anyone leave this off ,and not have problems with anything getting broke? ,mine is rusting up in back around bolt holes and crumbling away ,plus it pain in butt to take off and put on when i do a oil change ,at 56 ,finding it harder to take it off and put on ,

I keep the front one off,but removed the rear one.I should scrap the front one too. I get tired of the metric bolts stripping out when trying to start them in those blind holes. The only thing I would worry about is the base of that plastic radiator and stones on gravel roads.

Keep the skid plates but relocate the filter somewhere where it is convenient.

I helped a buddy put in one of these remote filter adapters LINK and it was EASY.

The link above leads to some pretty pricey adapters, but they are others which much cheaper (e.g. 43-73 bucks) Amazon LINK

After mounting one of these remote filter adapters, you can change your oil by just reaching down a bit in the engine compartment without getting down on the ground, and you could even wear a suit!

John

I trashed the one on our 2012 Tundra several years ago. Finally had to take it off. Both my wife and I have used the truck extensively in some pretty rough country since then, and we have had no problems due of its absence.

How do you keep your suit clean while lying under the pickup taking out the oil drain plug?

Ah, on my friend's truck the drain plug was easy to reach without getting under the truck -- it was changing the filter that was awkward, and guess I focused on that.

Apparently, I shouldn't post until I've had my second Espresso to get my brain working!

John