RCI Skid Plates KDSS vs Non-KDSS - What's the difference?

[jthoms1]

Just moving from a 2011 min-KDSS to a 14' with KDSS....wanted to move my skids over. Anyone know what's different? There is a negligible $10 charge on RCI's website if you have KDSS, so something is done to them. Anyone know? Don't want to waste time trying to swap only to find out they won't fit. Thanks

 

[Jhalko]

The KDSS version will fit either but the non-kdss will not fit your new truck. There is extra clearance built in for the different sway bar setup from what I understand. Hence why some claim a kdss truck has less ground clearance.

 

[High_Country]

What he ^ said. I think the front skid is the only different piece. The rest should fit if you have the whole package. On the KDSS front skid, I think the break in the angle of the skid is pushed further forward making the front a bit steeper.

 

[sn_85]

I'm sure there will be plenty who are interested in a non-KDSS skid

 

[sandcrawler]

Just moving from a 2011 min-KDSS to a 14' with KDSS....wanted to move my skids over. Anyone know what's different? There is a negligible $10 charge on RCI's website if you have KDSS, so something is done to them. Anyone know? Don't want to waste time trying to swap only to find out they won't fit. Thanks

the KDSS version sits lower to allow clearance below the exaggerated profile of the KDSS model's secondary radiator supports. other skids require removal of these supports... in fact, RCI used to as well but apparently some people were uncomfortable with it so they changed the design to silence the complaints. (but then, of course, folks complained about the reduced clearance.)

if you remove the secondary radiator supports your non-KDSS skids should fit fine.

 

[jthoms1]

Thanks gents!

 

[wfo9]

I've got the RCI skids that allow for the bolt in radiator supports to be in place, but my truck is not KDSS (so not sure if it would fit a KDSS truck). I have 0 issues with ground clearance approach/departure in that area. My buddy has shockworks skids on his KDSS truck and the skid sits a bit lower and further forward than mine and he does hit more often... I've never really checked to see if my skid could fit on his truck. I thought the KDSS stuff hung down lower than the supports, but can't remember.

The thing about this areas is that it is right at the leading edge of your front tires. So clearance is typically not much concern unless you are sinking in mud or something or trying to straddle a rock which will just hang up your rear diff anyway....

 

[SierraMare]

I have a 2015 TE with KDSS. With stock suspension and skids, I had just under 9" of clearance at the front. I bought the RCI skid set with the earlier front skid for KDSS and my clearance at the front dropped to 7", an unacceptable decrease for me. I contacted RCI about this and was pleased to receive from them at no additional charge the newer re-designed front skid which got me up to 8" clearance at the front. That was still too low IMHO for my needs, as the front break over is FORWARD of the front tires so the skid can easily become a plow/contact point before the wheels lift it. So put in a Bilstein 6112 shock/coil lift up front on the third clip for a 2" lift, so now my clearance there (10") and overall ride are much better for my use.

I really appreciate the customer service provided by RCI - a great company that I will use again as needed.

 

[wfo9]

I have a 2015 TE with KDSS. With stock suspension and skids, I had just under 9" of clearance at the front. I bought the RCI skid set with the earlier front skid for KDSS and my clearance at the front dropped to 7", an unacceptable decrease for me. I contacted RCI about this and was pleased to receive from them at no additional charge the newer re-designed front skid which got me up to 8" clearance at the front. That was still too low IMHO for my needs, as the front break over is FORWARD of the front tires so the skid can easily become a plow/contact point before the wheels lift it. So put in a Bilstein 6112 shock/coil lift up front on the third clip for a 2" lift, so now my clearance there (10") and overall ride are much better for my use.

I really appreciate the customer service provided by RCI - a great company that I will use again as needed.

Maybe I forgot what it is like to have stock tires... but here is a side view of my truck with the RCI skid (the one that rest up against the radiator support brackets - which I like since they are very strong...). You can see the aluminum skid in the first pic. The second is a side on shot. Notice the tires are way in front of it. I still hit it when a ledge has a point.. and I pick a bad line... but generally speaking it is the least of my clearance issues. And I wheel the crap out of my truck I often hit the front town hooks more often than the skid...

 

[SierraMare]

Maybe I forgot what it is like to have stock tires... but here is a side view of my truck with the RCI skid (the one that rest up against the radiator support brackets - which I like since they are very strong...). You can see the aluminum skid in the first pic. The second is a side on shot. Notice the tires are way in front of it. I still hit it when a ledge has a point.. and I pick a bad line... but generally speaking it is the least of my clearance issues. And I wheel the crap out of my truck I often hit the front town hooks more often than the skid...

[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] - I think the reason your rig doesn't have an issue (if I read your signature right) is because its a SR5 and doesn't have the forward and down KDSS bar that RCI has to make a special design to accommodate in their front skid... As you know, KDSS is only available as an option in the Trail models in the 5th gen 4Runner family.

Here's my RCI front skid for KDSS, their updated skid designed to improve clearance from their original design. The skid breakover is about 12" in front of the beginning of the tire contact patch. I do have one gouge on the skid in that vulnerable area. Not a concern for me with this very capable vehicle, just a small downside to be aware of with KDSS and the RCI skid. BTW, I love my KDSS.

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[SierraMare]

Here's my RCI front skid for KDSS, their updated skid designed to improve clearance from their original design. The skid breakover is about 12" in front of the beginning of the tire contact patch. I do have one gouge on the skid in that vulnerable area. Not a concern for me with this very capable vehicle, just a small downside to be aware of with KDSS and the RCI skid. BTW, I love my KDSS.

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Better pic. Vertical tape measure points up to the front of skid breakover, horizontal tape shows distance of breakover in front of tire ground contact. Looks like it is 11" rather than 12".

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[1996_Valencia_Owen]

What's the ground clearance gain or change compared to the stock KDSS skid plate?

 

[AdventureMan]

I'm pretty sure a non-KDSS RCI skid plate WILL NOT fit on a KDSS 4Runner due to the low articulating front sway bar. Here are some pictures of the latest (as of January) KDSS RCI skid:

The front edge has been changed slightly to wrap around the front edge of the radiator support (like the non-KDSS skid), so the front edge is a little blunter than before. There is now a small pop-out below the front diff (which might even support a mild diff drop), and the skid plate is pretty tight up against the radiator support bars, so I don't think this latest version is giving up that much ground clearance. The biggest change I like is there are now two tubular supports that run from the skid plate and bolt to the front engine crossmember (they're the two openings between the oil filter door and the diff drop plate).

 

[hoobhoob]

Those front lower leading "corners" are the vulnerable spot for sure. As previous poster mentions, they stick out "in front" of the tire and (particularly when turning into an obstacle) are often the first point of contact with Mr Rock or Mr Ledge.

So it's a high stress area. In my case the skid is deforming and those corner welds have in fact split. The skids are doing their job but in Aluminum they are sure to get beat up if you actually use them on rough trails where they will impact, and show it far more than the steel versions would.

Here are some pics of the newer design, after 3 weekends of not-really-hardcore trails in Ontario (Kawarthas area.) :noidea: