Skid Plates: RCI, CBI, or Other

[Cobratuner182]

Skids are next on my list.
Still bouncing back and forth between BudBuilt & RCI.
If BudBuilt releases the "tummy tuck" that will clinch it for me.

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Tummy tuck plates? Please elaborate... got my attention

 

[TRD PANTHER]

RCI is the only skid that integrates with the TRD skid on the front.

C4 has a TRD Pro integration skid also. Steel only. For ~50lbs more total for all the skids from front to rear as compared to aluminum I will take steel. Stronger, tougher and easier to fix. 50lbs extra is not going to save your gas mileage or performance. If you really need to use them the steel is better. Aluminum has better corrosion resistance.

 

[Kamalani Mahie]

RCI aluminum all day err day

 

[ahtoxa11]

I have RCI except for the fuel tank skid. Their fuel tank skid design is not ideal, since the front end is fairly exposed to stuff being kicked (rocks, branches, etc.) There is a thread somewhere of some guy that added a bunch of extra aluminum to the front of his after he ran into problems.

I went with the Rago fuel tank skid instead - it does a much better job of covering the front end is no more expensive, and they will make it in aluminum or steel to match whatever else you decide. Highly reccomended.

RCI redesigned their gas tank skid, by the way. I have full RCI set including the redesigned gas tank skid. The front of the gas tank skid is reinforced.

I like them a lot.

 

[Tuco S.]

C4 has a TRD Pro integration skid also. Steel only. For ~50lbs more total for all the skids from front to rear as compared to aluminum I will take steel. Stronger, tougher and easier to fix. 50lbs extra is not going to save your gas mileage or performance. If you really need to use them the steel is better. Aluminum has better corrosion resistance.

This was my thinking exactly. The weight penalty going from aluminum to steel isn't that much unless you are counting every pound and loading up near the maximum gvwr.

I went with C4 front to back, still waiting on half the order but the pieces I've received look outstanding. Love their fuel tank skid.

 

[arehman11]

RCI redesigned their gas tank skid, by the way. I have full RCI set including the redesigned gas tank skid. The front of the gas tank skid is reinforced.

I like them a lot.

That new gas tank design is beefy, even with being 1/4 aluminum it’s one heavy MF’r

 

[ryguytheman]

Tummy tuck plates? Please elaborate... got my attention

Check this thread out:

5th Gen Tummy Tuck = ground clearance

 

[patkelly4370]

Check this thread out:

5th Gen Tummy Tuck = ground clearance

This leaves just the fuel tank as the low point

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[NotaTRD]

I have LFD front and transmission skids with RCI transfer case skid plate. I want to say that RCI redesigned their transfer case skid plates to eliminate the exhaust rattle from getting rocks/dirt/mud stuck between the plate and exhaust.

My advice to the OP, if you think you might need steel plates, get steel. Aluminum is nice in that it doesn’t rust, but it’s more expensive, can fatigue with multiple hits and the weight savings you will get may end up being negligible after all the other weight you add, if that is what you intend to do.

 

[-E5J-]

Another vote for RCI Aluminum Skids here... Integration all the back past the T-Case... Not doing heavy rock crawling so the Aluminum was plenty sufficient and the folks at RCI did not disappoint on the skids or the sliders... I believe there is an RCI group buy here every fall that will save you some $$.

Good luck!

 

[krhayes79]

Love my LFD skids. Cant wait until they release their gas tank skid so I can complete my set!

 

[rageandlove]

RCI redesigned their gas tank skid, by the way. I have full RCI set including the redesigned gas tank skid. The front of the gas tank skid is reinforced.

I like them a lot.

It's better than a few years ago, but it still leaves a fair amount of the front unprotected. If you look at the Rago, you will see the entire front is covered as well as the leading edges of both sides. I'm sure it's a good product - I have RCI elsewhere and I am satisfied with them - but since the OP was asking for input, good to flag the differences for their benefit.

 

[DangerDan]

Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm new here and all, but if you want that extra coverage on the front from RCI you can get their A arm skids and I think KDSS skids. Dunno how that compares to RAGO

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[TRD PANTHER]

Love my LFD skids. Cant wait until they release their gas tank skid so I can complete my set!

Come on, post up some pics of those beautiful red skids. Any scuffs from our Gleghorn run?

 

[krhayes79]

Come on, post up some pics of those beautiful red skids. Any scuffs from our Gleghorn run?

Fine...Fine!!! Here are some pics! No, I did not scrape with my new found clearance with the suspension upgrades and bigger tires!

 

[TRD PANTHER]

No, I did not scrape with my new found clearance with the suspension upgrades and bigger tires!

Those are too nice to get scraped up

 

[gsla72]

It's better than a few years ago, but it still leaves a fair amount of the front unprotected. If you look at the Rago, you will see the entire front is covered as well as the leading edges of both sides. I'm sure it's a good product - I have RCI elsewhere and I am satisfied with them - but since the OP was asking for input, good to flag the differences for their benefit.

I'd agree with this - I wouldn't mind more coverage up front on my V2 RCI fuel tank skid. I'd argue that even the factory piece turned up more at the very front. It's a minor issue, but one worth mentioning.

If it gets to the point of bothering me enough, I may follow in the footsteps of other members and modify the front edge of mine with a piece of aluminum. For now I'll leave it be.

 

[Weekend4Runner]

I recently purchased the RCI full skid plate and when it came to installing the crossmember for the transfer skid plate. There was a 1/4" gap between the crossmember and body frame. RCI says to tighten the bolt to decrease the gap and variations of spacing is due to the 4runner and not their crossmember piece.

Since I am new here, i can't start a thread to see if other people experienced the same. But on another forum, there were at least 2 people who had the same issue. I have pictures on there along with another member of the big gap and how he dealt with it by adding an aluminum piece.

This was being installed on a 2020 Limited Nightshade.

 

[TRD PANTHER]

What about the C4 gas tank skid.

 

[lewdog998]

I recently purchased the RCI full skid plate and when it came to installing the crossmember for the transfer skid plate. There was a 1/4" gap between the crossmember and body frame. RCI says to tighten the bolt to decrease the gap and variations of spacing is due to the 4runner and not their crossmember piece.

Since I am new here, i can't start a thread to see if other people experienced the same. But on another forum, there were at least 2 people who had the same issue. I have pictures on there along with another member of the big gap and how he dealt with it by adding an aluminum piece.

This was being installed on a 2020 Limited Nightshade.

I had no issue with mine...can you post a picture....

when i put mine on, i pushed the crossmember up with a floor jack to make sure it was snug against the frame.