Cali Raised LED Transmission Skid Plate for 2010-2024 Toyota 4Runner
Cali Raised LED Transmission Skid Plate for 2010-2024 Toyota 4Runner
Three Things to Check Before You Order
Not compatible with KDSS. If your 4Runner has KDSS, these skid plates will not work. Check before you buy.
The Cali Raised 4Runner front skid plate is required. This transmission skid is designed to install with it, so if you do not already run it, you need both.
Not for use with the factory TRD Pro skid. Cali Raised confirm their front and transmission skids do not work with the TRD Pro skid.
Not sure whether your truck has KDSS? Send us your VIN or call 844-200-3979 and we will check before anything ships.
The transmission sits right in the middle of a 5th gen 4Runner, and the middle of the truck is what goes over the top of every rock you straddle. A cracked pan or a damaged housing leaks fluid, and a transmission running low on fluid is a recovery job, not something you limp home on.
This 4Runner transmission skid plate is Cali Raised LED's armour for that section. Choose 3/16" steel at 31.1 lbs or 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum at 14.6 lbs. It bolts up using existing holes with factory and Grade 8 hardware, needs no drilling or modification, and ships in a semi-gloss black powder coat that matches the rest of Cali Raised's 5th gen 4Runner skid plates.
Got KDSS? Read This First
KDSS, Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, is fitted to some 5th gen 4Runners, and which trucks have it depends on trim and options. Its hydraulic components run along the underside, and Cali Raised state plainly that these skid plates will not work with KDSS.
If you are searching for a 4Runner KDSS skid plate, this is not the one, and we would rather tell you now than have you find out with the truck on stands. If you are unsure whether your truck has KDSS, the quickest way to check is your VIN, so send it to us and we will confirm.
Worth knowing: Cali Raised's Trail Edition and Step Edition rock sliders do fit KDSS trucks, so KDSS owners can still armour the rockers.
Why the Transmission Gets Hit
Straddling Rocks
Keep the tyres off a rock and it passes under the centre of the truck, right where the transmission sits.
High-Centring
Crest a ridge or come off a ledge and the 4Runner can settle onto its belly. The plate takes the weight.
Rut Crowns
Rutted two-tracks leave a raised centre. Enough miles on them wear away at anything hanging low.
Steel or Aluminum?
You choose the material for your 5th gen 4Runner skid plate at checkout. Here is how the two compare on this plate, using Cali Raised's published weights.
| 3/16" Steel | 1/4" 5052 Aluminum | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 31.1 lbs | 14.6 lbs |
| Impact | Takes a harder hit and resists denting | Thicker plate in an alloy chosen for strength |
| Sliding on rock | Slides well and shrugs off scraping | Softer surface, more prone to grabbing on sharp rock |
| Best for | Rocky trails and regular hard use | Weight-conscious overland builds |
Aluminum saves 16.5 lbs on this plate alone. Cali Raised chose 5052 because it is stronger than the alloys most skid plates use, so a 4Runner aluminum skid plate here does not give up as much protection as the weight drop suggests. If you regularly slide the truck over rock, steel is the material that does not mind.
A Side Benefit for Catalytic Converter Theft
Cali Raised say this transmission skid covers about half of the catalytic converter, and the plates in that area make it harder for thieves to get cutting tools in. They are also clear that these plates were not designed for theft prevention and are not a guarantee. We would treat it as a bonus on top of the trail protection, not the reason to buy.
Building Out 5th Gen 4Runner Skid Plates
Most people add 4Runner skid plates one at a time. Here is how this plate fits with the rest of Cali Raised's 5th gen 4Runner skid plates, including whether each one works alongside the factory TRD Pro skid.
| Cali Raised 4Runner Plate | Works With TRD Pro Skid? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front skid | No | Required to install this transmission skid |
| Transmission skid (this plate) | No | Covers about half the catalytic converter |
| Transfer case skid | Yes | |
| Lower control arm skids | Yes | |
| Shock skid | Yes | |
| Fuel tank skid | Yes | Needs TRD Off-Road fuel tank straps |
✓ Order the Front Skid at the Same Time
Because the 4Runner front skid plate is required, the simplest route is to order both together and fit them in one session under the truck. Tell us your material choice and we will put the pair together.
Installation
This 4Runner transmission skid plate is 100% bolt-on using all existing bolt holes, with a combination of factory hardware and Grade 8 hardware. You will remove some factory items to fit it, and you can return to stock at any time. Questions about the install? Call us before you order and we will talk you through it.
- Confirm no KDSS first. It is the one thing that rules this plate out entirely.
- Fitting the front skid at the same time? The two are designed to go on together, so plan to do both in one session.
- Support the truck properly. Stands or ramps, not just a jack, with a 31 lb steel plate overhead.
- Start every bolt before tightening any. Let the plate find its alignment on every mounting point.
- Keep the factory parts you remove. You will need them if you ever go back to stock.
How It Is Built
- Material: 3/16" steel or 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum
- Finish: Durable semi-gloss black powder coat for long-term corrosion resistance
- Hardware: Factory hardware plus Grade 8
- Fabrication: In-house in Fort Worth, Texas
Powder coat on a skid plate is a wear item. The high spots will show bare metal eventually, because the plate is doing its job. A touch-up with black chassis paint once a season keeps rust off the steel version.
Specifications
| Fitment | 2010-2024 Toyota 4Runner, 5th generation |
| Protects | Transmission, plus about half of the catalytic converter |
| Requires | Cali Raised 4Runner front skid plate |
| KDSS | Not compatible |
| TRD Pro factory skid | Not compatible |
| Material options | 3/16" steel or 1/4" 5052 aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Weight (steel) | 31.1 lbs |
| Weight (aluminum) | 14.6 lbs |
| Finish | Semi-gloss black powder coat |
| Hardware | Factory plus Grade 8 |
| Installation | 100% bolt-on, existing holes, no drilling or modification |
| Reversible | Yes, can return to stock |
| Fabricated in | Fort Worth, Texas |
Pros
- Covers the transmission and about half of the catalytic converter
- Aluminum version is just 14.6 lbs, saving 16.5 lbs over steel
- Bolt-on with existing holes and fully reversible
- Matches the rest of the Cali Raised 5th gen 4Runner armour
Cons
- Not compatible with KDSS or the factory TRD Pro skid
- Requires the Cali Raised front skid plate
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this 4Runner transmission skid plate work with KDSS?
No. Cali Raised state that these skid plates will not work with KDSS. Send us your VIN if you are not sure whether your 4Runner has it.
Do I need the Cali Raised front skid plate?
Yes. The Cali Raised 4Runner front skid plate is required to install this transmission skid. If you do not already run it, order both together.
Will it work with my TRD Pro skid plate?
No. Cali Raised confirm their front and transmission skids do not work with the TRD Pro skid. Their transfer case, lower control arm, shock and fuel tank skids do.
How much does it weigh?
The 3/16" steel version weighs 31.1 lbs and the 1/4" 5052 aluminum version weighs 14.6 lbs, so aluminum saves 16.5 lbs.
Will it stop catalytic converter theft?
Not reliably. It covers about half of the catalytic converter and makes it harder to get cutting tools in, but Cali Raised are clear it was not designed for theft prevention.
Complete Your Build
KDSS or Not? Steel or Aluminum?
Send us your VIN and we will confirm fitment, then put the transmission skid and front skid together in the material you want.
844-200-3979
