Rci skid plate....steel or aluminum?

Just did my first oil change. Stupid stock skid is a bitch....never again. Looking to purchase one with a door for the filter. How much heavier is the steel one compared to the aluminum one? On the fence for which one I should buy....80 dollar difference isnt much....just wanted opinions. I will never go offroad so it really isn't for protection...thanks

 

Steel will be heavier and more sturdy if you're out wheelin or crawlin. Otherwise aluminum would be fine.

 

Get the steel one you will only have to take off access plate to change oil

 

This ^^^

 

If you dont need the skid for offroading maybe just cut an opening for the filter in your stock one?

 

Doesn’t the aluminum have the access door too?

 

there is a bigger thread floating around with the same question

 

get Aluminium if no off road

 

A Bigly thread actually.................

 

Aluminum RCI..................

 

like others said get the aluminum if you're not gunna be off-roading. get the steel one if you are, the steel one will slide across rocks easier and won't gouge like the aluminum.

 

So can you change the oil with these aftermarket skids and not take have to remove the skid? I see the access panel for the filter but what about the drain plug? Does oil get on the skid? Does oil stain bare aluminum?

 

You might get it on the edge of it but there’s clearance to access the drain plug. I installed a Fumoto drain valve.

 

Mall crawlers use Aluminum ones
Off roaders use the steel ones
RCI skids are some of the best. I’d recommend them. I sold my old ones to @joonbug.

https://jowettperformance.com/products/coming-soon-billet-oil-cap-for-filter

I just bought this from Jowett Performance.

 

If not off-roading, does anyone just leave the skid plate off all together?

 

I don't recommend this - the amount of damage a turkey does at 110 km/h on the highway made me very glad to have a skid plate. Took a lot of hammering to get it back to normal looking. I will always run a skid plate on a truck, not that I'd pay extra for a OEM off road package to get it, but if it doesn't come with one an RCI skid plate would be bought as soon as I signed the papers.