RCI T-Case Skid Installation
The Good: Parts are well-constructed from high-quality materials; communication was good.
The Bad: Overall, a disappointing experience as a customer due to shipping errors.
The Ugly: Poor design of the crosspiece where it bolts to the driver's side frame makes it a solid 8.5 on the PITA scale.
I ordered the transfer case skid on 9/3/21. Shipment arrived on 10/15/21, a little later than expected based on the lead time RCI gave me but close enough. But when I tried to install the crosspiece, it did not fit. The parts come in separate boxes. They are not marked as to vehicle fitment, nor are the boxes. The dimensions are not on their website, and the photos on the website are the exact same for the 4th & 5th Gen t-case skids even though the parts are different sizes. So there is no way to know you got the wrong parts until you try to install them.
Called RCI, they asked a few questions, and discovered they had mistakenly sent a 5th Gen part. A partial mea culpa here, it didn't occur to me (or them, when I called) that the skid itself might also be the wrong one. RCI sent out a new crosspiece and a return label. The new crosspiece arrived on 10/29/21. I installed it a few days later and found that it's poorly designed. I don’t know what others’ experience has been, but I would give getting the driver’s side crosspiece installed a solid 8.5+ on the PITA scale b/c it’s so tight to the fuel tank skid. Bring your patience and a hammer.
So next I tried to install the skid itself and that's when I figured out that it was also a 5th Gen part. Again they shipped a replacement and again I have to box up their mistake and send it back. Finally got the 4th Gen skid on 11/20/21.
I thought RCI might be willing to offer some kind of goodwill gesture given the time and trouble caused by their error...nope.
In hopes it will help others, here's how to tell 4th Gen from 5th Gen:
The bolt hole on the end of the crosspiece is centered on the 5th Gen, as shown here. On the 4th Gen part, it's offset to the rear.
For the skid plate itself, here's a side-by-side. These are standing on their sides so the measurements are front edge to rear edge. The 4th Gen plate is several inches longer and comes with a hardware bag containing spacers that are used the ensure it clears the exhaust. (Note: I should have had both arrows pointing to the right since the front edge of both pieces is on the left. I regret any confusion.)
Installation tips:
1. Get out your floor jack if your have one and use it to hold the parts up while you bolt them on. No jack? Block them up with wood or have a helper. These suckers are heavy.
2. The passenger side frame bolt replaces the lower factory bolt for the exhaust hanger, so that hole is relatively clean. But the driver's side bolt hole is unused from the factory so it's likely got rust, dirt, and whatever else in it. If I was doing this over again, I would use compressed air to blow out the driver's side bolt hole then either spray some Fluid Film in there or put some anti-seize on the bolt - something to get the bolt in there a little easier. I ended up cranking it a quarter-turn or so at a time (tough to get a wrench in there) using so much force I was worried about breaking off the bolt.
3. More pics/info:
The spacers look like this and fit at the front where the tubes attach.
Slide the spacers in from each side. They're designed to fit between the downturned edges of the flanges on the tube ends, like this, sandwiched between the tubes on the top and the skid on the bottom.
Here's how the 3 rear bolt holes line up with those in the crosspiece.
