Aftermarket skid plates and front jack point

Hi all,

While researching aftermarket skid plates, I've only found one with added support for the front jack point.

Others have claims such as "supports the weight of the vehicle", but am unsure if that applies to the small surface area of a jack's pad.

For those with aftermarket skid plates, do you jack the front of the vehicle up using them?

 

I have CBI skids on ours but I jack using the frame rails.

 

what @2020 4Runner said

also - get aluminum skids. Steel is heavy AF. I have steel skids, wish i got aluminum. planning to change this eventually.

 

In case it wasn't apparent, I'm wondering about the center front jack point similar to what the OEM has. Here is an example of an aluminum skid from Mountain Off Road with a reinforcement for this purpose.

 

I go back and forth from aluminum or steel. Hefty Fab has what appears to be the best/ most reinforced aluminum but, with all that reinforcement, the weight savings is minimal. Choosing alum v.s. steel from RCI, RSG etc is an easier choice for sure if weight savings is the main goal. Realistically, I'd be fine with nothing on most of the roads I'll go on. But I'm not worried about what I don't hit, I'm worried about the one time I don't see that rock that just happens to smash into my transmission or oil pan.

 

It was apparent what you were asking. My C4 Fab skids dont have jack mounts. Skids are smooth so they can slide on rocks. That makes for bad jacking; a smooth jack point. Good way to kill yourself. So unless you've got a bumper that makes it conducive to use a hi lift jack, I'd stick to the rock sliders like @2020 4Runner said.

All I have to go on is what I know which is off my experience - which is mostly 4x4 roads and trails in NorCal. No Moab or anything. With 33's and a 3 inch lisft all the trails are easy. I'm shocked when I almost never need to even put it in 4wheel drive. I don't need skids. I like having skids so people don't steal my cat and maybe I might use them ont he trails. Maybe. Gives me the comfort to know I can really fuck around and not have to totally find out on some rocks. All that said, I only think I or anyone really needs skids is if you're doing really crazy 4x4'ing like at moab or something where you're in a situation where there's a high probability of doing some serious damage to your vehicle; rolling over, breaking suspension etc. You can't even get into trouble like that in most places with 33's on a 3 inch lift.

I got steel because I wanted protection and armor but came to realize I don't even need it at all really. So for the weight, I wish I ran aluminum and if I were to dent them in I would just replace them. The added weight really does make the ride suffer.

I got a cousin who grew up 4wheeling. He's got more forest service roads and 4x4 roads where he lives than pavement. He doesn't have skids. Says there's no need. Like I said, the biggest use I have more mine is for my cat.

 

I debated aluminum vs steel for a long time and aluminum won. I'm like you, it's more "just in case", I don't go rock bashing. I have RCI, and so do a lot of others. Either nobody that has them has taken a big hit, or they've taken hits without fail. I suspect if they weren't up to the task then we'd hear about it on the forum. People like to complain

Edit: aside from weight savings, I was also worried about corrosion

 

Thanks. All good points... especially the one about a slick surface being a poor jack point. Cat protection was part of my decision to get them also.

I'll end up with rock sliders at some point. That's another internal debate - dirty pant legs or not....

 

I've come pretty close to need the rock sliders. You'll really do a lot of damage hitting your doors and body. Whereas you can usually bottom out and be just fine.

Edit: small hit to the body or door and that's a lot of $$

 

Of course the only answer was to purchase both skid plates and sliders. I'm blaming you and FN2187 of course.

Took advantage of RCI's current discounts plus the offer of free cat protectors.

 

Youve made me really happy thank you.

please don't hate me for this next part.

If you can cancel the sliders. My buddy has RCI sliders on his 2nd gen taco. Towards the back of the slider there's a section where debree kicks up, it took all the paint off to bare metal. You can't really see it. It's on the inside. But 3 months after install paint was completely gone and the metal looked slightly rusted like they did a piss poor paint prep job.

Or if you don't mind if you need to touch them up get em.

My BAMF sliders has a crazy tough coat and have not worn after a couple years.

 

Same here! Bought steel should have bought aluminum. Total overkill.

 

I asked C4 about using a jack on their skids. This was their response:
"Our skids are strong enough you can jack it up from anywhere on the skid. Our skids are a lot thicker steel than the stock one."

 

Well that is one benefit

 

^That's the whole point of having skid plates. When you drop the weight of the vehicle on the skid, you don't want the skid bending.

 

I know. Just didn’t know they could be jacked from ANYWHERE.

 

I have C4 steel. They seem like they could be jacked from anywhere no problem.

 

Green Lane Offroad skids have that cross piece, RCI alloy does not.

 

Since this was bumped up I figured I'd contact RCI to get the official word. Here is their response in regards to my question about jacking up the front of the 4Runner using an RCI aluminum skid plate.