Skid Plates?

I know there is a thread similar to this one going on, but I just want a simple no BS answer. Should I go with the steel or aluminum RCI plates for light overlanding? And is rust a factor if they are powder coated?

 

Pick your preference and your budget. Personally, from what I know as a Metallurgist, and what I've read on here about RCI's product, you can't go wrong with either.

Rust can become an issue over a long period of time with any steel part that is getting dinged up. For the most part, the powdercoating will protect it, but any coating gets nicks, dings, and scratches, especially in a skid plate application. The steel, where exposed to water & oxygen is going to rust given enough time. The aluminum wont rust, but it will still show scratches, nicks, dings, etc.

Like I said, pick your preference. Both appear to be a quality product. Let us know what you decide on, and post a picture when you do!

 

I got the aluminum ones for less weight but very similar protection

@RCIoffroad

 

I went steel, and wish I would’ve went aluminum just for the weight savings.
That’s badass!

 

Is the little extra weight that big of a deal?

 

If you live in rust belt states aluminum is a no brainer. My Tundra is now 11yrs old. Total time in CO and you would be hard pressed to find any rust. That's why I went with steel over aluminum.

 

Aluminum here.

Rust belt, salted roads, or near the coast and I'd go with aluminum.

Everything steel here rusts. More maintenance that I don't need. I go out of my way for aluminum or 316 stainless on all of my toys, trailers, bikes...

 

Ok, I have never heard of rust belt states before. I am in Louisiana.

 

No, it's not. Welcome, Ryder, from SoCal!

How much serious off-roading will you do, dropping your truck down on rocks?

I'm in SoCal so not as worried as others about salt corrosion and rust. But I've set my truck down on big rocks several times, so I chose steel. Means I'll hafta touch up coating after every off-road adventure. But since I got it for protection, I went steel (a few guys on here that wheel hard have thrashed their aluminum skids).

 

I am in south Louisiana. I do not plan on doing anything too crazy.

 

I think it's humid and muddy there? I'd go aluminum.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_Belt

 

Nope. But after you start adding bumpers, sliders, skids, etc it eventually adds up.

 

Yes, it is constantly humid and muddy here, but I don't want to sacrifice protection to avoid rust.

 

That's true.

 

Yeah, I like the protection of steel. But, seriously, unless you've got serious Jeep trails you plan to crawl and drop your truck on boulders (in which case, you'd better get rock sliders even before skids, so you don't thrash your frame or door rockers), if I lived where you do (and would be driving through water, submerging the skid), I'd go aluminum. 'Cause it's easy to spray paint the underside after a play day, but a pain in the ass to remove the skid to sand and re-coat the top side.

Most on here would probably agree, if you want skids for protection against hits from random rocks or debris thrown up from the roadway, aluminum will probably be fine; but if you're gonna push your truck over obstacles on a dare , steel would be a good decision.