3rd Gen Skid Plates

Anyone running SOS Offroad's skidplates for a third gen (2020) ?

Their price point and black Friday deal is pretty spot on...figured I should see what the team's experience was before the price gets the best of me. I'm not out in moab or anything extreme. I'm mostly on logging roads and improvised roads.


What's your experience/thoughts?

 

Anything is better than the OEM OR skid. You might want to also check out RCI's skids, they seem a little more refined, also compare your shipping cost as well. I have a DV8 Off Road that I picked up on FB Market place for $50, it doesn't have the service openings and, at 56lbs, is a pain to R&R each time you want to service. RCI's Transmission skid works with the DV8 so I went for the aluminum one with their BF sale. BF is a wallet killer.

 

I'm thinking skid plates for first mod as well. Looking at RCI. If I add this weight, well they destroy the stock suspension? RCI offers a lot of plates, which ones do I need most and which ones can I skip? Thanks in advance.

 

I got the 4 piece RCI package. In total its about 120 pounds. So a person or less. It won't destroy the stock suspension. If you're just doing fire roads and what not, I'd suggest just the front skid plate. It would cover the same amount as the OEM Offroad or Pro plates. It's only 40 pounds if you get steel, 20 pounds for aluminum.

 

Might want to consider an aluminum Transmission skid as well, the pan is quite exposed. The transfer case sits a little higher and is partially protected by the crossmember. It only adds 18lbs weight and will provide a lot of peace of mind.

 

What about the CBI skid plates? Better or worse than RCI? Opinions?

 

I run @Mobtown Offroad skids. They take a hell of a beating and make an idiot like me feel safe.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/smashed-a-rock-into-skid-bets-on-aftermath.664770/

 

SOS used to be a vendor here but was having issues and wasn't properly addressing them. He got the boot. I would shop elsewhere.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sos-armor-issues.689815/

 

Thanks, this adds a little depth to their pricing.

 

As much as I dislike RCI for being poorly designed skids from a strength standpoint, it sounds like it would fit your needs nicely. They generally ship quickly and I think they have 15% off right now. That would be my recommendation.

If you want something better designed/stronger then I would go with Mobtown who I think is also running a sale right now.

 

RCI was my alternative as I impatiently have been watching the BF2020 thread for their BF promos. I was going to jump on the RCI full skid set, until I got a deal on a Diamondback cover an hour ago...and couldn't say no... lol, so it'll be RCI's front skid to start.

I like the DV8, but like you said, don't want to deal with, nor do I want the dealership R&R for oil changes...

 

What makes RCI poorly designed? Looks just like the Mobtown, just a different logo.

 

Mobtown had better front coverage.

Mobtown oil filter access panel is in a better spot and uses better (hex) hardware. RCI has it right on the bend, the weakest point of the skid. They also use button allen bolts. If you mangle one on a rock, good luck getting it off. A mangled hex bolt can at least be undone with a wrench.

Mobtown has reinforcement gussets. RCI has a smooth inside making it inherently weaker.

Mobtowns rear hardware is recessed in. RCI is exposed.

RCI has that stupid ass drop down for the front diff. It will not take much force to smack that and bend it upward into the diff.

RCI has a front lip that wraps up and interferes with some aftermarket bumpers.


Mobtown





RCI

 

This is the type of stuff I like to see. Thanks for the education.

 

Yeah no problem. At a glance all skids may look the same but there are subtle nuances that set them apart. Manufacturers aren't always the best at highlighting them though.

 

I agree that mobtowns skids are beefer than rci but i think the 2 companies probably have different customer bases. Not to mention i bet mobtowns skids weight about 30% more. Just something to consider if your in the market for skids.

Mobtown skids probably more appealing to the heavy offroad/ rock crawler where rci is just more of an overlander type of skid that see occasion rocks but nothing extreme. While i personally now wont go with anything other than 1/4 inch i do see some use in a lighter yet effective skid like RCI. But its all up to the customer. Hell i made custom skids 1/4 gusseted with 3/16 square tube lol so it all seems light to me haha.

 

Very true. I will say that weight is barely something to consider though when it comes to skids because it’s so low and spread out over such a large area that it’s effects won’t be noticeable. The difference between a 120 lb trilogy and 160 lb trilogy shouldn’t be a deal breaker. (These are just numbers I made up but aren’t too terribly far off). That’s why I always recommend steel because it’s cheaper and stronger. The only time I’ll recommend AL is if they have zero intention of hitting it against rocks and they also live somewhere rust prone, like the NE.

 

I don't have any experience with either company but I would argue on a couple of the points you made.
the bend is not the weakest point of the skid, rather it is the strongest part.
flat plate vs one bent in half, the one bent in half will support more force before bending.

the drop down for the front diff. I personally would prefer a smooth bottom to slide over obstacles, but I would be very surprised if anyone bends it into the diff.
again, the extra bends in that area stiffen that area up significantly compared to just a flat area.
you can think of that extra drop area as a form of gusset or dart.

 

Me saying the bend is the weakest part is coming from the mouth of the owner of mobtown, who is a mechanical engineer which is why I take his word on that. Maybe because it's much more likely to take a hard hit while moving in a forward motion vs the bottom of the skid where at most, you'll drop down onto it.

I would disagree. The reinforcement ribs on the back of the mobtown skid will be significantly stronger than the non-reinforced RCI+cage. Maybe I'm wrong about the little diff cage because I'm not an engineer nor have access to CAD to stress test it. That aside, I still think it's a poor design and something to get hung up on.

 

Get CBI Overland Skid Plates, I did 4 to 6 weeks wait time