Install full RCI front skid or not needed?

I ordered the steel front skid plate from RCI Offroad. This is the plate to cover the front and oil filter and it has the oil filter door in it. It also came with an attached extension that covers the oil pan, unlike my stock plate. The extension piece unbolts if I dont want to use it.

I planned on using the whole thing but I have a cat protector plate and the RCI oil plan cover will need to be bolted into the same place in the front as the cat plate. It shouldn't be too bad but will take some work.

I don't off road with the truck so I am thining about just not using the oil cover. It should save some weight and I am also wondering it covering most of the oil pan would lead to additional heat.

Opinions or thoughts on this?

pic for reference

 

Hey, it's your truck, you can do anything you want with it

However, that extra weight won't make a difference unless you're removing the whole skidplate on a regular basis... but nothing comes to mind that would force such situation.
Don't worry about heat, air will still flow around it.

 

I didn’t install the extension plate because the front plate is larger than OEM and I wanted oil changes to be easier. …and in reality it’s only a princess pavement family/towing vehicle for me.

The weight difference will not make any difference…honestly I would leave it. The extra protection will never hurt you.

 

What's the point of a skid plate if you don't off road?

 

I believe that photo that you posted shows that plate as one piece. They have since changed the design “for simple installation and removal with basic hand tools” I have the one piece version installed with the trans plate as well and it’s not that complicated to get them all mated up correctly.

 

Yup, old pic. Mine has the oil pan plate that unbolts right behind the three large inset bolt holes

 

My vote would be to go ahead and install it after all you paid for it. The plate has a notch in it so it’s not a problem to get to the drain bolt.

 

EDIT**

Duh, I am a fool didn’t read your question right! I have plenty of scratches to my plate and I have never been off-road. He have a lot of garbage on our highways.

Personally, just to never have to remove the skid plate to change the oil. I never owned a Toyota truck that didn’t end up having broken skid plate bolts (mostly due to rust…I always undertorqued them even though it didn’t make a difference after a few years).

 

I’ve probably hit a half dozen things on the highway here in CA. Biggest one was an entire rear light assembly (a big one-piece like from a Durango or something). Was going too fast to swerve so said screw-it and hit the skinny pedal. College roommate and his dad were asleep. Woke up and said “what the hell was that”

 

Mostly THIS!

I will find a way to get it in there then. I also have a Fumoto valve to go on with the next oil change.

 

Now sure what cat protector plate you have, but I’ve got the TRD Pro skid plate and the Valhalla Cat plates (front and rear) and I have no issue getting to my Fumoto valve at all.

 

Of course you should put the whole thing on. If you hit something, even on road or camping, you'll need more than just the front portion to protect your underside.

Why wouldn't you?

As pointed out, it has an oil door access point.

 

Ok, it is all on and snugged up. I already have OT this week so I left work at 3pm and I was finished with the RCI plate around 6 pm. I took my time and had to find tools and cleaned all up afterwards.

I have the cat-shield cat cover that is bolted to the crossmember and I put RCI plate on the top of that where and it overlaps an inch or so. The holes on the RCI plate lined up with the cat cover bolt holes and that was what I mostly worried about. I am not sure how it is supposed to be attached but I put the long bolts down through from the top of the crossmember and was able to get enough tension on it to tighten down.If the cat plate wasnt on there I could have more easily put the bolts up through the crossmember.

I also put double nuts on there with a little blue locktite. The bolts studs only hang down a inch or so and I did them that way in case I need to take it off to service the transmission. There were no instructions with the RCI plate so maybe it was supposed to be that way.

The oil drain is easily accessible and the plate is heavy duty. I am glad I put it on for road debris and whatever my wife might run over. thanks for the help and opinions.

 

Shit that reminds me.. I ran over a spare tire....well actually I drove over a spare tire... but still, it would've caused some damage.

 

Yes, protection from damage running over armadillos

 

I thought they were just TX speed bumps?