Which skid plate?

I have a 2017 Tundra with a super rusty ready to fall off skid plate. Which one do you guys like? If it is the RCI what version do you like? Also, any chance it comes with mounting hardware?

 

RCI makes good ones, both aluminum and steel. Steel is a bit heavier and can rust. Aluminum can gouge and maybe not slide as easily off of rocks. The OME aluminum skid that came on the earlier Pro’s, is pretty much identical to the RCI aluminum one. These are occasionally available for sale when people can’t use it, after modifying their front suspension.

whatever you do, make sure you get one that has a removable hatch for access to the oil filter. The newer OEM ones don’t have that

 

I would probably go aluminum RCI. You like the bare aluminum or black powder coat?

 

I have a 2020 Tundra. When I searches for my skid plate, catalytic converter (CC) thefts were up. After doing product comparisons, I settled on the aluminum RCI because they offered a CC shield attachment, oil filter access door, and the price point was less than the others. I’ve had it for about a year now and no issues.

 

It probably depends on how you treat your truck. Are you spending a lot of time laying down under there at the mall? Or crawling over stumps and rocks? If it’s the latter, why care about the paint?
Mine came stock on my 2015 Pro. It’s plain aluminum and has sustained some dings and scratches with no problems.

 

Do they come with the mounting hardware?

 

I’m just gonna drop this here… but we all know i am Biased.

https://talonsgarage.com/products/toyota-tundra-full-skid-plate-package-2007-2021

 

RCI has a terrible record for not including all the stuff

 

RCI.

 

Raw dog it.

@OldGuy03

 

Legit

 

RCI vote for me. I went with steel, I live in a dry climate. Aluminum is fine if you don't plan to heavy offroad.

 

RCI

 

Now that it isn't the middle of the night...

Are you looking for a full skid package, or just the front skid?

Do you go offroad at all? If so is it more dirt roads or are you rock bouncing your tundra? (I have a nice dent in my A pillar from trying to follow a tundra at Jamboree...)

Where are you located, is salted roads an issue, or do you ever drive on the beach near the ocean?

Is Catalytic converter protection a factor for you at all?

 

RCI all day. Have had their skids on a few builds now. Get the steel if you ever see dirt. If you ever need it to be an actual skid plate- you are gonna be happy you did. And yes, it comes with hardware. Super easy install just have to be able to lift it under the truck and get it lined up.

 

I’ve been some places with aluminum. Until you regear - unsprung weight is always a concern imo.






ETA - no argument steel slides better and if I have 5.29 gears I’d prefer steel. But my truck already weighs 7100 with just my daily stuff running alum skids front and middle.

 

Killer looking rig. I think aluminum is fine and it clearly works- I'm just speaking from experience of aluminum skids being too thin and having to replace them and then kicking myself for trying to save a few lb. To be fair that was on a jeep and I have not used an alum skid from RCI- glad to hear they are holding up well

 

big truck, big protection...I can attest to CBI steel skids can take one hell of a beating and keep going...

 

That’s fair. I’ve had to reshape my front with a BFH once - couple creases / scars but no punctures or thinning that I’m concerned about. RCI uses 1/4” on their aluminum skids.

 

Just picked up the RCI last night. For under $300 shipped for the steel 2-piece plate was a no brainer. Plan to swap it on when I do the front diff oil soon. Hopefully will make that process a little easier and give me access to another zerk on the front driveshaft. Plan is to add a few weld on nuts so dropping the access plate in the future should be pretty quick

 

Biggest thing to consider when going from steel to aluminum is thickness. When determining the strength of plate materials thickness is to the second power. So doubling the thickness makes it 8 times stronger.

When I was digging into it I think I determined the difference between 3/16 and 1/4” ended up being 2x stronger.


The big negative to aluminum that I have noticed is it tends to gouge and scratch up a lot more.

 

Yea honestly I jumped the gun on being anti aluminum. Def personal bias cause whatever aluminum I had on my jeep was like running sandpaper. Hit a tree stub and it pretty much destroyed it. I think any skid is better than nothing- I just have OCD to the point of knowing I have steel makes me feel better lol

 

All good - we all tend to favor where we put our money - myself included. I’m pretty sure when taking the thickness into account - the math showed the strength difference was <10%. Aluminum definitely grabs the rock more though. Pros and cons to both.

 

This is valid. I have aluminum under my bronco right now because it’s still set up from going to an event and it shows up better on film. I did some stupid stuff and was very happy with how it held up. A lot of the key to making a skid plate with aluminum is also in the design. I’ll go into details a few things we do on our skids to help that tomorrow when I’m at work.

 

It seems ever since they have been bought out that they are trying to drive down prices to where ours are.

I’ll do everyone one else on this thread one better. Send me a PM, and I’ll give you a code good for 10% off anything on our site for the next 48 hours.

 

I was definitely doing some late night number crunching yesterday.
Very generous of you!. I preach your name whenever the cat plate topic comes up. Hope all is well and that new-ish plate bender is getting plenty of workout.

Forum members, if you're in the market of picking up a steel skid for off-roading, now is the time. I crunch numbers on 2.5 gen products constantly. Trust me. Unless you're going used, you wont find a cheaper price on a steel skid plate than what @Talon2006 is offering right now. Send him a message and

 

damn this is tempting and such a generous offer. You've got me thinking...

 

Also takes our aluminum into this range as well. We also do offer powder on the aluminum skids as well.

 

Have RCI Skids and I can access all the zerks for lubing my shaft....