RCI Skid Plate vs OEM TRD OR - pics

Steel is real. if you put a dent in one of these, you were really trying hard. If it's hanging lower, it's a fraction of an inch. Likely would've hit somewhere else.

 

Make sure and let us know what you think. I'll bet you love it.

Wish I'd have bought it and saved a couple bucks. T4R has a 5% coupon code right now so not too bad.

 

No worries OuTkAsT, the skid is yours. See you Saturday

 

I hit the mid/rear section more than the front. However from what I noticed where the bend is in the RCI plate sits slightly lower and farther forward then the OEM plate. I 1st noticed it when I swapped them out. I for sure 'touch' more rocks that before.

Only pic I have that somewhat shows the OEM skid. Pic with OEM tires. I now have one size larger tires. Can't find a comparable picture with the RCI plate.


Current scuffs and dents:

Not to bad on the front one however the OEM plate had no scuffs:


Mid to rear section has seen more action with a noticeable dent in the mid section ner the drain hole.




This shows the 1" spacer required to clear the exhaust. It used to be straight


Theses and sliders are the best thing you can add to a Tacoma that's being used offroad.

 

Is that support under the exhaust welded to the plate or a separate piece? I think I'd consider replacing with bar stock, although it looks like it's doing the job.

 

It's thin aluminum. Agreed it should be steel. There's no support in the middle.
Here it is when new:

 

Great to see you are using this truck.

 

Did you get it powder coated before delivery or did you get that done after shipping?

 

From what I understand, you can remove the spacer and gain some ground clearance if you do an exhaust re-route.

 

Yes, the whole point of the spacer is for stock exhaust.
Someday I will get around to it.

 

I have rci skids on the way. I got the transfer skid for "4cyl, exhaust reroute"

After i have my exhaust done, is the xfer going to be higher up than the trans?

 

I just bought one front skid (steel, black) and haven't got the free time to mount it yet, but I can attest to how burly it is. I wouldn't worry for a second about it not holding up. Looking into ordering a trans skid on the current RCI group buy.

 

Does that little opening sufficient enough for oil changes??

 

Yep. Did mine today. No more than a little drip or two in the skids.

 

thanks even though what i wrote doesn't make too much sense... lol

 

Ok, so I installed a front and tranny skid from RCI recently, and I only had to take off the front OEM skid and the brackets. Your picture shows what looks to be a smaller OEM skid. Where did that come from?!

Also, my tranny skid seems to have cost me a decent amount of clearance. See below picture showing gap where you can see through to the other side. Is that normal?

First pic is the only OEM skid I had to remove. Second pic shows the gap or lost ground clearance.

 

This one must've slipped by me. I assume that maybe the TRD Sport doesn't have the 2nd skid plate? I have a TRD Offroad. Also, I don't think that the difference in clearance is meaningful. If you had nothing there, you'd just be bashing into that cross member.

 

I installed RCI's aluminum engine, tranz, transfer, and fuel tank skids and dig them. Pretty sure I lost some clearance, though.

 

Really? Has anyone tested that you can use this 3/16 skid plate as a jacking point without bending it?

 

I did. Front skid, right in the center...