RCI Metal Works

Not all are the same. If you research and ask you should find out. If they carry main brands like Prismatic Powders and RAL and use a zinc rich epoxy base you should be good. If you ask about the priming step and you get a blank stare then there is no prep.

Many places do a quick blast and cover with the polyester color coat only. Bubbling and rust is just around the corner if you go this route.

I learned this the hard way in the 1980s. I bought some cool pc black nerf bars for a baja bug. My first powder coated part. They rusted and bubbled a year later. I was turned off of powder coating for about 15 years until I learned that a good powdercoater takes the prep and priming seriously. Since then, no issues.

No disrespect to these vendors. They just don't know. One vendor (I forgot who) actually did prime the sliders but their style was not for me so I just ordered a different vendors raw.

 

Throw as many expensive coats as you want on a piece of metal. Expose it to rocks being thrown at it and 200lb people stepping on it. The coating will fail regardless.

Bumpers and roof racks should last a long time if refinished correctly. Sliders not so much.

 

I ordered sliders on April 5th, basic sliders, no top plate and no powder coating. The time frame when I ordered was 4-6 weeks, Short Beds and 4 Runners on the shorter side. 8 weeks and still waiting. I called and emailed once just to make sure I did not fall through the cracks but have not received a call or email back.

I am always amazed at the customer service provided by companies when they have all the business that can be handled, it's like your not there. Then when the economy hits the skids and said company is not busy anymore, the customer service is suddenly better. The Covid debacle has really brought out the worst in everybody.

I want to order more, just afraid to do so right now.

Just an FYI on the time frame.

 

I noticed the same quoted wait time then they updated the site to 4-8 weeks with us on the shorter side on 4/28. No powdercoat on mine either.

When did you contact CS? I got an email response within a day.

 

Over a week ago.

 

No top-plate 20 degree sliders, Ordered March 16, arrived May 21. It takes a good long while. I was quoted 6-8 weeks, I think somewhere in the 8-10 week range is more likely based on what I’ve seen

 

Thanks roboturner, If I was in charge of there Customer Service the time frame quoted would be 2 to 3 weeks longer than expected, then if there are delays your covered and if things go as planned your a awesome company because you shipped early.

 

yeah or at least periodic updates, I had nothing for almost 10 weeks then a shipping notification haha

 

When I ordered my skid plates shipped next day and the sliders shipped 7 weeks after ordering. My roof rack was quoted 2-3 weeks but shipped 3 days after ordering. I think the timing comes down to when you order and your place in line. However I noticed compared to other vendors RCI is pretty accurate with their lead times and you can actually get ahold of them when needed.

 

Thanks AntMan,

The communication is one of my concerns. I emailed and called them, no answer, left message and did not get an email back or a phone call. I'll try again today. I have an ability to fall through companies cracks and end up getting ________, fill in the blank.

 

perhaps im not making the point. its not anout money, its about prep. im talking about thorougly blasting to remove the microcopic rust you cant see to avoid sealing it in. and of course using primer. you have primer on the body of the truck, right? This is not an expensive fancy coating. i am talking about $10 more in primer materials for a set of sliders and another 30 minutes of blast time in the booth.

most folks dont understand that and after time the coating will fail.


This is not about failure from abrasion above the surface, but from beneath the surface.

i think the folks here are talking about powdercoted parts rusting NOT from where the pc rubbed off from stones and steps but general exposure. of course if you wear off a coating and leave metal exposed to the elements it will rust. thats not what i am talking about.

 

I did all the prep possible on mine, and multiple coats of primer and paint. Still chips off. And it's not on a part that gets stepped on or slid over rocks either. It's on the front area of each connecting bar, where rocks kick up from the road. It chips and rusts no matter what. I just clean and prep the rust areas and hit it with a few more coats of spray paint every 6 months or so. It's quick and easy. Just take a long piece of cardboard and put it in between the slider and the truck and spray away.

 

I’m going to be receiving the transmission skid with the cat shields in raw aluminum. Any advice to get them painted black other than powder coating?

 

Looks like they just sent everything but the sliders out my way. I only ordered about 24h ago. A lot of cats have been getting stolen locally lately so I'll be glad to get the guards on earlier than expected.

How tight do the bolts need to be? Is there an actual spec or just a couple ugga duggas with my impact driver?

 

Truck bed liner maybe?

 

I’m sure theirs a spec, but I tightened them to hand tight then another quarter turn. Haven’t had any issues thus far.

 

I just thoroughly tested my RCI skid trilogy in aluminum. They've been on the truck a few years, but never really "bashed" them hard until this past weekend when my son decided that a three-foot boulder could be straddled ... which at the speed he was going slid from front skid past the transmission skid and finally stopped on transfer skid. High-centered and needed to be pulled backwards off. Minor deformation of all three skids. Absolutely did their job!

 

Bought the 2016 T4R TEP new, got aluminum skids (basic set) and sliders. Went to Moab. Unintentionally, and then intentionally, slid and pivoted on sliders - just scratched the rattle-can paint. Hit the front engine skid fairly hard coming off a rock - just put a dent in it. Was sold on their quality. Fast forward to last year, got a '21 Tacoma OR, based on previous (and continued) T4R experience ordered a set of 5deg sliders during their fall group buy. No regrets.

I like that they're local-ish (I'm in the Springs) and my limited experience with their quality and functionality (armor does what it's supposed to do) is outstanding. Will go with RCI before anyone else in the future, as long as they have the equipment.

 

I installed my RCI 5 degree sliders on my 2nd gen yesterday. The whole process worked out fine for me. Sliders weren’t damaged in shipping and everything was in the boxes.

 

Nice. I have the same set on order. I made the call in mid-May, and they told me that it's about an 8 week wait, so hopefully they'll be here this month.