Front Skid Plate

RCI vs Rough Country. Any recommendations.

RCI $349 RC $199

 

Both my TRD ORP and TRD Pro got RCI Aluminum full skids. (When I ordered for the TRD Pro I got a discount been a returning customer)

I went with Aluminum for been light weight and my need of non technical trails driving. I understand the risk if I get a big hit on Aluminum I will be replacing vs steel can be fixed.

 

I bought a rough country bumper. For the life of me I couldn't get it flush. I could get one side flush but not the other. No one notices but me, still ugh! I guess their r&d ain't what it used to be. Just a word of caution.

 

RCI all day long. Extrememely high quality products well designed and tough, definitely a case of you get what you pay for. I have a set of steel skids (engine and transmission, bumper filler, and cat guards) on my 2021 and the same set in aluminum on my wife's 2023. Aluminum is significantly lighter, but also costs more.

In the past I've also used RIVAL skids which looked good and are cheaper, but their mounting hardware is cheap and will bend/deform if the skids are ever actually scraped on anything. If you want skids "just in case" and don't off road these would be fine and likely better than the Rough Country.

 

Definitely RCI. Never buy junk country anything.

 

^ buying zero rough country things really is wise advice. ARB steel skid plates are competitively priced if you aren’t set on aluminum. Facebook marketplace could be your friend.

 

https://www.roughcountry.com/product/4runner-skid-plate-kit-75014
According to RC's listing, their skid is only 14 ga or 0.075", not a noticeable improvement over the stock tinfoil skids and therefore a waste of money.

 

Rough country more like dumb country

Mods pls dont delete this threa

 

Thanks all...RCI it is !

 

Have you looked at other companies? Here are some on top of my head and could be more companies. I'm sure there are other members running them.

CBI
C4
CaliRaised
Ironman
Victory 4x4
ARB
LFD
RSG
Talons garage
Hefty fabworks

 

Ive had my RCI for about a year. Love it. Plus one of my recent gripes has been about the quality of the paint coating on rock sliders etc. My 4R is at the dealership now getting a new diff seal. I dropped the skid plate myself and whatever coating RCI uses is SUPERB. The diff leaked onto the skid plate so there was a lot of oil on the underside. Hit it with engine cleaner and high pressure water and noticed how good the coating is. The ONLY recommendation i would tell you is to replace the allen bolts that are on the oil filter cover to just stainless bolts. I rounded out the allen head already but that was likely me just rushing. RCI is a very very solid product

 

just to add to my post above, the RCI uses different mounting points than your standard TRD skid plate. I personally like that because the dealership has cross threaded the OEM skid plate before. Hence now why i do the removal and installation of it myself. The RCI also has uses six mounting points as opposed to the OEM 4. Installing it is easy as well. I jack it into place and bolt it on. Having two people though is a plus but can be done with a jack and a little patience

 

I respect your opinion but disagree with it. I have a RC awning and that thing is so solid and built so sturdy. The price point and quality of the RC awning is pretty damn good

 

Buy local & do a local pick. I say buy whatever is cheaper or local - always

 

din know the had awnings. I’ll be damned

 

Over 4 yrs running RCI

Heavy if you go with the steel version but full protection if you go a lot.

 

yes, they are absolutely amazing. Very heavy fabric, all aluminum frame and it sets up and takes down in 30 seconds. Just a fantastic product.

 

I have Rival Aluminum skids. Agree that their mounting hardware can be improved. I made some changes to their mounts to beef them up and allow me to jack up the vehicle from the center of the crossmember where rhe front skid and transmission skid meet.

Very happy with them but I am not a frequent or hard-core offroader. Dirt roads, forest trails and a single trip to Moab so far.