4Runner Skid Plates: Buying Guide by Generation

Skid plates are the armor that takes the hit when a rock, stump or ledge meets the underside of your 4Runner. A full set covers the engine, transmission and transfer case, and you can add plates for the fuel tank, rear differential, lower control arms and washer tank. What fits depends on your generation, your drivetrain and, on a 5th gen, whether you have KDSS or a TRD Pro skid. This guide covers what each plate protects, materials, sets versus single plates, and what NVMOS carries for 1996 and newer trucks.

Short answer: Confirm your generation first: 3rd gen (1996–2002), 4th gen (2003–2009), 5th gen (2010–2024) or 6th gen (2025 and newer). If you want everything covered, a full set such as the C4 Fabrication Full Skid Plates covers the engine, transmission and transfer case in one order. Then add a fuel tank skid and a rear differential skid if you run rocky trails. Choose steel or lighter aluminum, and read each listing for KDSS, TRD Pro, drivetrain and bumper notes.

What each 4Runner skid plate protects

Aftermarket skid plates replace or add to the factory underbody pieces with plate made for trail impacts, and a smooth bottom helps the truck slide over rocks instead of catching. Here is what each plate on this page is for, and the generations where NVMOS has a listing for it.

Plate	What it protects	Generations available
Front (engine) skid	Engine, oil pan and front underbody. C4 says its 6th gen front skid also covers the bottom of the radiator, and DV8 lists its 6th gen front skid for the engine and intercooler.	3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Transmission skid	The transmission, from the front skid back to the transmission crossmember	4th (in full set), 5th, 6th
Transfer case skid	The transfer case. C4 lists a bolt-in crossmember with its 4th and 5th gen full sets and its 5th and 6th gen rear sets for added strength here.	4th (in full set), 5th, 6th
Fuel tank skid	The fuel tank	4th, 5th, 6th
Rear differential skid	The rear diff cover, plus the driveshaft yoke and U-joint on C4 plates	5th, 6th
Lower control arm (A-arm) skids	The front lower control arms	4th, 5th, 6th
Washer tank skid	The windshield washer reservoir, exposed once the factory bumper is removed	5th
Rear shock and trailing arm skids	Rear shocks, trailing arms and link mounts	5th (shocks), 6th
Catalytic converter shield	The catalytic converters	5th

The front skid meets every obstacle first, so it does the most work. Transmission and transfer case plates come next. Fuel tank and rear diff skids matter most when the rear drags off ledges, and control arm and rear suspension skids keep a hit from bending a part.

Steel vs aluminum 4Runner skid plates

Steel

C4 Fabrication lists most of its 4Runner skids as 3/16-inch P&O steel. Its differential skids are 3/16-inch mild steel, and its 5th gen washer tank skid is 14-gauge P&O steel. The 5th gen full set weighs 136 pounds. Raw C4 plates must be painted or powder coated before installation to prevent rust, per C4, or you can choose the powder-coated option. ICON lower control arm skids are 3/16-inch laser-cut steel, Cali Raised LED lists 3/16 steel, DV8 lists its 6th gen rear belly skid as 3.5mm steel, and ReadyLIFT and Rago list heavy-duty or high-strength steel for several 6th gen plates.

Aluminum

The ICON Impact Series skids for the 6th gen are CNC laser cut and brake-formed from 5052 aluminum alloy plate, which ICON describes as lightweight and corrosion resistant. Rago lists 3/16-inch aluminum for its 5th gen Center Mount and 6th gen Full-Width bumper skids (its 6th gen Center Mount skid lists no thickness), and Addictive Desert Designs lists 3/16-inch aluminum for its Stealth bumper skid, all with a satin black powder coat.

Both

Cali Raised LED offers its 5th gen complete set in 3/16 steel or 1/4 5052 aluminum.

Full skid plate sets vs individual plates

A full set is the simple path. The C4 Fabrication 4Runner Full Skid Plates / 5th Gen includes the front and rear plates for the engine, transmission and transfer case, with a bolt-in crossmember and oil drain and filter covers. Cali Raised LED and CBI Offroad Fab list full sets too, but their listings do not say which plates are included. C4 sells its fuel tank and diff skids separately.

Individual plates make sense when you are building in stages or already have part of the armor. Some plates depend on others:

C4 rear skids are an add-on for trucks that already run a C4 front skid. C4 says that if you do not have one, buy the full kit.
Cali Raised LED transmission skid requires the Cali Raised front skid plate for installation.
ICON Impact front and transmission skids can be installed alone or together, per ICON.
Bumper skids from Rago and Addictive Desert Designs are built to pair with that brand's front bumper and are not standalone plates.

Skid plates go well with rock sliders, which protect the rocker panels the plates do not reach. Our rock sliders buying guide covers that side of the truck.

4Runner skid plates by generation

Skid plates are generation-specific, and some are year-specific. Match your model year to the listing.

3rd gen 4Runner (1996–2002)

CBI Offroad Fab lists a front skid, a rear skid and a full set for the 3rd gen, titled 1995.5-2002. CBI says the full set is designed for a precise fit that does not cost ground clearance, and it comes in bare metal or black powder coat. Call us if you need details on the front or rear plates.

4th gen 4Runner (2003–2009)

The C4 Fabrication 4Runner Full Skid Plates / 4th Gen / 2003-2009 is three plates that bolt together to cover the engine, transmission and transfer case, with a bolt-in crossmember. It weighs 136 pounds, works with 1-inch diff drops and most aftermarket bumpers, and you choose V8 or V6. C4 also sells the 62-pound front plate alone, and its fuel tank skid fits both 4th and 5th gen trucks (2003–2024). CBI Offroad Fab lists front, rear and full sets for 2003–2009, and ICON makes a lower control arm skid kit for the 2003–2009 4Runner that also fits the 2005–2015 Tacoma and 2007–2009 FJ Cruiser.

5th gen 4Runner (2010–2024)

The 5th gen has the most choice. C4 Fabrication offers a full set, a front skid, a rear set (transmission and transfer case, 74 pounds), a C4 Fabrication 4Runner Differential Skid / 5th Gen / 2010-2024 with an optional E-locker guard, a fuel tank skid and a 14-gauge washer tank skid. Cali Raised LED lists front, transmission, transfer case, fuel tank and lower control arm skids, plus a complete set, and notes that the transfer case skid and complete set are for 4WD trucks only. Its Catalytic Converter Shield Fits 2010-2024 4Runner is 12-gauge 304 stainless steel and is listed for V6, automatic transmission trucks only. CBI Offroad Fab lists front, rear and full sets titled 2010-2023, a gas tank skid titled 2011-2022 and a washer fluid reservoir skid for 2014–2024. ICON's 2010–2024 lower control arm skid kit is 3/16-inch laser-cut steel, and ICON says it acts as a locator for the lower shock mounts of its S2 shock system. DV8 Offroad lists rear shock skids, and Rago makes a 3/16-inch aluminum skid for 2014–2024 trucks with its Center Mount Winch Front Bumpers.

6th gen 4Runner (2025 and newer)

Pay attention to drivetrain options on the new truck. C4 Fabrication lists its 6th gen full set (122 pounds, radiator to transfer case) with options for the iForce 2.4L turbo or iForce MAX hybrid, both automatic, and a sway bar disconnect or non-disconnect skid. C4 says the radiator bottom is exposed without the TRD Off-Road package, and its two-piece, 50-pound front skid covers it. The rear set (72 pounds) needs the C4 front skid, and C4 also offers a rear differential skid and a frame-mounted fuel tank skid.

ICON makes aluminum Impact Series plates: a Front Skid Plate Kit for the 2025–2026 4Runner that works with the stock bumper and covers back to the differential crossmembers, and two transmission skids, one for the 2025-2026 Toyota 4Runner Hybrid and one for the gas automatic. The ICON front skid fascia kit is listed for the 2025 4Runner only. DV8 Offroad offers front, rear belly, A-arm, trailing arm (titled for the 2025 model year, so confirm on the product page) and rear shock and link skids; DV8 notes trucks on factory wheels may need a half-inch wheel spacer with the shock skids. Rago, CBI Offroad Fab and ReadyLIFT also list 6th gen plates.

If you are planning a bumper too, read our 4Runner front bumper guide first, since several front skids are tied to a specific bumper.

KDSS, TRD Pro and bumper compatibility

Rely only on what the listing says for these.

KDSS (5th gen). KDSS is Toyota's hydraulic sway bar system on some 5th gen trims, and it changes what hangs under the front. C4 Fabrication lists its 5th gen front skid, full set and differential skid as fitting both KDSS and non-KDSS trucks. Other 5th gen listings do not mention KDSS, so ask before ordering if you have it.
TRD Pro (5th gen). The C4 Fabrication 4Runner TRD Pro Integration Skid Plate bridges the factory TRD Pro skid and C4's rear skid plates. It is 37 pounds of 3/16-inch steel and works with a 1-inch diff drop. C4 says its rear skids work with all its front skid variations: KDSS, non-KDSS and TRD Pro Integration.
Trims (6th gen). The C4 6th gen front skid is listed for SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims, and for the factory sway bar skid on trucks with the electronic disconnect.
Bumpers. C4 front skids are listed for most aftermarket bumpers. The Rago skids pair with Rago bumpers, and the ADD 2025+ Toyota 4Runner Skid Plate for Stealth Front Bumper works only with the ADD Stealth Front Bumper, sold separately. Rago's 6th gen Center Mount bumper skid installs with riv-nuts.

For how skids fit into a full trail or overland build, see our 4Runner overland build guide. Tacoma owners can find the same breakdown in our Tacoma skid plates guide.

What NVMOS carries

Every plate below is listed for specific years. Confirm the product page before you order, and call us if your truck has KDSS, a TRD Pro skid or an aftermarket bumper.

3rd and 4th gen (1996–2009)

5th gen (2010–2024)

6th gen (2025 and newer)

Browse by category: Off-Road Skid Plates, Drivetrain Protection, Rock Sliders & Rocker Armor, Toyota 4Runner, C4 Fabrication, ICON Impact Series Armor, Cali Raised LED, DV8 Offroad and CBI Offroad Fabrication. For the rest of the truck, see our 4Runner accessories guide. You can also shop by vehicle, check current lead times and read our vendor warranty policies.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need skid plates on my 4Runner?

If your 4Runner stays on pavement and graded dirt roads, the factory underbody protection may be enough. Once you drive rocky trails, aftermarket plates protect the engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank from direct hits. Start with the front skid, since it meets obstacles first.

Are steel or aluminum skid plates better for a 4Runner?

Neither is right for every truck. Steel plates such as the C4 Fabrication 3/16-inch P&O steel sets are heavy, and raw steel must be painted or powder coated to prevent rust. Aluminum plates such as the ICON Impact 5052 aluminum skids weigh less, and ICON describes them as corrosion resistant.

Do 5th gen 4Runner skid plates fit KDSS models?

Some do, and the listing will say so. C4 Fabrication lists its 5th gen front skid, full skid set and differential skid as fitting both KDSS and non-KDSS 4Runners. If a listing does not mention KDSS, confirm fitment with us before you order.

Can I keep my factory TRD Pro skid plate and add aftermarket armor?

On a 2010–2024 4Runner, yes. The C4 Fabrication TRD Pro Integration Skid Plate is built to bridge the gap between the factory TRD Pro skid and C4's 5th gen rear skid plates. It does not include the TRD Pro skid or the rear plates.

Can I change my oil without removing the skid plate?

With many plates, yes. The C4 Fabrication 5th and 6th gen front skids have oil drain and filter access covers (the 4th gen front skid has an oil drain cover), the DV8 6th gen front skid does not cover the oil filter, the DV8 rear belly skid has a removable panel for the drain plug, and the ADD Stealth bumper skid is removable for oil changes.

Will 5th gen 4Runner skid plates fit a 2025 4Runner?

No. The 2025 and newer 6th gen 4Runner is a new platform, and every skid plate on this page is listed for specific years. Use plates listed for 2025 and newer.

Do I need a washer tank skid on my 4Runner?

Usually only after you replace the factory front bumper. C4 Fabrication says the washer reservoir sits exposed once the factory bumper is removed, and its 5th gen washer tank skid works with its Hybrid, Overland and Lo-Pro bumpers with High Clearance Additions.

Not sure what fits your truck? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or send us a message, and we will help you sort it out.

October 13, 2026 — NVMOS

Tags: Armor Buying Guide C4 Fabrication Cali Raised LED CBI Offroad Fab DV8 Offroad ICON Off-Road Rago Fabrication Skid Plates Toyota 4Runner

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