RCI Skid Help

Anyone self install RCI skids? I bought a full skid set and have had a hellish experience installing. The front skid came with the wrong bolts so I had to seek those out, of which one still will not thread. I finally figured out what the cross bar was for no thanks to what I would call lousy instructions at best. Now for an end to the night I have to go get new bolts for the tranny and transfer case skids because the ones provided are not long enough.

Bigger issue is that the gas tank skid came with no hardware and I can not figure a way to mount it. It has four holes as pictured of which there are no corresponding brackets or mounts to attach to... anyone had this same issue by chance?

 

Use the "thread tools" drop down menu at the upper right side to change your title to the correct spelling, this will help those interested. Though I have a 2015, I also had some trouble with my rci install. It required that I drill the ifs skid to accommodate the hardware. Mine was aluminum so it was easy. Rci makes skids for lots of different trucks like f150s, and it is possible you recieved the wrong parts. more pics may help diagnosis

 

Here's the pic on their website of the gas tank skid.... I'm really hoping dropping my tank is not a requirement for installation. I would'nt know though because no instruction was provided

 

The TRD OR comes with a factory skid tank for fuel tank. Said skid also has mounting hardware.. I'm guessing you'll need to buy the hardware and mounts

 

I used my factory bolts on my front skid plate.

 

If u did not already have a skid on the gas tank, then u will need to buy the straps that go around the tank. Rci sells them.

I also want a full rci skid system. If u don't mind, how much was everything?

 

Did you have to remove something other than the factory skid? There's no way my factory bolts will fit as is, gotta be missing something.

 

Come to find out the sport trim doesn't have the studs on the straps to bolt onto ugh! I paid just shy of $1200 with a few pieces powder coated and then painted the rest.

 

No instructions? Missing pieces. RCI needs to step up.

 

Yea Josh from RCI called me this morning and was pretty helpful as far as informing me that they changed the way they mount the cross bar for the tranny skid. Also letting me know that I would need to purchase off road straps to mount the gas tank skid. Not sure how that changes the fact I was sent old instructions the had the wrong hardware though, as well as no information stating you need to spend an extra $150 for tank straps when the skid was $180 itself. I feel they should have owned this one and comped me some straps.

 

You can get the gas tank straps from Amazon.

 

Yeah the the tow hook. I think I have pics somewhere. If not let me look through my scrap pile and see if I can take pics of what you need to remove.

 

Says this on his site quite clearly:

 

I believe the RCI website says you need to have an Off Road or buy the gas tank skid brackets before installing the tank skid

 

That would be super helpful!

 

Rci ifs skid does not require removal of the tow hook or non OR recovery point

 

There are two models one allowing the brackets underneath the factory skid to remain the other requiring their removal. I believe that for the 2016 you must remove these u shaped brackets. Not sure about this though. However, I drilled mine to allow the brackets to remain, then reused the bolts that hold the factory skid to the two brackets. See pic in post above

 

where'd you get that recovery point from?
did you need to drill? rated for a snatch recovery?

 

That's the factory recovery point painted red. It comes on SR5, and sport models. The OR models have a hook. Your truck has this or a hook. The manual says it can be used to tow on a flat surface but plenty of people including myself have used it to recover/yank tree stumps, etc

 

The Fuel Tank Skid requires you to already have Toyota's Off-Road fuel tank straps. If you don't have them already (they have bolts welded onto the straps that hold the fuel tank to the truck) there's a company called "Spectra" that makes them cheaper than you can buy them from Toyota. I put those on my truck and then all you need is washers and nuts.

I did a full set of RCI skids by myself. And yes, it is a son of a bitch to do with only two hands. The skid plate for the transfer case (where that cross bar is you're likely talking about) is most difficult simply because of the way Toyota routed their exhaust pipe under the transfer case. If you do an exhaust re-route you won't need the cross bar (which is just a giant shim) and it's much easier to install.

Instructions aren't the best - I'll agree.