How are you changing transfer case fluid with RCI skid plate on?

[boyfester]

I have RCI skidplates for the engine, transmission, and transfer case and while the first two include holes to drain the motor oil and tranny fluid the transfer case skid plate does not. Unfortunately, I had to remove the skid plate to allow drainage. Is anyone else doing something differently then me? I emailed RCI Metalworks today asking why the skid plate doesn't include a hole and will phone them tomorrow as well. Instead of having to remove this every 30,000 miles, I may just mill out a hole myself.

I posted photos in the RCI thread today too (see link below):

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/rci-m...kid-doesnt-have-transfer-case-drain-hole.html

 

[83Mule]

On the rare occasion you change the case you just remove the skid or buy a hole saw if it's too inconvenient!

 

[boyfester]

I spoke to Josh today at RCI and he noted that they didn't have a hole in the plate because they were using that design in another 4runner model/year and the holes wouldn't line up. So, yup, I need to remove the plate every time I change the transfer case fluid which is every 60K miles or so. I hadn't changed it until now at 55K and the fluid was pretty clean.

 

[Agent_Outside]

I follow the severe conditions schedule so I do them every 30K. I use a flex funnel (it’s like a plastic moldable sheet with metal in it. I just lower the back of the skid down, bend and mold the flexifunell to fit between them and then pull the drain plug with an extension. Quick and easy, no mess.