RCI Front Skid Mod

You need a hug. I’ll provide the hug and beers. Maybe some cuddles. Then we can go smash rocks on our heads, don’t worry I’ll check your oil when we are done.

 

Hahah you had me at cuddles

 

I can jack my truck up from my BAMF skid from anywhere along the bottom of the truck. No uhmw needed.

 

BAMF skids are OVERKILL. 1/4" steel is pure beef... like all of their products. I have their sliders and love em.

 

@NukedTaco 5 months later, is the double sided tape holding up? About to order similar plastic or some delrin or something like that to do this. But was thinking of just drilling a hold and bolting it into place. Just countersink the top side so its not the part contacting the factory jack point.

 

It's holding up just fine. The plastic is wedged between the skid and the jack point so it doesn't move at all when the skid is installed.

 

Dont see the point in this. The skid plate is plenty strong to hold up as a jack point.

 

OP, myself and many others are running aluminum skids for reasons. Aluminum does not handle flex like steel does. I dont rock crawl. I hunt and overland so the aluminum skod is plenty for me running over brush, pushing over small trees and the occassional accidental rock hit. Not to mention i have a 4cyl ao weight savings is key.

Anyways, aluminum doesnt handle flex stress lile steel. Repeated flexing like putting a jack there will eventually crack the aluminum either there or at a mounting point elsewhere. Its just how aluminum is. Even 1/4 aluminum has its cons

 

@NukedTaco i really like this mod; if you happen to remember so I don’t have to pull out a tape measure — do you recall the LxW of the umhw you used (I’m seeing you can buy in 6x6, 6x8, 8x8 etc). Also any was 3x layers of 1/8” the max thickness or wondering if buying 1 piece at 1/4” achieves same outcome (no worries if not sure on second question). Thx so much!

 

I think I bought a 12x12 sheet but had leftover material so you could probably get away with a smaller size. I chose 1/8 because the gap I had was 3/8”. If you used 2 layers of 1/4” or 1 of 1/2” it might be a tight fit.

 

@NukedTaco thanks for this idea, think I will do something similar. Not sure if I will leave it in place, or just slide it in before using the jack point.

I installed CBI aluminum skids to save weight over steel skids, I don't do hard core wheeling but wanted protection for when I do something stupid (which didn't take long). The CBIs have a similar gap to the factory jack point as your RCI setup, I'm getting ready to install a suspension and want to lift from the center of the truck.

I was out on a trail a couple weeks ago and hit something, there was a muddy section of trail and a rock must have been hiding. The skids absolutely did their job, glad I had them on. But after that little event I wanted to be careful to not damage the skids with a jack. I can handle damaging them on the trail, but would feel bad if I somehow did it with a jack. Your idea is cheap insurance!

 

Hey Nuke, did you fasten the UHMW plates to each other or to the skid or frame? Or did you just slide them in there and tighten the skids?

 

Thanks for sharing this OP. I have the RCI skid, and totally worth it to me for $12

UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) Polyethylene Sheet, Smooth, Black, 1/8" Thick, 12" Width, 12" Length

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070ZAR8I?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp Just ordered

 

This dude wins.

 

I just used some double sided tape to keep them from moving around.

 

Hey guys, if you are worried about damage to your aluminum skids from the jack, just do what I do when I jack my nice car up. I place a Hockey puck on the jack saddle and it is higher than the steel prongs on the saddle, so the vehicle is resting on the puck. I think it would work for your scenario.

 

Funny I specifically asked RCI about this and they said there was nothing to worry about jacking up with the aluminum.