Skid Plate Recommendations

Was a little too aggressive with some late night trail running and realize I need a better skid plate. Is there really any difference between RCI, Valhalla, and/or Victory? They seem to all be about the same cost for the 1/4 inch aluminum, powder coating, etc.

 

I noticed you listed Valhalla which is made as a antitheft device to protect the cats. Can it take a beating? Probably. Point is not all the skid plates are made to protect cats from theft....yet

The other consideration is access to the oil filter. Most of the plates have an access door some don't

Also some of the kits extend protection for additional components such as your gas tank and transmission and transfer case. I've seen kits, like CBI's, that protects the rear diff and the lower control arms.

Most are offered in steel or aluminum.

The last feature is drain holes, not all have drain holes.

 

Valhalla makes an engine skid plate as well as his cat plates.

 

Anything would be better than the TRD skid - might be strong as hell but too many issues with creaks and squeaks!!

 

I have the RCI engine skid. It is really nice. If you want all of your skids to match and protect your cats, go with Valhalla. @Classy63 can answer your questions.

 

Is that a common thing with the TRD one, the noises?

 

The RCI skid does pair well with Valhalla cat plates. This is the setup I have and all 3 skid/plates go quite well together. RCI is supposedly maki a cat plate but I have no idea of the status.

 

Yes. But it intermittent in the sense that some TRD skid plates have the creak and some don’t - mine of course has it and just when you think you have it fixed it creakes it’s way back into your life…

 

Interesting. I am waiting on Valhalla cat protection/skid plates but haven't pulled the plug on front plate yet. Good to know, creaking noise would drive me nuts.

 

Get the Valhalla skid - I have his cat protectors and he makes a good product…

 

RCI is just making a bolt on addition to their current plate.

 

RCI has a "tax time" 15% discount, so it comes out to a little over $400 shipped (aluminum, powder coat, and 1/4 in). Valhalla is about an extra $150 for the same thing.

 

Anyone else have the issue of your OEM TRD skid plate creaking while you turn your wheels at slow speeds? I heard that this can be prevented with spacers.

 

You can put some weather stripping between the frame and skid. As long as you torque the bolts to the factory specs it *shouldnt* squeak.

 

That is a good trick @MadMaxCanon. I'll try it out. I have taken the skid plate off and then reinstalled it and it went away for a while.

 

Yea mine has felt between the frame and skid and is holding up fine so far…