RCI Skid Plates any good?

Thinking of buying one. Anyone running these? If so what kind? Steel? Aluminum?

 

Yes steel

 

Steel. I have their full set (engine, transmission, transfer case) and their fuel tank skid plate.

 

I have steel engine and transmission, added the catalytic-converter wings to the transmission skid. I am satisfied with their performance ... mine took this serious dig that I think would have hurt something underneath.

 

RCI is fine. Not great.

If you actually off-road, the aluminum is fine but either way, I would get their LCA skids to actually protect the cam bolts / frame mounts.

In my opinion, RCI has over-optimized manufacturing & profits and minimized materials which leads to the LCA bolts being fully exposed.

I got rid of my RCI skid and went with the 3rd gen OEM TRD PRO aluminum one that actually provides coverage.

 

I will not argue with on that front ... big rocks can reach LCAs if that are big enough to get the oil pan.

Always a balance of funding IRAs versus protecting your Tacoma from the stupidity of the operator.

 

How hard do you off road?
If you do easy off roading where you very rarely hit the skids, just wanting protection for the "oh shit" moments, aluminum is the better choice. Saves a ton of weight and will give you the same protection as steel but will get ruined if hit to many times..
But if you are wheeling hard, hitting crap all the time, and sliding over rocks constantly steel is the choice to make.

I have RCI raw aluminum engine, trans, fuel skid plates and soon to be transfer skid. For what I do they are perfect and all 3 of them weigh just a bit more than one steel plate.

 

Good insight. Probably just going to/from trailheads and stuff not doing any crazy overlanding and any super hardcore stuff. Really just want some protection just in case

 

LCA skids are a waste of money. Oem LCAs are stout and rocks generally don’t bend your alignment cam tab. Loose alignment cams will fold them over even from a hard pothole hit. Better to just weld a bead behind the alignment cam tab or get a reinforcement kit. Plus you don’t have drainage for water and mud that can get into the LCA as well. A better solution would be something like MC’a frame brace kit that I have on.

I actually “off-road” and RCI steel skids are great.

 

Problem I’m seeing with the RCI skids is they are sold out lol

 

I have their sliders, and full aluminum skid package. I’m not rock crawling, but have driven some pretty rough Forest Service “roads”. Good piece of mind, and the engine skid saved my a$$ when I flipped a rock out of the road and dropped into the hole it left. I’m completely happy with them. Considering the tank skid and rear diff skid now.
Biggest consideration I see for most people is locale, that products are mostly comparable across vendors. I’m close to RCI, so could avoid shipping expenses.

 

I have RCI aluminum skids, front TRD Pro, on my '17 TRDOR and on my wifes '16 4R.

 

RCI makes good stuff, but if you're looking at other options, check out the Cali Raised front skid plate too. It's USA-made, bolt-on, and built to take abuse. Mine’s been through plenty of rocky trails and it’s held up without issue.

They also do free shipping and no sales tax (outside CA), which saves a bit compared to others.

Here’s their full armor lineup for Tacomas:
2016–2020 Tacoma Rock Sliders & Armor – Cali Raised LED

Solid option if you're building out protection front to back.

 

I in that “forest service road” group. I’ve hit plenty of rocks with my lostar skid. Which is the trd knockoff. Lots of scrapes some feel sorta deep. I have a talon cat protector, no marks, but right next to that dumb ass exhaust pipe crossover is a gnarly rock scrape. pics later

 

RCI is fine I have all there steel

 

Straight copy of the AI response, huh?

 

I have RCI skids, but I don't really like them on the 3rd gen Tacoma. For example the front skid requires that you remove some braces from the lower radiator support to the (sub?)frame. 2nd Gens didn't have those braces, and it looks like RCI took the lazy approach and used the same old design for the third gen. The purpose of those braces is debatable, but to me they look like they are there for crash safety (they are secured with beefy 17mm head bolts). There are also reports of people hitting a rock high on the skid plate, bending it and the lower radiator support, particularly with aluminum skid plates.

The TRD skid plate keeps the front braces, but it doesn't integrate well with RCI's transmission skid. It ends up sitting a half inch high on top of the transmission skid.

Now removing the braces does gain a little clearance, but personally I don't think it's necessary or worth it. So I now run the TRD front skid.

And similarly, the RCI transmission skid requires removing the diagonal braces. The purpose of those is debated, with 90% of people saying they don't do anything without any info to back it up. To me they look like they provide torsional stability to the transmission crossmember. Whatever the purpose, Toyota wouldn't have kept them around all these years if they were unnecessary. The RCI 4th Gen 4Runner transmission skid plate works with the diagonal braces, but for some reason the 3rd gen Tacoma one does not. I was able to modify mine simply by drilling some extra holes, cutting 1/2 and inch off the corner of the catalytic converter guards, and finding some longer bolts. But I'd prefer the skid to come that way from RCI with properly aligned and toleranced holes.

In short RCI skids are functional, but it seems like they've made zero attempt to improve their designs for newer vehicles. They are local to me which is nice, and their customer service is always great. But I'd be hesitant to buy them again.

 

full rci alum skids here, bashed the tcase skid twice (where the exhaust portion is low) and it held up very well. i pretty much dropped the truck on it too and it did its job

 

Exhaust re-route for my truck was $100. No more low-hanging tail-pipe. Post in your "regional" for a shop recommendation.