Cali Raised vs. RCI Engine Skid Plate?

I bought mine 2nd hand... so fantastic! I haven't heard that, but I'd believe it. They have a good corner of the market, which typically leads to poor CS.

These are probably steel... but for example Patience is key!

 

The author of that second post wants more for them than they are brand new! But I see your point. I'll definitely be on the lookout.

 

The second one is the front skid and a mid skid, but yeah, not a great deal.

 

Ah got it, didn't realize that. On a related note, will an engine skid generally cover the CATs at all? I live in a low crime area but theft still does cross my mind.

Edit: If so, probably not enough. Just realized they sell separate CAT guards.

 

So there's 3 common skids.

IFS (front) skid
Transmission (mid) skid
Transfer case (rear) skid

The transmission skid helps protect the cats. However, some do it better than others. If you get the RCI mid skid, I'd get their cat guard add ons.

https://rcimetalworks.com/product/catalytic-guard-05-present-tacoma/

The CBI only makes a rear skid, which is a combo of the trans and TC skid. It protects the cats without additional bits.

 

Why do you need customer service on a skid plate? If it arrives and bolts on that’s the end of that transaction.

 

I was wondering how the company treats customers in general.

 

For what it is worth I ran the RCI aluminum skids. Good design, light weight, relatively beefy depending on use case. Only weakness is they expose the cam bolts, but for what I do and the weight savings I found it worth it. Also consider the full skid system if you plan on building out, and not just the single skid, which was another factor in my RCI purchase.

You're buying the same cheap Chinesium trash that Amazon sells for less, there isn't anything special about the CaliRaised lights, they are just rebranded cheap imports. The Cali lights are total crap in quality, longevity and output performance. In lighting, spend the money for a quality product. Baja, Rigid, KC, Morimoto, Diode Dynamics all make CaliRaised lights look like disposable child's toys. Diode Dynamics specifically offers incredible performance for a very impressive price point being they typically beat out all of the competition in performance while undercutting in price. They are also the only lighting manufacture still independently owned by the original founder that seems to prioritize product superiority and fiercely competitive pricing over profit margins, while also building products in the USA. Unlike the big lighting names that have been bought out by corporate America conglomerates and then jack the prices/profit margins and cut the engineering teams to extract maximum value from the consumer.

 

I did not know that RCI made those cat guards. I wonder how their mid skid mates up with a mobtown front.

 

We have one powder-coated aluminum in stock ready to ship today! These skid plates are made and manufactured in Fort Worth Texas. If you have any questions feel free to pm me! https://caliraisedled.com/collections/skid-plates-and-body-armor

 

Use code fall22 at RCI, I think it’s 20% off. I ordered a full skid package and saved close to a few hundred dollars.

NVM, Looks like it is expired now.

 

That or it's invalidated by the Black Friday sale. Thank you for trying though.

 

I'm actually leaning towards raw aluminum now, are those in stock? Also, I do have a question: any plans for a gas tank skid for double cab long bed trucks in the future?

 

CBI has some of the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. I’d stay away.

 

https://caliraisedled.com/collections/2016-2020-toyota-tacoma-rock-sliders-armor

Yes! Aluminum raw is in stock and ready to ship. We are doing 15% off right now and that also includes free shipping I personally run aluminum and love that I am saving more weight. For the DCLB fuel tank, we should have one ready to go in the next 3-4 months.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Fyi- RCI’s black Friday sale is running. 20% off

 

I have a bed rack from RCI and it's been great. The only thing I would say is that their powdercoating isn't that tough. It chips easily down to the steel.

 

Yeah, definitely order it bare... As you use them, they'll need to be touched up anyway. I've also noticed that on some of my powdercoated parts from Relentless are developing surface rust but it's whatever.

 

RCI is throwing in the cat guards for free with purchase of tranny skid. Like others have said, they deliver when or near when they say they are, the items are well packed (and thats hard with big heavy items, its not just dunked in an Amazon box).
2 years in combinations of salt, snow, gravel, rock and sand, the powder coat hasn't chipped or eroded aside from the gouges i've made using them. i don't have the top plate on my sliders but you hear rocks deflect away from the body all the time with a satisfying 'ding!'
their instructions can be a little off for 3rd gen but they aren't selling rocket parts either.
When you take your squishy stock OR shocks on a rocky road and it bounces on ledges despite ever so slowly crawling, you'll say thanks RCI!

 

I have full Rci skids and Bay Area metal fab gas tank skid. Love them. Fast shipping great quality. I also have caliraised sliders and love them too. Both will do the same thing unless you’re going to be banging on rocks all the time, that is where people’s personal experience with said skids will maybe sway your vote more.