RCI vs CBI vs SOS skid plates

You should stick around more on TW if you want to see a thread actually be uncivil.

 

I used to help run one of the biggest fishing websites on the net. Seen plenty of threads go completely sideways. Forums are a funny thing. Lots of them have lost membership and visits due to social media but good to see that TW is still going strong.

 

This place is a mildly controlled dumpster fire full of screaming baboons. It's no skin off my back.
With those suspension upgrades in mind, you should be fine with steel. Since you're in Cali I'd also look at BAMF. They're even stronger than your usual skids and you could pretty much drop your truck on a boulder from 5 feet up and you'd be fine, and shipping or local pickup would be cheaper. Just keep in mind they're even heavier than other steel options.

 

like stronger than steel??

carbon nanotube skids... now that is an idea i can get behind!!!

 

Still looking to keep weight down where I can.

 

They're thicker with more bracing.

 

Another option is Richochet Offroad skids! I believe they are the cheapest, with a 9 piece skid plate system for $1000. All alumimum, and in stock with no lead time as of the other day.

 

I've got an RCI aluminum skid plate. I ended up going on a FS road which degraded to a 4WD trail and ended up coming down hard on the plate several times. No fun but the plate protected the oil pan well. No dents in the pan but a few in the plate. I removed the plate to change the front diff fluid and found that all of the holes lined up when I reinstalled the plate. No qualms about buying another RCI skid for my next rig.

 

Never had any issues with my full aluminum plate package from rci. I don’t rock crawl on a normal basis but the aluminum has held up well with just a few scratches. Plus any weight savings is a good thing imo when your only getting 14mpg.

 

+1 For Ricochet. Solid product, good customer service. Definitely worth a look.

https://ricochetoffroad.com/collections/toyota-tacoma

 

I crawled my Tacoma. Pro aluminum skid was trashed. SOS steel trio held up OK but trans and t-case skid were pretty trashed. If I still had a Taco I’d go BAMF or make my own out of 1/4” steel plate with appropriate gussets.

SOS steel is probably fine for 99% of users but I’d stay away from aluminum if you do any real off roading. Not only does it gouge and not slide over rocks like steel but it just doesn’t offer the same level of protection.

 

Another RCI aluminum owner...zero issues. With a useable load of about 26 lbs. All Tacoma owners should be worried about weight.

But I'll join the masses...fuck the pro!

 

I love my CBI, I have bashed it on rocks coming down off obstacles, and I like that it has a little more beef than the RCI skids, and the bends and side tabs offer rigidity to the skidplate. the steel is beefy, and I like that they have the option to keep stock exhaust, or mod your exhaust, and gain the ground clearance, just requires buzzing off 8 2inch welds rather than cutting up the skidplate, or having to order an entirely new plate. also the midplate lips offer more protection to the catalytic converters ( harder for them to get tools in there and remove them - f-ing thieves!!), all this being said.. the CBI skids are not lightweight... and after install along with my mobtown sliders you can definitly feel the weight...

 

I like my RCI Aluminum skids. They've taken one or two hard hits, which is what they are there for. I'm not an avid off roader, and when I do go off road, I try my hardest not to beat on my truck.

I also have Greenlane Aluminum sliders.

I have a rear bumper coming (not high clearance) that is barely more weight than stock but way stronger.

Full aluminum front bumper coming + winch.

My goal is to add less than 200lbs total to the truck to complete my build, be on 33's and 5.29's

 

Kind of an old post so I assume the OP has already made their purchase... but, I like the sound of my own voice, so:

I have RCI skid plates [alum] and sliders, and I have no complaints. I don't have any problem with the fit. I've taken the skid plates off a few times and they seem to go right back on. I bought them a few years back, so I didn't deal with the super long lead times that are common with most fabricators now.

I don't go wheelin' just to for the sake of it. Usually there's a fishing spot or a remote campsite, or some scenic views I wanna check out. I outfitted my truck to help me get to those spots, but I'm not seeking out obstacles to conquer. I try to find the easiest lines around them! Slow and cautious... So the aluminum bottom armor is fine for me. And I'm not so poor that the alum has to last forever. I've already gotten a good 4 years (or so) out of it. If one finally gives up the ghost, I'll just get another...

 

I'll also share my own experiences.

Steel all the way. Go full skids as well if you have any desire to do any sort of 'overlanding' trip (i.e. a few days out into the middle of nowhere).

This photo was taken at the end of Lockhart Basin Road. A 'road' that was wildly misidentified online. Our 8 day trip was thoroughly planned out. Discussions for the trip literally lasted 6 months.

We were far too out of the way to turn around, as we did not have enough gas to make it back to Monticello. This is with the extra 22+ gallons of fuel we were carrying.

We had to go forward. And this is what the most capable truck looked like:

_MG_2635 by Brent Prater, on Flickr

We didn't plan on this difficult of an obstacle. But all 5 of us had steel skids, thankfully.

We all just rode the skids down this main boulder, tires hanging high

_MG_2659 by Brent Prater, on Flickr

In this case, I would much rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. I'll make up for the extra weight elsewhere. The underside of my truck is just too expensive and important to risk, especially in a place like LHBR.

 

Rci aluminum skid is on my SR5. I figure it is insurance just in case of a big hit. If it happens and the skid is cracked - but my truck is not damaged - then I get another skid. Seems like a good trade off to me. I am not Rick crawling all the time for fun though. I am towing so really need to keep the added weight down.

 

RCI full skids (steel) here. You got great advice from members. Pick one and go for it

 

Pretty good price for their full aluminum kit. I might go with them!