Skid Plates. Opinions/Purchases?

I'm looking at buying some full skids, currently from RCI Metal Works.

RCI has 3/16" Steel, and 1/4" Aluminum. The benefits for either seem obvious, however, I'm leaning Aluminum for the weight.

I'm interested in peoples opinions, and or experience with steel or aluminum skids.

 

I'm looking at skid plates as well. Just make sure they have hatch panels for the oil plug and oil filter locations.

 

Am I mistaken or have I seen 2 different TRD front skids?
One with a hatch for oil plug I imagine and
One with no hatch at all.
Doing my own maintenance I would like the easiest option possible.
Or is it the valve with a hose... hmm

 

I went with Greenlane off-road full engine skid plate. Great people to deal with and has the hatch for oil filter and hole for drain.

 

Check out the updated Hefty Fabworks skids they look super beefy and only company claiming their aluminium plates will support the weight of the vehicle.

 

Get steel if you expect to really use them.

Those hefty ones look beefy.

I have my eyes on Budbuilt

http://budbuilt.com/2010-2020-5th-Gen-4Runner-Rock-Armor--Stage-2_p_432.html

 

Cant go wrong with bud built.

 

Are you running Budbuilt? I'm fairly set on them.

 

SOS Off-roading concepts has a great set of skids as well. No drilling required. $650 for the steel set.

http://sosoffroadconcepts.com/5th-gen-4-runner-skids/

 

Liking that clean look. No BS branding on the outside.

 

No but I will be getting some for my tundra another guy on Tundras.com got some bud built for his tundra and had them add the extra reinforcements like the hefty fabworks have. But I been planning on the bud built skids for a while

 

Thanks for the info. Something to think about for sure. BB looks espensive!!!!

No one has really said "why not" Aluminum. Being in Florida, I would worry about the potential for rust on steel with any real use. I see that BB has Stainless, but again, holy $$$$!

 

I’m in Florida and have run only steel skids since being down here. No rust issues. Just get them powder coated and you’ll be fine.

I’m not a fan of aluminum skids, I bent the shit out of some aluminum skids on one of my 2nd gens on the rocks.

 

SOS is also having a 15% off sale right now.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/sos-6th-anniversary-sale.10948/

 

I have heard that aluminum skids don't hold up to any real abuse. If you don't get into any rocks, they might be fine.

If you're concerned about rust, then it's a good idea to remove the skids every year or two to clean them up and inspect the frame and everything else underneath. You can take care of any surface rust and touch up the paint while doing so.

Here's a picture of my TRD off road skid after a good day on the trails. I don't picture aluminum holding up much better.

 

I have a full aluminum skid set from RCI including gas tank. I had a full RCI steel skid set on my Tacoma. As many people might tell you it depends on what you are going to be doing with your 4Runner. I did more rock crawling in my Tacoma so steel was perfect. It slides and doesn’t gouge like aluminum. My 4Runner is also my daily driver and now most of my off-roading is in the desert and dry stream beds, so I didn’t need as much protection and the lighter weight is always good for gas mileage. I am a RCI fan, I banged the heck out of the ones I had on the Tacoma and they held up great.
Steal for harder difficulty trails and frequent off-roading, aluminum for moderate.

 

I am starting to look at upgrading stock skids. I do have RCI lower control arm skids, so I was looking at those to complete the set, but I don't know who has the best skids. Defiantly want steel, my stock ones are pretty mangled, can't imagine aluminum.

 

I think most of the well known companies produce good skids. Everyone has their company loyalty. It’s not really rocket science, it’s a piece of bent steel designed to protect vital components from rocks and debris. Obviously the ones that have a filter access, but almost all do. I think your pretty safe as long as you check out the companies reputation. Then it’s up to how much $$$ you are willing to part with to get what you want.

 

I ended up going bare metal SOS full set. They look pretty good, and I couldn't pass up the cost with the "Year6" discount code (good till Sept. 27th at midnight). I'll clean them, prime and paint.