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During our trip to Fraser in 2013 i damaged the front access panel on the bull bar and the bash plate (or what Toyota call the sump splash guard). The access plate is pushed bag against the radiator, with only millimeters off separation. I reckon one more good hit and it'd push into the radiator.
The damage
I haven't been in a big hurry to get them fixed because I haven't had any more offroad adventure planned, and the damage is otherwise only cosmetic. In the past year i've been making occasional inquiries to source a replacement access plate. The sump guard didn't worry me too much, as i had planned on getting a proper bash plate sooner or later, and it wasn't at risk of causing further damage. Unfortunately, i cannot get an access plate anywhere. TJM said that the access plates are manufactured as a set to go with a bull bar, and to get a replacement plate i would need to get a new bull bar. I called around at a number of shops in case there happened to be one lying around, but didn't have any luck.
I'm planning on a week on Moreton Island in August and i'd like to get it sorted before i go, so recently i called RACQ and sought contact with one of their assessors who may be able to help me. The drone on the phone told me they couldn't help me, and that the only option was for me to lodge a claim, or not lodge a claim. I explained to her that i was trying to save everyone the time and money by doing it myself, and i'd pay the couple of hundred dollars the plate if i could find one. I also explained that if i lodged a claim, i'd also be including the sump splash guard which Toyota would charge me $640 (RACQ only pay $530), and RACQ would likely end up paying for supply, painting, and fitting of the new bullbar... around $2600. Drone couldn't see beyond what her computer screen was prompting her to say, so i ended up lodging the claim.
Within about 20 minutes i had a call from Mick at the Gold Coast office and he's been great to deal with. I took a couple of pictures with my phone and emailed them to him. He could see the sense in what i was trying to achieve, and it turns out he'd done similar damage in similar circumstances on Fraser at around the same time as me. Mick got on the horn to TJM head office and they scoured the country for a spare access plate but apparently there are none.
We looked into panel beating it straight but the consensus was that, although it could be made straight, it wouldn't look the same and may possible be cheaper to fabricate a replacement.
I've been given the contact details for Sommerville Smash Repair in Nerang. Apparently they've got a decent metal fabrication set up and may be able to custom build the plate.
Mick also tells me that since the aftermarket bash plates cost less that the Toyota splash guard, i'm welcome to look at getting aftermarket gear fitted. RACQ will cover the costs up to $530 plus GST plus fitting. The VX has KDSS and so there's only a few choices that i'm aware of for the bash plate; Brown Davis, ARB, or Ironman. I'm leaning toward Brown Davis and have ruled out Ironman because they don't offer the same protection for the mounting bolts.
My questions to you good people are:
1. Given this situation, what underbody protection would you go with and why?
2. Does anyone have a spare access plate lying around, know where i can get one, or have any ideas on fabrication/design of a new plate (would you do anything differently).
Mike
The damage
I haven't been in a big hurry to get them fixed because I haven't had any more offroad adventure planned, and the damage is otherwise only cosmetic. In the past year i've been making occasional inquiries to source a replacement access plate. The sump guard didn't worry me too much, as i had planned on getting a proper bash plate sooner or later, and it wasn't at risk of causing further damage. Unfortunately, i cannot get an access plate anywhere. TJM said that the access plates are manufactured as a set to go with a bull bar, and to get a replacement plate i would need to get a new bull bar. I called around at a number of shops in case there happened to be one lying around, but didn't have any luck.
I'm planning on a week on Moreton Island in August and i'd like to get it sorted before i go, so recently i called RACQ and sought contact with one of their assessors who may be able to help me. The drone on the phone told me they couldn't help me, and that the only option was for me to lodge a claim, or not lodge a claim. I explained to her that i was trying to save everyone the time and money by doing it myself, and i'd pay the couple of hundred dollars the plate if i could find one. I also explained that if i lodged a claim, i'd also be including the sump splash guard which Toyota would charge me $640 (RACQ only pay $530), and RACQ would likely end up paying for supply, painting, and fitting of the new bullbar... around $2600. Drone couldn't see beyond what her computer screen was prompting her to say, so i ended up lodging the claim.
Within about 20 minutes i had a call from Mick at the Gold Coast office and he's been great to deal with. I took a couple of pictures with my phone and emailed them to him. He could see the sense in what i was trying to achieve, and it turns out he'd done similar damage in similar circumstances on Fraser at around the same time as me. Mick got on the horn to TJM head office and they scoured the country for a spare access plate but apparently there are none.
We looked into panel beating it straight but the consensus was that, although it could be made straight, it wouldn't look the same and may possible be cheaper to fabricate a replacement.
I've been given the contact details for Sommerville Smash Repair in Nerang. Apparently they've got a decent metal fabrication set up and may be able to custom build the plate.
Mick also tells me that since the aftermarket bash plates cost less that the Toyota splash guard, i'm welcome to look at getting aftermarket gear fitted. RACQ will cover the costs up to $530 plus GST plus fitting. The VX has KDSS and so there's only a few choices that i'm aware of for the bash plate; Brown Davis, ARB, or Ironman. I'm leaning toward Brown Davis and have ruled out Ironman because they don't offer the same protection for the mounting bolts.
My questions to you good people are:
1. Given this situation, what underbody protection would you go with and why?
2. Does anyone have a spare access plate lying around, know where i can get one, or have any ideas on fabrication/design of a new plate (would you do anything differently).
Mike
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