1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

RCI tranny and cat guards

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by running214, Jan 9, 2023.

  1. Jan 9, 2023 at 6:17 PM
    #1
    running214

    running214 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2022
    Member:
    #88049
    Messages:
    86
    Bilstein 5100's, Morimoto gen 2 XB headlights and fog lights, TRD sway bar and skid plates. Nothing else needed!
    Just installed the cat guards on my tranny skidplate. I had the RCI plate, and after my neighbor had her cats stolen from her driveway, I decided to add the cat protection to my ride. I dont think RCI thought through the install completely, as there is absolutely no way to attach two carriage bolts on the driver's side. Luckily, after the passenger side is all tightened up, along with the front two bolts, the plate is solid as hell, but it is something I'm going to call RCI about.
    If you're looking to protect your cats, this is soooooo worth while! Keep in mind that in many places the wait time for cats is 9+ months, and the cost is ridiculous. So worth it to have a little prevention! The fit is incredible, and trust me when I tell you no one is going to get access to those cats!

    IMG_0560.jpg

    IMG_0561.jpg
    IMG_0562.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2023
  2. Jan 9, 2023 at 6:49 PM
    #2
    GratefulDean

    GratefulDean Swagless

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2020
    Member:
    #47923
    Messages:
    64
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dean
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra SR5 TRD in Cement Grey
    Bed Rack, Decked System, Softopper
    I may hit you up when I go to install mine. I got the full skid package with the guards. I figured I could have added sliders and still came out ahead against 4 new catalytic converters. I just drove up and picked it all up. I’m hoping to do the install this weekend.
     
    Sonicbluerider likes this.
  3. Jan 9, 2023 at 8:31 PM
    #3
    Pnoy_toy

    Pnoy_toy New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2017
    Member:
    #8594
    Messages:
    54
    You can try to fully disconnect the rear crossmember bracket supplied by RCI, pull down on the transmission skid plate and you should be able to squeeze your hand in to bolt up the small carriage bolts. I used duct tape to keep the bolt in place while I finagled the washer, lock washer and nut in to place. Use a ratcheting box wrench to tighten this up. I too believe RCI overlooked this step but it is doable. Hopefully this helps
     
  4. Jan 9, 2023 at 8:34 PM
    #4
    BravoDeltaRomeo

    BravoDeltaRomeo Old Man Little Blue Finger

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2019
    Member:
    #35569
    Messages:
    3,678
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bruce
    MB Canada
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cavalry Blue Tundra CM
    I got my 15y old to get his skinny arms to do the install on mine.

    It's doable.
     
    Pnoy_toy[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Jan 9, 2023 at 8:34 PM
    #5
    MedCityMoto

    MedCityMoto SciTech Nerd

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2022
    Member:
    #82569
    Messages:
    1,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2.5gen CM SR5 TRD OffRoad
    How are folks installing the two bolts in the front of the cat shield / behind or under the TRD skidplate? The hardware I've got all requires getting a hand over the top of things to reach nuts to tighten things down, and I haven't found a route to get hands up there.
     
  6. Jan 10, 2023 at 6:47 AM
    #6
    running214

    running214 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2022
    Member:
    #88049
    Messages:
    86
    Bilstein 5100's, Morimoto gen 2 XB headlights and fog lights, TRD sway bar and skid plates. Nothing else needed!
    @MedCityMoto RCI provides a new piece of flat metal that has two nuts on it, and you dont need to access the top of the cross member once you install this piece. With this bar installed, you use two, thinner bolts that you leave loose while you install the RCI plate between the TRD plate and the crossmember. Without that flat bar from RCI I dont know of a way to get your hands up there to hold a wrench on the nut.
     
  7. Jan 10, 2023 at 7:03 AM
    #7
    JCBerb

    JCBerb Semper Fi

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Member:
    #7030
    Messages:
    376
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joel
    Vehicle:
    2017 CM LImited
    C4 Overland bumper, BD SAE fogs, Leitner Designs Rack, Rago Bed Channel Stiffiners, Warn Xeon 12S Plarinum, Bedslide, Front Runner Roof Rack, roof rack solar panels, RCI Full under carriage aluminum studs, RCI rear diff skid, Rago dash plate, Rago accessory panels, OEM LED headlights with wiring harness.
    I managed to squeeze my hand in their just barely with ratchet wrench. I didn't like the hex head bolts. It was cumbersome but doable.
     
  8. Jan 10, 2023 at 7:37 AM
    #8
    MedCityMoto

    MedCityMoto SciTech Nerd

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2022
    Member:
    #82569
    Messages:
    1,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2.5gen CM SR5 TRD OffRoad
    Ahhh that'll do it then, my shields are from another vendor and don't have notches, just holes. I'll do the notch-cutting myself and pick up one of these nut holder plates from RCI or Valhalla
     
  9. Jan 10, 2023 at 10:13 AM
    #9
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2020
    Member:
    #56832
    Messages:
    953
    Do these shields cause premature wear on the cats do to heat retention?
     
  10. Jan 10, 2023 at 11:56 AM
    #10
    running214

    running214 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2022
    Member:
    #88049
    Messages:
    86
    Bilstein 5100's, Morimoto gen 2 XB headlights and fog lights, TRD sway bar and skid plates. Nothing else needed!
    Ive read around the different forums and no one has said that has been an issue. The guards are vented, so I dont think so, but in all honesty ive never come across a study that would determine that....
     
    Rocko9999 likes this.
  11. Jan 10, 2023 at 12:12 PM
    #11
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2020
    Member:
    #56832
    Messages:
    953
    I guess with a infrared thermometer it wouldn't be to hard to test in a few scenarios with plates on/off. I think stop and go traffic or idling would be the highest chance of it trapping heat.
     
  12. Jan 10, 2023 at 12:28 PM
    #12
    BravoDeltaRomeo

    BravoDeltaRomeo Old Man Little Blue Finger

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2019
    Member:
    #35569
    Messages:
    3,678
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bruce
    MB Canada
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cavalry Blue Tundra CM
    I'm not taking mine off to test. ;)
     
  13. Jan 10, 2023 at 12:29 PM
    #13
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2020
    Member:
    #56832
    Messages:
    953
    I don't blame you!
     
  14. Jan 10, 2023 at 12:50 PM
    #14
    MedCityMoto

    MedCityMoto SciTech Nerd

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2022
    Member:
    #82569
    Messages:
    1,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2.5gen CM SR5 TRD OffRoad
    Living in the MN cold this winter, can confirm they make zero difference in heat retention, tho I wish right about now!
     
    BravoDeltaRomeo likes this.
  15. Jan 17, 2023 at 5:06 PM
    #15
    GCanuck

    GCanuck Member since 2020

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2020
    Member:
    #49167
    Messages:
    348
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    BC,Canada
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra DC MGM TRD Sport
    TRD Swaybars. Line-X bed liner. Toyota Tri-fold Tonneau. N-fab side bars. TRD cold air. AMP bed extender. Rough Country Level kit. BFG A/T K02. RCI Skids. OEM Tow mirrors. TRD exhaust
    If you read the instructions there is a threaded metal piece that comes with the kit that sits above the crossmember. sit that up there and start the bolts leaving them loose and then slide the tranny skid plate UNDER the front plate. Tighten them up later when all is aligned. Some people don't like hex bolts and want carriage bolts instead. Have fun with that! Crackers aren't bringing socket sets to a cat theft party!
     
    BravoDeltaRomeo likes this.
  16. Jan 17, 2023 at 7:02 PM
    #16
    Whole EnchiTUNDRA

    Whole EnchiTUNDRA New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2023
    Member:
    #90326
    Messages:
    19
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2015 SR5 Crew Max
    This. Just did mine two weeks ago. Had to go back and loosen the bracket bolts on each side then got my wife to reach in and put the washers and nut on. Tightened with a ratcheting box wrench.
     
  17. Jan 17, 2023 at 7:27 PM
    #17
    MedCityMoto

    MedCityMoto SciTech Nerd

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2022
    Member:
    #82569
    Messages:
    1,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2.5gen CM SR5 TRD OffRoad
    My set from CatSecurity didn't come with that threaded nut retention plate to set above the crossmember, but several places do sell them separately. Bought one to make this whole process much simpler.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top