RCI Skids, keep plastic piece?

[Thrasher_S]

I'm in the middle of installing the full set of RCI Aluminum skid plates and I was chased inside by unexpected rain.

My question is: For those of you with these installed did you, or did you not, keep the plastic piece that was attached up under the radiator and filled the gap between the front bumper and the factory skid?

It still attaches to the bumper side, but I don't see a way to get it attached on the skid side, so it would still do it's job, but would rattle unless I rig up something to keep it in place. I'm guessing it's not needed, but it might provide some marginal protection for the radiator or something.

Also, an extra detail, when I dropped the factory pan a LOT of dead bees fell on the ground, so be sure to sweep if you are going to be lying on your back like I am.

 

[ZenArcade]

I'm in the middle of installing the full set of RCI Aluminum skid plates and I was chased inside by unexpected rain.

My question is: For those of you with these installed did you, or did you not, keep the plastic piece that was attached up under the radiator and filled the gap between the front bumper and the factory skid?

It still attaches to the bumper side, but I don't see a way to get it attached on the skid side, so it would still do it's job, but would rattle unless I rig up something to keep it in place.

Also, an extra detail, when I dropped the factory pan a LOT of dead bees fell on the ground, so be sure to sweep if you are going to be lying on your back like I am.

I had it on for a bit ... attached (soft of) as you mentioned. Then I bought the filler: Bumper Filler Plate | 10-Present 4Runner – RCI Off Road

If I replace the bumper, it will be a waste of $65 bucks (-15% sale w/ code SPRINGTIME) if I replace bumper at some point but it's only money.

 

[jrandom]

I bought the filler plate too, happy I did.

Kinda hard to see but:
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3334688-post59.html

 

[Thrasher_S]

I had it on for a bit ... attached (soft of) as you mentioned. Then I bought the filler: Bumper Filler Plate | 10-Present 4Runner – RCI Off Road

If I replace the bumper, it will be a waste of $65 bucks (-15% sale w/ code SPRINGTIME) if I replace bumper at some point but it's only money.

I didn't know that existed! Thanks for the coupon, I might have to pick something else up too...

 

[delloro]

I didn't know that existed! Thanks for the coupon, I might have to pick something else up too...

I just kept the plastic piece.

 

[Ogre75]

looks like fabricating a filler plate would be pretty easy using some thin metal from the hardware store.

 

[safdSA]

+1 on keeping the plastic one till I got the RCI part. My plastic one stayed on fine, but the RCI one is cooler.

 

[jrandom]

looks like fabricating a filler plate would be pretty easy using some thin metal from the hardware store.

You are not at all wrong, cost-wise it’s going to be sixes (especially if you buy youR material from a hardware store), definitely if you powder coat it.

 

[Ogre75]

You are not at all wrong, cost-wise it’s going to be sixes (especially if you buy youR material from a hardware store), definitely if you powder coat it.

heck, for all that piece does, I was thinking some thin sheetmetal and flat black rattle can... or whatever color to match the particular skid plate i suppose.

 

[LandCruiser]

It will fall off eventually.

One day I looked down there and it was gone.

Driving through deep snow is probably what killed it.

 

[mteolus]

I got one and even put on the TRD red letters that are made for the TRD Pro skid. Looked good until I hit a tree stump on a 4x4 road. It bent but it actually did provide some protection.

Also I rattled canned the edge of my aluminum skid. Aluminum just got too much of a whip to clean every so often with aluminum cleaner.

 

[jrandom]

heck, for all that piece does, I was thinking some thin sheetmetal and flat black rattle can... or whatever color to match the particular skid plate i suppose.

It actually helps protect your, ugh... plastic, radiator and A/C condenser from debris, either flung up or driven in to. Its like 14 or 16 guage steel, decent for brush small limbs. ect.

 

[mrblah]

the RCI filler plate is worth it. It's decent gauge steel and powder coated. It offers decent protection against trail brush. It also doesn't disappear/get lost as easily as the plastic OEM one. I lost my plastic OEM somewhere after crossing a washed out road.....

I even modified it to use with my after market bumper to fill in the radiator gap.

 

[83Mule]

I just made my own.......https://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=360088&stc=1&d=1588377823

 

[batex]

I kept the plastic piece after I installed my RCI skids. I just used the factory bolts on the bumper side and then strapped a stout bungie cord across the other end. The bungie keeps the loose side tight up against the skid plate. Not noise, no rattle. I assume it will get tossed when I add a SSO slimline bumper.

 

[chester4Run]

I have an extra RCI filler plate if anybody wants it. It was a goof from RCI, so one set of holes (or slots) are in the wrong place, but it would be easy to drill new ones if someone wants it. Free to a good home, you pay shipping (or pickup) from 32909.

 

[NAHHT4R]

I kept my plastic filler plate on when I installed my skid plate and then found out they had their own, so I replaced it with the RCI ones. It looks better and it was worth the extra $. I wished it would come in raw alum though, so that it would match my skid.

 

[Pirateghost]

I kept my plastic filler plate on when I installed my skid plate and then found out they had their own, so I replaced it with the RCI ones. It looks better and it was worth the extra $. I wished it would come in raw alum though, so that it would match my skid.

Exactly what I told them on phone last week. Paint filler plate to kind of match raw skid? How does it look with black filler and raw skid?

 

[ZenArcade]

Exactly what I told them on phone last week. Paint filler plate to kind of match raw skid? How does it look with black filler and raw skid?

Good enough for me/I would rather have it blackout that spot vs raw. If I had a bunch of expendable cash I guess I would have had skid/remainder of protection powder coated black, but that seemed a bit too much for me. :shrug:

 

[4R2020]

I ended up ordering the skid and the filler tonight thanks to you all, LOL. I have this on my 3rd gen taco, so thought I should get one for the wife's new 4R.