Recommendations on Skid Plates and Sliders

Hey all,

Looking for some recommendations on skid plates and sliders. Currently have a 2018 SR5 Premium, with no KDSS. I live in Colorado, so I assume my best bet is to go steel, especially since the weight difference isn't really that much. So far for skid plates I have looked at are RCI. Any other recommendations?

As for sliders I'm a lost puppy, so many different options. Ideally I would like some that dual as a step, but not mandatory.

 

You have the best case scenario and surprise you have questions..

You don't have KDSS so you have no problems installing any skid or sliders. You are in Colorado and you have soooo many companies (eg - RCI, Hefty fab, RSG, Toytec, etc..) to choose from and pickup locally or even deliver them to many Toyota 4x4shops around. Or you can order from a 4x4shop they will order for you and might have less shipping cost vs delivery to a residential address.



Skids -
Steel are the strongest and great if you are hitting hard trails. But steel would be heavy. Aluminum are great for me to give protection "just in case" if I hit something.

I use RCI aluminum skids front to back.

Sliders-
DOM steel sliders are the strongest and little heavy. I use HREW steel sliders as they are little lighter than DOM and strong enough to protect my sides "just in case" kinda situation and also strong enough for hi-lift jack.
I use RSG sliders HREW flat ones with power coated and with top plate and kickout.

I have the flat ones because the step function is important for me for the kiddo and doggo. I know angle ones look better, function better smoothly slide off rocks not getting hung up. Kickout with push the rear out without hitting the back.

When I scratch the slider powder coating I'm been lazy and just apply rust proof paint but I think the correct way is to powder coat again.

 

The RSG "flat" sliders are popular as a dual purpose slider/step. I believe @glwood54 has pictures of his. Here's my Angled RSG sliders in case you decide to go with the angled version. They make an ok, but not great, step.






RCI is super popular for skids. They're competitively priced, and always seem to be having a sale.

I wouldn't worry about the weight difference between steel and aluminum. I'd just get whatever suits your needs. Steel is cheaper and stronger. The only real benefit to aluminum is that it won't rust.

 

As far as sliders, RSG are made in Colorado, so you may be able to swing by and pick them up, saving the shipping cost, depending on where you are in relation to their shop. I chose them because the shipping to NM was the least of anyone else, plus they are a quality slider in every way. Mine are 0°, no kickout, with grip top plate. These work great as steps, or at least my wife says so...








I'd order these all over again if I needed sliders.

I have the RCI aluminum front skid, and am hunting for a catalytic converter skid currently.

 

@Cyruswun21 , RCI is having a sale! 20% off!!

https://rcimetalworks.com/

 

I hate you lol but it kinda makes it easy. They said they have skids in stock and sliders I'll just have to wait. I'll save a ton on shipping since they're only an hr drive away

 

Awesome!!!

Glad I could help, lol.

 

Buy local & save on shipping!!

 

Hell, yeah!

 

Bought local and save a lot on shipping haha few weeks out. Gonna have some gnarly before and after photos to post, i'm stoked. Thanks for everyone's help in this community!

 

We are super good at helping people get rid of their money!

Seriously, though, there are a lot of smart people around here with good ideas and advice. I'll check in to see how the fitment and install went.

 

I just pulled the trigger on a set of full skids, catalytic converter protection, and gas tank skid all in aluminum. Had been eyeing up CBI because of the flared front skid - looked like it offered a little more protection but I think these will do fine. I already have RCI sliders and love them. Between shipping being half the cost of CBI and the 20% off deal it seemed like a good decision.

 

Awesome!!

 

Right, almost too good to be true. Can't wait for everything to come in, probably all at once for me

 

About to pull the trigger on these angled sliders but can't decide between plate or no plate. Are these dom or hrew?

 

They have both, RCI is DOM only

Also, I got the plate when I ordered, just looks cleaner to me

 

As @Cyruswun21 mentioned, they have both options. I went with the HREW because I didn't think I would really be using them much. I would have gotten the DOM if I ordered them again.

Regarding the top plates, I would opt for no top plate if I were to do it over. The area under the plates collects mud, and the area where the plates meet the tubes is rusting. I might actually remove the top plates in the future.

I don't think they help much with using them as a step, because I always stand on the edge of them anyway.

 

What mud? LoL..

 

Haha!

We had a group camping/ Wheeling get together two weekends ago. I managed to find a couple of puddles along the way.

 

Lucky we got good amount of rain so my body is washed pretty clean. Just the mud on sliders were not cleaned. Probably will wash Tuesday after we are done playing.

Enjoy the long weekend...

 

You, too!

 

I was thinking plate more so for some added rock chip protection but I doubt it matters much with all those holes in it. Aestetically I think it looks good both ways on the RSG. I see the rci now has removable bolted plates

 

Is that silver rsg logo riveted on?

 

I will say that I hear rocks bouncing off of them pretty regularly. I'd like to keep the top plates if I can figure out a way to keep them from rusting just for this reason. If you're meticulous with cleaning them, you might not even have a problem.

Yes, riveted.

 

Just wanted to add a comment as I just ordered the 5 degree sliders with top plates from RCI after looking at a bunch of different options. In the end I was comparing RCI to RSG, they both look like great products and both are made in Colorado. I chose RCI since they are doing 20% off through the end of the year, and their top plates have more/smaller holes vs fewer large holes on the RSG top plates. Seems like this would make it harder for rocks to get through and also provide more traction as well as better drainage on the top surface. Minor difference and may not matter in the real world but that's what I noticed looking at them online...Both companies seem to offer great products and great service answering questions etc.

I'm in NM and shipping from RCI (via Fedex) was a bit cheaper than RSG (via UPS I think). I was considering picking them up but it's about a 6 hour drive and they don't seem to charge sales tax for out of state shipments, but I would have had to pay sales tax plus gas money if I picked them up at the shop, so it made more sense to just have them shipped.

Still thinking about skid plates but haven't ordered those yet as I'm having a hard time deciding if I realy need them or not, and if so to go Aluminum vs steel, front only or full coverage etc...still waiting for my 23 ORP to be delivered in Jan/Feb so I've got some time to think about it.

 

Go Cubs!