RCI Skid Plate Questions For Current Users

WEAK_E90

New member
Looking at getting rid of my TRD skid plate for something different. I got the TRD with the vehicle. Neighbor wants to buy mine for a pretty good price figure I can change things up.

For people who have Icon front suspension - with the radiator support spacers (to avoid having your sway bar make contact with the bracing) will the RCI skid plate still work with this? (my guess is yes but double checking).

For any existing RCI skid plate owner: Would you recommend steel or aluminum? The chance of the skid plate actually seeing an object is slim to none. I sold my stock one and will need something to cover it. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!
 
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i'm happy i went with aluminum, it's been abused offroad enough that it has a few gouges but it does the job and is really lightweight. i would only ever change to steel if i ever started hardcore crawling (in which case i'd just get a vehicle better suited to that)
 
anyone know if these work with the 1" differential drops too?

another thing down there thats changed wanna make sure works before i drop the coin... :faint:
 
I'll echo the sentiment on the aluminum skids.

I have scraped over numerous rocks, as well as hung/dragged across my RCI aluminum skids many times. You will see the gouges/scratch marks, but absolutely no sign of them being inadequate or compromised.

With everything else I've done attempting to get into single-digit MPG, I am more than pleased with the aluminum skids.
 
I have RCI skids with the icon sway bar relocation brackets. No issues with the skids at all. Still had to trim my radiator bracket support to keep it from rubbing but has nothing to do with the skid.

I have RCI's full skid package front, mid, transfer, and fuel. Happy with all of them.

The TRD pro skids only suck if you have one that doesn't have an oil change access hole...then I can understand the swap. Otherwise I don't see the big attraction to swap skids. Most aftermarket one's are compatible with the TRD pro front skid (or offered as an option). Doesn't sound like you use yours right now so I'd get aluminum I guess if you're set on doing it.
 
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if its never going to see significant offroad, not sure why you got rid of your factory. a friend of my destroyed his aluminum in moab and decided steel was next. I personally went steel cuz I'm off in the colorado "rockies" often.
 
I have RCI skids with the icon sway bar relocation brackets. No issues with the skids at all. Still had to trim my radiator bracket support to keep it from rubbing but has nothing to do with the skid.

I have RCI's full skid package front, mid, transfer, and fuel. Happy with all of them.

The TRD pro skids only suck if you have one that doesn't have an oil change access hole...then I can understand the swap. Otherwise I don't see the big attraction to swap skids. Most aftermarket one's are compatible with the TRD pro front skid (or offered as an option). Doesn't sound like you use yours right now so I'd get aluminum I guess if you're set on doing it.

bingo - the door would be nice for oil changes - as anxiety is kicking in of stripping the bolts. If someone pays me good money for my TRD plate id do it.
 
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I've got the steel and my son had the aluminum until it cracked is two places. He placed it with steel, warrantied by RCI (they gave him the choice of wither). Should be no clearance issues with either the sway bar relocation or diff drop.

If you have no plans for anything really challenging off-road, the aluminum should be fine. If you really plan on hitting some rocks, I'd go steel.
 
I've got the steel and my son had the aluminum until it cracked is two places. He placed it with steel, warrantied by RCI (they gave him the choice of wither). Should be no clearance issues with either the sway bar relocation or diff drop.

If you have no plans for anything really challenging off-road, the aluminum should be fine. If you really plan on hitting some rocks, I'd go steel.


Cracked from use or another reason? I had no idea they would warranty armor. I have full rci aluminum, wanted to save weight and dont plan on bashing them often.
 
I've got the steel and my son had the aluminum until it cracked is two places. He placed it with steel, warrantied by RCI (they gave him the choice of wither). Should be no clearance issues with either the sway bar relocation or diff drop.

If you have no plans for anything really challenging off-road, the aluminum should be fine. If you really plan on hitting some rocks, I'd go steel.

Which skid and how did it crack?
 
Which skid and how did it crack?

It was the front skid. It cracked on both sides at the transition as it curves from slanted in the front to flat along the bottom. He took photos and sent them to RCI. They warrantied it from the photos and didn't want it back so it went into the recycling bin.
 
No clearance issues with my RCI skids at all
 

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It was the front skid. It cracked on both sides at the transition as it curves from slanted in the front to flat along the bottom. He took photos and sent them to RCI. They warrantied it from the photos and didn't want it back so it went into the recycling bin.

Good to know, thanks for the info!
 
I'll echo the sentiment on the aluminum skids.

I have scraped over numerous rocks, as well as hung/dragged across my RCI aluminum skids many times. You will see the gouges/scratch marks, but absolutely no sign of them being inadequate or compromised.

With everything else I've done attempting to get into single-digit MPG, I am more than pleased with the aluminum skids.

^^ this.
I have the full aluminum package including gas tank and they're easy to install, have taken a huge beating, and came quick to the door via a group buy on this site.

Regarding cracking, never had an issue, but it can happen with the aluminum ones as mentioned in this thread and in others on the forum.
I took the risk as it's my daily driver and I needed to save on weight.

The skids saved me when I came down hard on a rock and it raked down the full skid. It exposed some metal, nice silver groove running right down 3 plates.
I just kept on going down the trail, cleaned it up a little when I got home and sprayed some rustoleum or whatever rattle can protection you got, and it looks good as new.

Have been very satisfied with the purchase.
 

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