RCI - Quality stuff or meh?

As for sliders that you want to use as steps, I went with 4x4 innovations.
https://www.4xinnovations.com/2010--2024-4Runner-Bolt-On-Rock-Slider_p_157.html

 

Are they 0 degrees? Did you get them powder coated or paint them?

 

These rock sliders hug the rocker panel fairly close. You factor in a 5 deg angle. It will be still a big step for them.

compare to predator steps, how far down the steps are, the rock sliders are definitely protection first, step usability second.

so you figure out your primary use case and optimize for that ..

 

I have the full RCI skids and they are great. The RSG flat top slider with grip plate I like needing it to also work also as a step.

 

I painted them, but if I did it over I’d pay for powder. I got the full step, I really like the TRD cut out.
I don’t remember if they are 5 or 0, I’ll have to look later and see if I can tell. Got them almost 3 years ago, paint looked great until I drove through the south during an ice storm. The paint didn’t hold up to the road crap they used.

 

I wouldn’t have done this with out them

https://youtu.be/CnBj2gaTwjs?si=ueigMnozZAl3tkEF

 

RCI makes great skid plates and sliders so I'd imagine their roof rack is top tier as well.

 

I've spent more time than I care to admit researching which slider I wanted. My conclusion was that all sliders were essentially equivalent and it all boiled down to personal preference in regards to aesthetics. It also seemed like the 5deg of the RCI is negligible and works just like every flat slider out there. Personally, I think the 5deg of angle makes it slightly more aesthetic. In regards to the best "step" slider, it's probably the RSG flat slider since it sits out 4.0" vs. RCI's 3.0" (not including the kick out). That being said, there are also plenty of threads/posts from other users saying the RCI sliders work well enough for their families for getting in and out of the 4R. Here are some pictures I saved from other threads comparing the two.

RCI below:


RSG below:

 

Your choice. I bought my skids and sliders raw and coated them with POR-15, then painted them. I figured that the powder coat would not play well in the rocks anyway and I can touch up any dings easily.

 

4xInnovations no longer offers powder coat on their sliders. It would get scraped off from the rocks anyway.

 

The tape measure in the RCI picture looks familiar...

 

I run the full RCI skid plates and as of saturday the RCI slim line bumper. I also run RSG 0 degree + kickout sliders as I needed a step along with the protection. The RCI skid plates have been awesome, the quality is top notch and having easy access to the oil filter and drain plug is a big bonus. The slimline bumper quality is also great, my only gripe as I mentioned in the what did you do to your 4 runner thread is that my bumper seems a bit skewed to the passenger side. A minor OCD irritation but doesn't affect the capability of the bumper or the quality of the rest of the piece.

 

Man what are all those bugs flying around? At first I assumed you hit a yellow jacket nest or something but then I noticed it was definitely NOT summer. Flies? Jeez...

 

I have full RCI armor and since I tend to choose the wrong line, I can attest they take a beating.

for sliders I went with BudBuilt full plate top. They are the widest sliders I could find (wider than those already listed) and have took 14 frame bolts. Solid as could be.

 

$850 with the full length tread plate. It looks like their price is by far better than any others that I’ve seen, and I like how they look and how they are 0 degrees. Of course I saw them too late after I already ordered ones that are much more expensive, that’s the story of my life.

 

Which ones did you order? And I agree that I’ll probably go with these over RCI now. But keep in mind, these are less expensive but also raw. So if you want to powder coat them like the RCIs, it’ll cost more.

 

Compared to these I got crushed on price, I paid $1220, ALSO raw. Free shipping at least, not sure what their shipping looks like, but I doubt it’s $370 lol. I got Hefty Fabrications. I might not even get a 4Runner lol. If not oh well, I’ll even powder coat them…put them on a shelf and look at them for a few weeks because they’re shiny and nice looking…then go sell them at a discount in the Marketplace lol.

 

Wait. You ordered 4Runner rock sliders but you don’t own a 4Runner?

 

I had zero degree sliders on my Tacoma and got hung up on all kinds of obstacles. Definitely recommend 5 degree or more when it comes to sliders. Unless you don't offroad, then zero makes sense.

 

Yes. I have a deposit on a 4Runner that’s still in production. The sliders I ordered take 4-8 weeks, so I ordered them because at the time I was convinced that I was gonna go through with the purchase, my thought process was settled. I still “Might” do it, but since buying the sliders I have been spooked by some threads about how 4Runners are susceptible to rust more so than many other vehicles. When I ordered the sliders I was of the opinion that that’s BS, and that all vehicles are equally susceptible. It was after ordering the sliders that I found out that actually I was wrong, that 4Runner frames are NOT dipped into a galvanizing zinc solution for rust resistance like many other vehicles are, and because of this they have the rust proneness of vehicles from decades ago (before it became a standard to dip the frames into such a solution).

Therefore, if I need to sell the sliders, they might be easier to unload if they’re already powder coated (and unused).

 

Where are you located? Why did you order your 4Runner rather than purchasing from the dealer? Some special mods about what you ordered?

I’m in California so the rust thing isn’t really an issue, but my understanding is the rust problems are on previous generations and can be prevented by washing the undercarriage and spraying rust guard stuff on it.

Also, I think it speaks to the dependability of 4Runners to last long enough where rust has the potential to become an issue if you don’t maintain it properly. In the end, all cars will turn to rust. It’s just that 4Runners will keep going long enough to get you there.

 

Philadelphia. The dealership that had a nice rebate going on didn’t have the trim/color that I wanted on the lot, and even the in production 4Runners would often already have deposits on them from someone else.

I’m not sure why current 4Runners would fair better against rust than older models, since all of the generations share the same con that the frames do not get dipped. But I’m still trying to read about it, and get a better understanding.

Don’t count me out though, it’s gonna come down to my confidence in the undercoating treatments, and I gotta admit that I’m pretty impressed by the place that I’m gonna go to (I’m gonna go to them regardless of which vehicle I choose).

 

The paint was immediately coming off on their sliders. Was down right criminal. I'll never pay for their powder coating again, if I ever buy any of their products again.

 

They had a bad batch around 2018-2019 or so. They admitted it here and have since changed their process. Supposed to be GTG now. What era are you talking about?

 

Purchased June 2021

 

Sliders and skids on my '22. No issues with their powder coat

 

Must be nice. We're taking the sliders off my buddies truck to get sand blasted. Going to primer them and paint at home. I feel terrible because i gave them to him because i never bought a Taco as planned and the powder coat immediately started coming off and the sliders rusting. total PITA

 

Lol this will be me, I’ll own sliders, but not the 4Runner that they go onto.

 

get that gen 6 and give the gen 5 sliders to your buddy!

 

Seriously this. Stripping sliders (any sliders) of paint and rust is incredibly time consuming. I’m using a grinder with coarse flap wheel and wire wheel. I’m hoping to get it done or else I got nothing for the first wheeling trip of the year.

It’s a practical lesson on how much surface area can exist on a tube lol.