Another Skid Plate Discussion (C4 & Budbuilt)

[alhounos]

I installed my C4 skids and RCI fuel tank skid today. Pretty easy job, only took about 5 hours including an oil change. The C4 skids looked and felt very well built and beefy. All the holes lined up perfectly, seems like a quality product. RCI fuel tank skid seems fine too.

The C4 skids fit up close to the vehicle, they do reduce ground clearance slightly over stock but not any more than is absolutely necessary. For example, I couldn't get a finger between the exhaust and the center skid. I was also happy to see that the oil drain and filter access panels seem to be in the right location for the GX460, but the filter access may be pretty tricky. I changed the oil before installing the skids, but next time I'll try to use the access panels. (getting the front skid off and back on for every oil change would not be fun)

Added about 120lbs with all these skids, but feels worth it for piece of mind.

 

[alhounos]

I was wondering about this too, since my C4 skids require removal of both of these. But if you think about how they are positioned they are just guards, not structural. The front ones protect the swaybar/engine and the rear ones protect the cats. The skids you replace them with are just as strong and provide way more coverage.

Another consideration im thinking of is some skids have you remove the front KDSS swaybar guards and the subframe brackets, while some skids maintain them. Do they serve any specific functions? Like frame reinforcements or are they just guards for swaybar and Cats?
Im wondering if there's any downsides to removing them.

View attachment 4143200

View attachment 4143201

 

[Acrad]

Budbuilt oil filter panel

 

[Hiluxforever]

The ARB filter access panel.
(Ok its the whole skid.)

 

[BlkGX2011]

I was wondering about this too, since my C4 skids require removal of both of these. But if you think about how they are positioned they are just guards, not structural. The front ones protect the swaybar/engine and the rear ones protect the cats. The skids you replace them with are just as strong and provide way more coverage.

Makes sense.
I also ended up ordering the C4 skids. How long did it take yours to ship?
Any install pics you can share?

 

[alhounos]

I think they shipped in about a week, it was really fast since I was expecting 6-8 weeks.
Here's a pic showing the transfer case and exhaust crossover. The exhaust is the lowest-hanging part of the front of the vehicle and the skid goes right up to it.

 

[alhounos]

Everything installed. already dirty from my dirty garage floor. not sure what to do about that plastic bumper filler piece yet, but it's ok for now.