RCI Skid Plate Compatibility with cat guards

Hey guys, was looking to take advantage of the RCI cyber monday deal and purchase a skid plate. I have a front diff drop with a 3 inch lift, so that does not appear it will be an issue based on their website. My question is does the RCI plate mount in the same places the paper thin factory skid does? Reason I ask is I have cat shields from Talon that bolt to the crossmember on the frame and just wanted to make sure the skid would not interfere with this. It doesn't look like it will, but just figured I would double check.

 

I just put on the RCI skid this past weekend. It bolts on with the 5 factory skid mounting plates plus two additional in the cross member about 12" towards the rear of the truck. I suspect those are the same location as the cat shields bolt up (there is a hole through both the top and the bottom of the cross member and the RCI plate bolts with a carriage bolt on the bottom and an oversized washer, lock washer, and nut on top).

 

Bummer. I wonder if they could overlap there and still sit okay. I’ve outreached to RCI to see if they have any info on that. Thanks for your help.

 

I would guess you could drop the RCI plate down and slide the cat plate between it and the cross member. Getting your hand and a wrench back up to tighten the bolts back up will likely be the challenge.

 

I do not have a diff drop but I do have the aluminum 1/4 inch RCI front Skid and the Valhalla's shields 1/4 inch aluminum front and rear plates. Like said above, getting your hand up on top of that cross member is the hard part. If anything all you will need is slightly longer bolts and someone with a small hand to reach.

 

I have an RCI front and Desert Eagle mid. I had to cut a notch in the RCI skid so the DE bolts would clear. Im a 5’3” 120lb chick with tiny arms and had bruises on my forearms from cramming them up inside to get a wrench on. It was a bit of a bitch but not sure if all the mids use the same frame holes..

 

So it sounds like it’s doable then, just a bit of a pain. I know the Talon shield design is very similar to Valhalla so I’m happy to hear the RCI skid with the Valhalla shield worked out. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

Just out of curiosity what made you go with RCI instead of Valhalla for your skid plate? I looked at Talon but they don’t make a plate compatible with a diff drop.

 

I bought the RCI skid plate before Valhalla had an aluminum option. Midwest salty winters. I probably would have bought it all from Valhalla's otherwise. I did powder coat them all to match as well in an aluminum colored prismatic powder along with clear coat.

 

Makes sense, I'm in the northeast which is why I went with the thicker aluminum option as well.

 

So pulled the trigger on the RCI skid and was able to install it yesterday. Tight squeeze for sure trying to get those carriage bolts tightened through the shield and plate, and my forearms paid the price, but totally worth it. Now to figure out a way to get those greasy fingerprints off of that aluminum….