About to purchase RCI skids. Quick question.
- Thread starter cbielat
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
mikey's2010SR5
New member
I would say steel. I think in the long run, especially if you are hitting rocks, steel will stand up better. But I don't know metals too well and I went with steel all around and underneath.
The aluminum would also be more pricey too.
The aluminum would also be more pricey too.
cbielat
Senior Member
Thanks Mikey. You are right, the aluminum is an extra $75. I believe other manufacturers' skids are mainly made from steel so that's why I wanted to hear the opinions of my fellow 4Runners. I'm just going to go with the steel in bare metal.
Thank you JShoe99 as well.
eddiebx
New member
I think it would all depend upon how you plan to use your skids...if you plan to hit lots of things and abuse it, steel would be a better choice because you can hammer out the dents easily.
I think aluminum is softer and probably more brittle if you bend it back and forth a lot. I don't know the technical term, but you know when you take a piece of flat aluminum stock and bend it back and forth it eventually snaps? Whereas with steel you can bend it back and forth a lot more times for that to happen.
Another thing that comes to mind is you would likely gouge the aluminum easier than you would steel. If I was getting skids, I'd probably go with the steel just for peace of mind...
I think aluminum is softer and probably more brittle if you bend it back and forth a lot. I don't know the technical term, but you know when you take a piece of flat aluminum stock and bend it back and forth it eventually snaps? Whereas with steel you can bend it back and forth a lot more times for that to happen.
Another thing that comes to mind is you would likely gouge the aluminum easier than you would steel. If I was getting skids, I'd probably go with the steel just for peace of mind...
cbielat
Senior Member
I don't plan on beating the s**t out of my truck but we all know it's not "if but "when" slamming down on a rocks occur when you're out wheeling. It's the way of the game. I just want to know I have the right protection over those crucial components. Steel seems to be the general consensus here as I thought it would be and that was what I was planning on going with from the start. Thanks Eddie!
Last edited:
Infrared013
New member
I just got my aluminum ones in and installed - they are very well built and seem tougher than nails. FOr me - im not a hardcore wheeler but have gone and always would like to go again when time permits and even when I go im not doing anything insane...this will give me peace of mind on the trails yet keep the weight down a little bit underneath. But all in all they seem rock solid
cbielat
Senior Member
Thanks for the info. I went with the steel.
SOcalTRAIL
New member
Aluminum!!!!
Pound for pound, aluminum (depending on the alloy / temper) is tougher than steel and has certain qualities that are favorable to 4 wheeling - higher yield strengths, more corrosion resistant, lighter weight... In the off road industry, it seems that aluminum is often misunderstood. The material itself doesn't cost a whole lot more than mild steel, but it does require more finesse to work with and weld so it is avoided for that reason, you can't just hire a high school grad with a MIG welder to stitch up aluminum for ya, you need someone with some TIG skills - takes longer, requires better weld prep, fit-up, fixturing, and also, certain alloys and tempers are not weldable. 1/4 hard 5052 aluminum is incredibly tough stuff! It is tougher than 3/16 mild steel? Probably not, but it would certainly work well enough for your average to heavy 4-wheeling, plus you would save an enormous amount of weight! I am 100% making my front bumper out of aluminum to save weight, my truck needs a diet!
Pound for pound, aluminum (depending on the alloy / temper) is tougher than steel and has certain qualities that are favorable to 4 wheeling - higher yield strengths, more corrosion resistant, lighter weight... In the off road industry, it seems that aluminum is often misunderstood. The material itself doesn't cost a whole lot more than mild steel, but it does require more finesse to work with and weld so it is avoided for that reason, you can't just hire a high school grad with a MIG welder to stitch up aluminum for ya, you need someone with some TIG skills - takes longer, requires better weld prep, fit-up, fixturing, and also, certain alloys and tempers are not weldable. 1/4 hard 5052 aluminum is incredibly tough stuff! It is tougher than 3/16 mild steel? Probably not, but it would certainly work well enough for your average to heavy 4-wheeling, plus you would save an enormous amount of weight! I am 100% making my front bumper out of aluminum to save weight, my truck needs a diet!
HOJeepster
New member
How difficult is it to install the Front and Transmission skids? I'm getting mine today but I don't have access to a lift. Any tips on the installation?
bimrunner
New member
It is very easy. Just follow the directions and you should be good. If you are having trouble holding it up, use a jack and then put jack stands under it and you should have plenty of clearance. I did mine in my driveway without jacking at all. A bit tight but not difficult at all.
HOJeepster
New member
Thanks. I ended up picking these up tonight and installation was straight forward. I did not need to jack up the truck. The Front and Transmission skids took about an hour to install. Some of the stock bolts were rusted and a pain to loosen.
Also, as I've mentioned in my build, users of the Schrockworks sliders will not be able to install the RCI transfer case skids, as the sliders middle support interfers with the RCI mounting location. Something to keep in mind before ordering.
Also, as I've mentioned in my build, users of the Schrockworks sliders will not be able to install the RCI transfer case skids, as the sliders middle support interfers with the RCI mounting location. Something to keep in mind before ordering.
Howard35
New member
Does anyone know if I run my shrockworks sliders (with only two mounting locations) will these skids be compatible? based on the pics I have seen they should work... but I want to be sure before I order.
st8rocks
New member
Pictures when you get them installed please! They seem like a quality set of skids. It's too bad they don't offer it for KDSS yet, or else I'd be tempted to jump on that great deal they are running now
The do offer them for KDSS
I second the question. I have shrockworks sliders w/ only 2 mounting points no "middle" mounting point unless he was calling the rear the middle.
ccastonguay
New member
I have them installed, I have kdss. Josh provides options for both!
HOJeepster
New member
The front and transmission skids will work, but as I understand it, the transfer case skids will not work since the mounting pionts interfer with the slider mounts. In order to make the skid work, you'll have to 'notch' the skid to fit around the slider mounts.
