Transmission/ Transfer Case Skid that Works with OEM Skids

Hi everyone. I'm looking for a Transmission / Transfer Case skid that works with the OEM skid plates. Does this exist?

My needs aren't too great, just want a little added protection. I'm on the fence about buying Rival 4x4 aluminum skids but I really love that I can lift the rig from the center location on the stock skids. Don't want to lose that. Rival said they haven't tested this.

 

If your ORP is non KDSS you can have;

TRD Pro engine skid -> RCI filler skid -> RCI Transmission skid -> RCI Transfer case skid.

But IMO its much worth to replace factory skids with full skid package like RCI or any other major brand. Aluminum skids are not too heavy if weight is your concern.

 

I've done it, but I don't recommend it if you go off-road:
https://www.4runners.com/posts/665114

The bolt heads are exposed so you'll need bolt protectors.

The stock engine skid is tinfoil and can't be relied upon to protect the oil pan and front diff.

 

Thanks @kmeeg . Weight is not my concern. My concern is that I use the center jacking point a lot to lift the front end to place jack stands. Most skid plates don't include the provision for a floor jack at the center like the factory skids does.
Aftermarket skids will provide much more protection but add some additional inconvenience.

I was hoping there was something available that let's me extend what I already have further back.

 

These are really good points. I don't off road a lot where skids would be necessary. It's mostly mud and dirt here in the Houston area.

However I am headed to Moab this year and I want to make sure the 4Runner has the best chance possible of making it home. I don't expect to do anything crazy but dont want to regret trying something a bit more exciting!

Sounds like maybe I will be modifying / beefing up the bracket that comes on Rivals skids to allow me to jack it up from the front center

 

^You can do the RCI "TRD integration" skid plate package as kmeeg suggested and retain the OEM front skid with the jacking point. The skid under the engine will be RCI, avoiding the two drawbacks I mentioned.

 

For what it’s worth. I use the overlapping sections of the RCI engine and transmission skid plates as a Jack point without issues or deformation despite there being no support stud up to the frame.

 

^This.

RCI skids are beefy you can use any center section of them as a jack point.

I opted for RCI steel. They've taken some serious hits and are holding up great.

 

It might be hard to expect aftermarket skids to to integrate well with the stock skids. If you bottom out on a rock, the stock skid will usually deform to some degree. This means that if the rock slides from the stock skid to the additional aftermarket skidplate, it will hit it the aftermarket skid end-on, potentially shearing/tearing at the skid material, bolts, or the mountings.

In contrast, if you installed nothing, the rock would probably clear the space under the transmission without touching anything. (There’s a lot of space there). If you ask me, if you take reasonable lines off-road, the transmission pan does not need protection because it’s tucked up high.

The only spot I would want to protect is the exhaust crossover near the transfer case. I’ve seen some people use the RCI (or LFD) transfer skid on it’s own, but I would worry about how the skid would hold up to dragging it across a rocks/terrain when used alone. Will it scoop dirt? Will it catch a rock and tear at skidplate mounts? It’s hard to tell unless you look at it carefully and evaluate it yourself. For example, some TC skids use the brake line bolt along the frame as a mount. The design of those skids put vertical forces on the frame, not the bolt, but you should look carefully at this how it could fail in a dragging/scooping situation that result in shearing forces. The last thing you want is to get a partial skid plate solution for “just in case” protection, and end up with bolts being torn out of the frame or damaged brake lines when it drag the skid on hard dirt or rocks.

I ended up with 170lbs worth of skidplates from 4x innovations (which requires suspension changes, and increases maintainance work) because of my concern with the exhaust cross over and LCA mounting tabs. It seems like absolute overkill (it actually is), but it the skidplate system showed a level of design, engineering, and integration that surpassed everything else available.

I don’t go looking to bash it, especially since this system basically does not absorb any energy, but honestly it lets me go over anything I want to go over with very little worry. There are drawbacks though…it’s far easier to high center, it requires at least a couple of hours of removal/reinstall time to access front driveshaft maintainance or LCA bolts. And it requires suspension modification. Other skidplate systems may have similar drawbacks however, without the same level of design.

I also use it as a jack point. The designer told me he doesn’t recommend doing that, as you would expect a good engineer to say .

Oddly enough, the 4x skidplates were significantly cheaper to buy than most other skid plate options.

Eta: post with pics
https://www.4runners.com/threads/5th-gen-armor.1532/page-11#post-483821

 

Thanks for the excellent feedback. There are so many things in just a few responses that I had not thought about.

Net of this discussion is that although it is possible to add transmission/ transfer case skids to the stock setup, it is not recommended. Better to get an entire system.

I am definitely leaning towards the Rival 4x4 aluminum skid plates. Mainly because their warehouse is close my house, they have them in stock so I can pick them up, and the price is right. (I just bought sliders that arrive today and will be getting new Wildpeak AT4W tires installed tomorrow morning so funds are getting thin for more mods)

 

Quick Update - I went ahead and ordered the Rival 4x4 Aluminum Engine and Transmission/Transfer case skid plates. Too good of a deal to pass up. They have 20% off right now and since I am local, I can pick them up Thursday from their warehouse, so no shipping.
Total price including tax was a hair under $570 for both skids.

 

I have RCI. I always use the center of the front skid as a jacking point, it's more than sturdy enough.

When you think about why you have one in the first place, of course it's going to be able to be a jacking point, it's designed to hold the weight of the vehicle.

 

Solid point.
Pun intended...

 

That's good to hear. I just installed an RCI steel engine skid (went alu for the tranny/tcase though). Looks to me a good jacking spot would be right between the two middle bolts. It was super convenient to use the factory skid as a jack point, and I'm hoping to be able to continue to do so with the RCI.

 

Yes, that's exactly where I place the jack, right between those two middle bolts. I figure the way they mount with those posts that sit on the frame is going to be super strong.

I don't off-road a lot, but where I do tends to have a lot of grapefruit to watermelon sized rocks, and I've whacked that skid pretty good, and no damage other than scratched powder coat.