RCI cat protection is coming

Where there is a will, there is a way. These will for sure act as a deterrent. They're better than nothing and as an add on to what many of us had already, a no brainer. With having the trans skid and wings there, it provides all kinds of mounting spots to provide more protection if you wanted. Even just a piece or two of sheet stock with a 90 degree bend attached to the top side of the trans skid could provide a wall against a sawzall. For the gaps in question, a u shaped metal bridge could be installed on the topside of the skid using the existing mounting holes (at least on the passenger side).

That said, who wants to make a plate that bolts to the factory running board holes and just spans the whole truck at this point? Straight up racecar style. Might even improve aero and get us those high mpg #'s we've been searching for

 

Well I just seen they do not offer aluminum, bummer

 

Installing mine now. Not impressed with the coverage on the rear cats (basically none at all). Not sure why they didn't just make the wing a few inches longer so it goes further toward towards the frame rail instead of leaving a big gap.

And I didn't even get an instruction sheet or hardware list with mine. Looks like it's all here though.

 

I don't think they print off/send instruction sheets. Instead, they are posted on their website. You can download and/or print them from there. They include the parts list.

I agree, I think there could be tweaks to the product to provide a bit more coverage, but I think this will discourage most opportunistic thieves. A well prepared, organized syndicate will still get them though. Those guys would probably just take the whole truck anyway.

 

With more photos of these installed I would have to agree. I'm disappointed like some of you. I would have gotten vahalla but its just too long of a wait and I need something, I know he’s a one man show compared to rci. But they said it’s a cat protection “unlike any other” lmao.

The 2nd and 3rd pics were what I wanted to see and asked rci to show that. We all know they can just cut the rears off the rear cats but this just shows the coverage is just terrible.

 

I’m sending mine back. I think if a thief crawls under my truck with these on, he’ll just laugh and take the rear cats to spite me and to make up for the time he took to get under the truck and show me that these didn’t stop him. I don’t these would deter any thief who is already under your truck.

 

This is my thought as well. You had Vahalla ones as well right?

 

Yes. Was hoping to sell them, but I’ll just put them on now.

 

I'd probably return mine too, but I've been waiting forever for these and it's better than nothing. At least for now.

 

Picking up mine tomorrow. Hope to take some photos and talk with the guys about any gap issues others are having.

 

So ? Anyone have estimated shop hours to put rci cat protectors on. I'm old, no tools an what to keep the economy going ...2019 tundra with skid plates on.

 

An hour of labor

 

I got an email from RCI today. There on the way. But through FedEx.

 

I got an email today at least part of my order is coming.

 

Got mine- easy instal except for dull drill bits. There is a gap that needs to addressed by either RCI redoing the rears or possibly taking mine to a metal shop and having them weld extensions to rear tab.

 

Yeah the rears are barely guarding anything. Fronts are well covered. Should have just sold it as a two piece set instead of 4.

 

I’m guessing they wont seeing how long it took for them to develop these “wings” unlike any other.

 

if u wanna go down a rabbit hole search up jeep skid plates and see how much they cover vs toyotas and the cost lol. we getting that overland tax

 

This is a bummer. Got my cat plates yesterday, new trans skid last week. going to try and return both and wait it out for Valhalla

 

Hi guys thanks for all the response and good feedback on the new cat guards! So long story short, we did an extensive cost analysis on whether or not it made sense to "Thoroughly" protect the rear cat (particularly the passenger side) and concluded that the additional $50 or so that the product would have to cost was not justified at this point and would not add enough value to the customer. The fact of the matter is that these are a theft deterrent and in less than 5 minutes every bolt head could be cut off with a grinder leaving the cats wide open. We determined that criminals who do this are very familiar with the vehicles they are taking them from, and when they see the added complication on a particular truck they are going to move on. The primary purpose of the rear cat guard is to make it difficult to cut the front of the rear cat which we believe it is effective in doing.

At this point there are hundreds of our cat guards out there and we have yet to hear of a single theft, BUT if for some reason that is to change we will absolutely look into an alternative solution.

Thanks again guys and please let us know if you there is anything we can do to help or improve!

 

Thanks for posting on this thread, Josh. You can see concerns in post 185 where Jordan easily places a sawzall to the front of the rear cat. In the possibility of this alternative solution, will that include correcting plates to those that have already purchased?

 

Wouldn't that $50 cost saving get passed to the consumer anyhow for the product? I'm sure those buying your product would not mind that much of an increased in cost for better protection. Seeing how much each cat costs to replace. And for the hundreds of your guards out there, people are barely receiving their orders so if course you aren't going to hear about the thefts on the vehicle with your product. Also like the above post mentioned post 185 shows the concerns.

 

Yes it would get passed on to the consumer but a higher price would also reduce sales volumes and ultimately be detrimental to all parties. We have found that new product launches tend to be highly critiqued, no matter how good the product. From that experience we've decided it is not prudent to make changes prematurely because most concerns go away as soon as there is a track record to back them up. I am more than confident our product provides the best protection available in all aspects, so for now we will let time prove their value.

 

FedEx literally delivered mine 30 min ago. Hoping to get installed in the next few days, if not tomorrow. I would have gladly paid an extra $50 for better rear cat protection, I did pay $50k for my truck after all, so an extra $50 is nothing. In the end, the way these sit, they might be good enough after all, time will tell.

 

Considering the alternatives are long lead times...no advantage in placing an order now from where I sit. I'd rather pay the $50 bucks now but that is me especially since I was in the market for a skid plate anyway. I'm sorry but for the vast majority of your customers the $50 argument is a really lame one. Everyone wouldn't blink at that....

 

@RCIoffroad While I don’t have an RCI trans skid or cat guards, I do think the $50 excuse for less protection is a weak argument. As pointed out the rear cat can easily be cut so the saving of $50 is only as good until the rear cars are stolen and then will take months and thousands to replace. I do have the RCI engine and a-arm skids and have always like the quality. I’m really surprised to see corners cut like this.

I’m chiming in because I learned a long time ago in business to supply what the customer wants and not what I perceive they want. If not, competitors will.

 

Yeah not like it what I’m hearing, sounds like RCI wants tell us what’s best for us when they've been provided clear proof of weakness in their product. Also avoided answering any of my questions, this is all just lame PR talk.
I’m not going to waste my time with these “cat guards”, nor recommend them to anyone. They’re still in the box so I’ll either return these guards and trans plate or sell them. This was my first experience with an RCI product. Safe to say it will be my last.

 

Rci going on monday! Thanks guys.

 

I talked to Adventure Motors here in town that installs RCI products...they were disappointed to hear about the concerns on the rear cat coverage. They said they will look for alternatives until it is resolved....

 

Off topic but still relevant.."
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) - Six Missourians pleaded guilty in federal court to a multi-million dollar scheme to transport tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines.

According to a Homeland Security Investigation, Evan Marshall, 24, of Rogersville, was the ring leader in a plan that spanned from December 2019 to October 2021.

Marshall admitted he bought tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters directly from his co-defendants and from other thieves, and sold the stolen catalytic converters for a total of approximately $1 million