RCI Aluminum A-Arm and TRD Skid will need cutting

[Boyds4Runner]

Just got my group buy from RCI this past Thursday (10-22-2015) and got the Aluminum A-Arm and Aluminum Gas Tank to finish up with the Aluminum TRD Integration, Transmission and Transfer Case skids.
[MENTION=90834]joshp767[/MENTION] gave me a call earlier in the week to say that he remembered I had the TRD front skid and that the A-Arm I had ordered would not fit correctly since they both (TRD and RCI skid) protected the front-facing, lower-A-Arm alignment bolts and that one or the other would need some cutting. To his credit he asked if I still wanted the A-Arm skid before shipping. I did ask for them still and thought I could find some way to cut them to fit.

Got the Gas Tank skid on with no real issues. Anyone who turns a wrench now and again should be able to figure out which way they want to install things along with the instructions from RCI. I opted for the carriage bolts to face the drive-shaft on the hangers for that side of the skid.

The picture shows the bolt side facing the drive-shaft before changing my mind and seeing that there was enough clearance for them not to cut into the gas tank should the skid plate shift. Admittedly I would really have to screw up and land full force on a protruding rock on that side of the skid for it to bend far enough into the gas tank. If that happens I should really give up wheeling in my daily driver.

Onto the A-Arms. As previously mentioned [MENTION=90834]joshp767[/MENTION] from RCI Metalworks called to give me a heads-up about the A-Arm skid protecting the front alignment bolts and its interference with the TRD skid already doing the same. this part needed some extra work in order to fit.

I opted for finding a friend or a place with a plasma cutter to cut the A-Arm skid to fit. Found a local fab shop and they did the cutting.

Below are the images before and after the cutting so that others get the idea.

 

[wfo9]

On the second picture down. I would put the bracket on the inside of that bend.

Direction of the carriage bolt does not matter much there. In the back you will need the nut on the inside to hep with drive shaft clearance.

 

[mrevilandy]

Strange I didn't have to cut or alter mine what did rci say about it

 

[SKP-4R]

On the second picture down. I would put the bracket on the inside of that bend.

Direction of the carriage bolt does not matter much there. In the back you will need the nut on the inside to hep with drive shaft clearance.

Judging by the length of the bracket, do you think it would fit on the inside? It looks like it dips down bellow the thickness of the skid.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

On the second picture down. I would put the bracket on the inside of that bend.

Direction of the carriage bolt does not matter much there. In the back you will need the nut on the inside to hep with drive shaft clearance.

Thanks for the input. I did think about putting the brackets on the inside but it looked like it would drop the skid down at least 1/4". At the same time I know that leaving the bracket on the outside creates a spot for a rock or stump to get caught. I was debating with myself over the same thing but I think your suggestion brings it over to a vote and half toward the inside over the half vote of where it is now.

I changed the rear carriage bolt originally for the exact reason you mentioned about the clearance for the drive shaft and decided the front one would avoid snags and the bolt getting sheared off.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Strange I didn't have to cut or alter mine what did rci say about it

This was because I had the Toyota TRD skid.

If I had the RCI front skid I would not have had to cut the A-arm skid.