RRW Front Skid Plate Install Question

[T4RandTacos]

I'm trying to install the front skid plate from RRW and have an issue with bolts and the front mounting points. RRW includes two longer bolts for install which are too long for the front bolt holes - cleared out the threads and tried a couple of times, but too long.

Checked out the factory TRD skid plate install videos, looks like they include the small spacer on the backside of the plate to allow for the re-use of the factory 14mm bolts - the RRW has no such spacer, and the factory bolts are too short for the front due to the bracket. Am I missing something right in front of my face? Please feel free to confirm I am, in fact, an idiot, but hopefully I'll be an idiot with a fresh front skid plate with your help.

 

[icyhotahs]

A lot of these skid plates REQUIRE you remove the lower support brackets. Have you done that?

 

[T4RandTacos]

I sure did not, and I had really only been looking at the RCI and TRD options other than the RRW skid - looks like both of those other skid plates don't require the removal of those brackets, so I hadn't even considered that feature when shopping. Hate the idea of removing something structural for something that down here in Florida is largely cosmetic. Thanks for that heads up.