RCI Transfer Case Skid Plate

With my steel, I so far haven’t noticed a difference in mpgs

 

What don't you like about the CBI skids? I thought that the engine one might be stronger because of the way it was fabricated.

I did get the RCI full set, cats and gas tank in aluminum. What I don't like about them was the spacers that are pita to get in at the engine/trans overlap and also the t-case cross member wouldn't sit flush against the frame. I had to add two bolts to it so they would contact the frame and stop it from drooping down....and yes I cranked the shit out of the bolts. It almost seemed like it was the wrong cross member, and it looks like the t-case skid angles down at the end.

 

Nice! Good to know in case I transition to steel in future.

 

Yeah I was worried I would loose mpgs or it would feel like I am dragging weight, but it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve had them so far and no noticeable difference!

I’m glad since me buying aluminum would have definitely ending in the skids getting mangled and a waste in money. Time will tell how the truck handles and does with the steel skids, however it’s definitely working well so far.

 

I'm trying to keep as much payload as possible, hence aluminum skid plates.

Skid Plates (80#), Rock Sliders (132#), and RSI Cap (240#) all subtract from my 945-pound payload (DCLB). Camping with my 180# son leaves 300 pounds for gear.
Fourteen gallons of water, 112 pounds. Camping gear (100 pounds). Just about maxed out.

I'm looking at 6000-pound travel trailers (600 to 900-pound tongue weight means Tundra time).

The engine plate took huge damage from a pancake rock that had flipped up. Replaced it with steel.

My rear aluminum RCI after two years.

 

Hopefully these pictures mostly speak for themselves. I hate to say it, but unless the user is a pure Overlander, these skids are junk. I'm going to patch them up next weekend, and ill be running costal skids later next year:


The front engine skid mount is a 90 degree backet without gussets. Bent on the first trip, took out my frame support too. Gotta cut and weld it next weekend finally:

Frame support bent 45 deg:

And the weld on the rear mount of the engine skid cracked, and ripped off the plate. This failure actually caused the bolt there to fail, and I had to grind it out:



The other skids are buckled and bent to hell, but these were the catastrophic failures

 

Wow, that “support” in your first pic is super flimsy.

 

Can you rate the Rci skids to a higher degree

 

I have the full skids now but no gas tank or rear diff skid.
Should I go for the Rci rear diff skid for $280 OTD

or wait 14 weeks for the c4 rear diff skid for $330

The c4 looks like it covers more up front of the diff at the pinion seal but is it really necessary?

 

If you guys are worried about skid plates decreasing your MPG find another hobby lol

 

+1...

If I cared as well, I wouldn't have put a tent above the roof height of my truck.

 

Ha ha, true. Just trying to be smart about the weight for the trails I do since I have other mods and plan to do more in the future.

 

Yeah I understand. I would personally not care about the weigh of essential items like skids and care more about RTT and bed racks etc.