the armour carries over. And if you buy a used set, it is far more likely to fit your truck than most bolt-on parts would be. A 3rd gen Tacoma skid plate from this range is the same part as the 2nd gen one.
The transfer case plate is the one exception to be aware of: Cali Raised lists separate transfer case skids for 2005-2015 and 2016-2023 trucks. The kit supplies the right one for your year, but if you are ordering replacement parts later, check which generation you need.
How They Are Built
These are fabricated in-house at Cali Raised LED's shop in Fort Worth, Texas, not sourced from an overseas catalogue and rebranded. The plates are cut, formed and powder coated there.
- Material: 3/16" steel or 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum, chosen at checkout
- Finish: Durable semi-gloss black powder coat for long-term corrosion resistance
- Hardware: Grade 8 fasteners combined with factory mounting hardware for a tight, rattle-free fit
- Fabrication: In-house in Fort Worth, Texas
- Fitment: 2005-2023 Toyota Tacoma, 4WD only
Powder coat on a skid plate is a wear item, and we would rather say that plainly. The underside of a working truck scrapes things. The coating protects against corrosion over the years it stays intact, but a steel plate that gets dragged across granite will eventually show bare metal on the high spots. That is normal, it is not a defect, and a rattle can of chassis paint once a season keeps rust off it.
Installation
Each plate has its own set of instructions, and Cali Raised publishes a video walkthrough as well. None of them need drilling, but there are a few things worth knowing before you start.
- Get the truck properly supported. You are working under it with heavy plates overhead. Stands, not just a jack.
- A second pair of hands helps a lot on steel. The steel front skid is nearly 50 lb and awkward to hold while you start bolts.
- Do the plates in order, front to back. Some mounting points are shared, and working rearwards keeps you from fighting for access.
- Loosely fit everything first, then torque. Starting every bolt before tightening anything lets the plates find their alignment.
- Allow a full afternoon for all five. Any single plate is an hour or two, but doing the set is a proper half-day job.
Here are the instruction sheets for every plate, including the rear shock skid for anyone adding that one separately.
Front Skid Instructions Transmission Skid Instructions Transfer Skid Instructions Lower Control Arm Instructions Fuel Tank Skid Instructions Rear Shock Skid Instructions
Specifications
| Fitment | 2005-2023 Toyota Tacoma, 4WD only |
| Generations covered | 2nd gen and 3rd gen, universal fit |
| Plates included | Front, transmission, transfer case, lower control arm (pair), fuel tank |
| Material options | 3/16" steel or 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Always steel | Lower control arm skids, transfer case supporting crossbar |
| Finish | Semi-gloss black powder coat |
| Hardware | Grade 8 plus factory hardware |
| Installation | 100% bolt-on, no drilling or modification |
| Full kit weight (steel) | Approximately 167 lb across all five plates |
| Transmission variant | Select manual or automatic at checkout |
| Not included | Rear shock skid, sold separately |
| Fabricated in | Fort Worth, Texas |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Full underbody coverage in one order, no gaps between plates
- Steel or 5052 aluminum choice lets you pick strength or weight
- Genuinely bolt-on with zero drilling or cutting
- One universal fit across 2005-2023, so the armour follows you to your next Tacoma
Cons
- 4WD only, and the rear shock skid is a separate purchase
- A full steel kit adds roughly 167 lb, which is enough to want a look at your front springs
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this complete Tacoma skid plate kit fit my 2WD Tacoma?
No. Cali Raised lists this kit as 4WD only. A 2WD Tacoma has different driveline and crossmember geometry, and the transfer case plate has nothing to mount to. If you run a 2WD truck, give us a call and we will point you at what does fit.
Should I choose steel or aluminum?
Steel if the truck sees rocks and ledges regularly, aluminum if you are weight-conscious on an overland build. On the three plates where Cali Raised publishes both figures, 1/4" 5052 aluminum saves 67 lb against 3/16" steel. The 5052 alloy is stronger than typical skid plate aluminum, so you are not giving up as much protection as the weight drop suggests.
Does the kit include the rear shock skid?
No. The rear shock skid is sold separately and is not part of this five-plate collection. We have included its instruction sheet above so you can see what the install involves if you decide to add it.
Is the same kit used on a 2nd gen and a 3rd gen Tacoma?
Mostly, yes. Cali Raised builds these as a universal fit between 2nd gen and 3rd gen trucks, so a 2nd gen Tacoma skid plate from this range is the same part as the 3rd gen one. The transfer case skid is the exception, with separate versions for 2005-2015 and 2016-2023. The kit ships the correct one for your year.
Why do I need to say whether I have a manual transmission?
Because the transmission skid is shaped around the transmission, and manual and automatic Tacomas are not the same underneath. There is a selection for this at checkout. Pick the wrong one and the plate will not bolt up, so it is worth double-checking before you order.
Finish the Build
- All Skid Plates if you want individual plates rather than the full set
- Rock Sliders to protect the rockers once the underside is covered
- Everything for the Toyota Tacoma including racks, lighting and recovery gear
Steel or Aluminum? Manual or Auto?
Tell us your year, cab and transmission, and how hard the truck works. We will get the right kit on the right truck the first time.
844-200-3979
