RCI Skid Plate install problem

I bought the @RCI-Offroad full skid package for my 2021 TRD OR DCSB. And I got a bunch of problems installing.

First the bolts don't match up. On the truck once you take the front bracket off the 2 bolts in the very front it measures 17 inches apart. On the RCI skid it is 14 inches apart. Here's a pic of the truck and skid measurements





Now here's a pic of what's on the website of the skid assuming this is the actual tacoma skid and the skid I got. You can clearly see the one on the website the width between the first two holes are wider than the one's I got.





Then to top it all off the stock bolt that you're supposed to reuse doesn't even fit into the hole on the RCI skidplate.



I didn't even bother to install the transmission skid, crossmember, and transfer case skid. So anyone ever run into this kind of problem and if so how did it get resolved? I did email RCI and will be calling on Monday. Kinda frustrating to wait 6 weeks only to have these problems.
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UPDATE - Austin the guy at @RCI-Offroad were superfast and very helpful. They shipped out another engine skidplate to me right away right when I called and it arrived 3 days later. Everything fit great.

 

Also I was using this youtube video to install unless the 2021 Taco is completely different.

 

I dunno about 3rd gens but my 2nd gen has 3 places for bolts up front but my skids only use 2. It's possible the skid was designed for a 2nd gen spacing or your trying to use the wrong hole?

Does your front chin frame have a plug or something blocking a hole?

If not I would just drill it out.

The forces the skid sees are in the upwards direction. The bolts are just there to account for gravity drilling the skid isn't going to compromise it's functionality.

 

Me and my friend tried lining up skid holes with all the holes on the chin, no plugs that I saw. It just didn't work, plus the factory bolts didn't even fit into the skids.

 

Improvise adapt overcome.

OORAH

Drill that SOB out.

 

LOL that's what I'm trying to avoid. Maybe if I paid 50-100 bucks for this and it came from China, I'd just drill and try to make it work but when I'm paying almost $850 including shipping I expect this to fit perfect.

OORAH

 

Looks like there is another bracket you have to unbolt first

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rci-skid-plate-install-question.433132/#post-12509076

 

It's armor man, if you're going to use it it's going to get tore up, that's why you get the cheap ones as it's kinda of ment to be disposable.

If you're not going to use it for beating on then why did you waste the $850?



Mine are so dented in and warped I have to start all the bolts then push it up with a jack and then torque everything down.


I mean I do understand the sentiment but I guess you just got to weigh your options, did you spend the money to do a job or to look pretty?

Tou can see on the far right there the vacant bolt hole.

Seeing the dents and warps are a little hard because it's been rattled canned a dozen times at least and it's all black.

More dents in the actual flat bottom (which isn't very flat anymore) and a pretty good sized gouge too from winching up a boulder on edge.

Off the truck it only sits on the 3 corners.

 

Just read through that thread. The guy that got the skids got the right skid where the holes are 17 inches apart. Mine are 14 inches apart. He just needed to remove those brackets. I did that and nothing lined up.

 

I think most people posting are missing the point. These skids should FIT. Id call RCI and email them photos. This is poor quality control. Theres no excuse for these things not fitting.

 

I definitely plan to scratch it and dent it up. My point was if I paid that much I shouldn't have to modify anything and should just go right on.

 

No, I fully understand and agree, yeah it should fit right out of the box but the fact of the matter is it doesn't, so it's just kind of a situation like if you're going swimming do you really care if your raincoat fits? Is it wetter underwater if you're there when it rains?

Me personally it wouldn't be worth my time to put everything back to stock box it back up ship it back which even if you do a return you're probably going to have to pay shipping...

Why? because one hole needed to be drilled and another enlarged?

Just not the hill I'd die on.




Of course this is coming from a guy who's using an FJ cruiser air box, an FJ cruiser TRD exhaust, headers from a tundra, upper control arms from a 4Runner, none of them are technically correct, but they're all close enough that I've made them work and they work beautifully.

 

Then they either sent you the wrong skid, or you ordered a 4Runner skid package on accident

4Runner vs Tacoma spacing:





Also interesting, the engine skid pictures on the Tacoma package are pictures of the 4Runner skid and are labeled "T4R"

https://rcimetalworks.com/product/05-19-tacoma-full-skid-package-deal-copy/

 

is it just me or do those holes not look symmetrical?

 

You've got the wrong skid. Call them Monday and sort it out, no big deal.

 

Almost gave me high blood pressure for a moment and had to check my receipt and saw I ordered a Tacoma 05-present lol

 

You talking about placement left to right?

If so they are not, nor should they be.

 

05+ if that's the case they probably did change the frame a touch and RCI just isn't aware.

So not really their fault.

 

I actually don't blame them, mistakes do happen in every business. I was just seeing if people ever had this problem and how it got resolved.

 

You have any full pictures of the engine skid you received? It really seems like they sent you a 4Runner skid on accident