Rival 4x4 skid plates (transmission & transfer case) installed

[toyoda80]

I got the bundle during the Memorial Day sale and received the transmission/catalytic converter and transfer case skid plates in about a week. The engine skid was done as pre-order so I am just waiting for that.

Install took about 1.5hrs because I didn’t have a lift so I was just scooting in and out on the cardboard boxes they came in while the front driver side was elevated on two 4x6s. I would say it shouldn’t take more than 30-45 min if you have a lift. Maybe less. I work pretty slow too. Didn’t help that I had to exchange the torque wrench I bought for the job because it didn’t work right.

The instructions are easy to follow even if you were just to look at the pictures. I had a tough time installing one of the wired nut things. I got it in right eventually and am not sure if having the truck on a lift would have made a difference. I circled in purple the 2 bolts for the transfer case skid mount that the instructions said to tighten right away. DO NOT do that. It’s a super tight fit with the transmission skid in place and the holes may not line up unless you leave the diagonal mount loose.

Note: I did not find transf case instructions on the website but they were included with the part. I googled today and found on the European site that the instructions are there for tacomas and it does say leave the bolts loose until later

I did end up using loctite(blue) because I would hate for one of these to come loose on the freeway or something and ruin someone’s day. I don’t do any off-roading yet but I really want to. It’s the reason we got the 4Runner. Hopefully these are good. They felt really sturdy. Another thing that you can’t really see on photos from directly underneath is that the plates kind of sit zig zagged like up and down. Imagine a flattened letter W or M. It’s noticeable when looking from eye level under the tube steps. Not having done any of this before I do not know if that’s normal or not. I did wonder why the diagonal mounting bar for the transfer case skid plate angled down towards the ground when it looked like it could have been attached to the truck with the angle going up into the void behind the transfer case. I just figured the manufacturer knows better so I installed it the way it was pictured. This is definitely a job someone can do on their own and it can be done much safer than the way I went about it. The bundle deal for all 3 parts was excellent compared to what I’ve seen from other companies and I like that the transmission skid was one piece that covered the catalytic where others sell the cat cover separate.

*I was not paid for this or any other review I have done on this forum and if I was to be compensated in any way, I would disclose it and hope that it would not affect my opinion of the product.

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[OffRoadUSA.com]

Nice write up! Rival makes some solid, quality products.

 

[Van Solo]

That’s fantastic, well done!

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

I got the bundle during the Memorial Day sale and received the transmission/catalytic converter and transfer case skid plates in about a week. The engine skid was done as pre-order so I am just waiting for that.

Install took about 1.5hrs because I didn’t have a lift so I was just scooting in and out on the cardboard boxes they came in while the front driver side was elevated on two 4x6s. I would say it shouldn’t take more than 30-45 min if you have a lift. Maybe less. I work pretty slow too. Didn’t help that I had to exchange the torque wrench I bought for the job because it didn’t work right.

The instructions are easy to follow even if you were just to look at the pictures. I had a tough time installing one of the wired nut things. I got it in right eventually and am not sure if having the truck on a lift would have made a difference. I circled in purple the 2 bolts for the transfer case skid mount that the instructions said to tighten right away. DO NOT do that. It’s a super tight fit with the transmission skid in place and the holes may not line up unless you leave the diagonal mount loose.

Note: I did not find transf case instructions on the website but they were included with the part. I googled today and found on the European site that the instructions are there for tacomas and it does say leave the bolts loose until later

I did end up using loctite(blue) because I would hate for one of these to come loose on the freeway or something and ruin someone’s day. I don’t do any off-roading yet but I really want to. It’s the reason we got the 4Runner. Hopefully these are good. They felt really sturdy. Another thing that you can’t really see on photos from directly underneath is that the plates kind of sit zig zagged like up and down. Imagine a flattened letter W or M. It’s noticeable when looking from eye level under the tube steps. Not having done any of this before I do not know if that’s normal or not. I did wonder why the diagonal mounting bar for the transfer case skid plate angled down towards the ground when it looked like it could have been attached to the truck with the angle going up into the void behind the transfer case. I just figured the manufacturer knows better so I installed it the way it was pictured. This is definitely a job someone can do on their own and it can be done much safer than the way I went about it. The bundle deal for all 3 parts was excellent compared to what I’ve seen from other companies and I like that the transmission skid was one piece that covered the catalytic where others sell the cat cover separate.

*I was not paid for this or any other review I have done on this forum and if I was to be compensated in any way, I would disclose it and hope that it would not affect my opinion of the product.

Thanks for sharing & explaining so well! I also bought the bundle during the Memorial Day sale. I too am awaiting the arrival of my engine skid plate.

I live about 40 minutes from the warehouse @RIVAL 4x4 uses so I elected to go pick it up rather than have it delivered. The staff there (not actual Rival employees) were super cool while I opened & inspected my skids. I did have a problem with the first transmission skid they had waiting for me because I felt that some chipping of the powder coating near some bolt holes & there was some question as to whether all of the hardware was in the box. The installation manual shows more hardware than the box contained but ultimately we determined that all of the hardware needed for the 4Runner was there. I'm not sure how it's gonna work on other models shown in the manual though as it seems to me that it won't have all of the hardware needed. The plates do look solid however I do wish that the power coating was a bit thicker. I don't plan to off-road actually so they will be fine for my application but I do think the power coating should be thicker for those who will off-road. I ended up trading out the transmission plate for another one which had less chipping at the bolt holes. They are aluminum so I know they won't rust but I'm particular & they come powder coated for a reason. I bought mine because I do a lot of highway driving & just wanted extra protection from shredded tires & other road hazards I might accidently run over while I'm hauling ass.

I haven't yet gotten mine installed as I don't have a lift & I'm not sure I want to use the jack with jack stands for the job. I might just pay an installer who has the lift & experience to professionally install them. My only concern really is avoiding scratching off any factory coating under the 4Runner which could be problematic for rusting. Here in Houston frame rust isn't a big problem unless the vehicle is a beach runner or near the salt air of the coast but I still prefer to avoid any damage to the factory coating under the 4Runner regardless.

When you got yours installed was there any areas of factory surface coating damage sustained from the installation?

 

[toyoda80]

Thanks for sharing & explaining so well! I also bought the bundle during the Memorial Day sale. I too am awaiting the arrival of my engine skid plate.

I live about 40 minutes from the warehouse Rival uses so I elected to go pick it up rather than have it delivered. The staff there (not actual Rival employees) were super cool while I opened & inspected my skids. I did have a problem with the first transmission skid they had waiting for me because I felt that some chipping of the powder coating near some bolt holes & there was some question as to whether all of the hardware was in the box. The installation manual shows more hardware than the box contained but ultimately we determined that all of the hardware needed for the 4Runner was there. I'm not sure how it's gonna work on other models shown in the manual though as it seems to me that it won't have all of the hardware needed. The plates do look solid however I do wish that the power coating was a bit thicker. I don't plan to off-road actually so they will be fine for my application but I do think the power coating should be thicker for those who will off-road. I ended up trading out the transmission plate for another one which had less chipping at the bolt holes. They are aluminum so I know they won't rust but I'm particular & they come powder coated for a reason. I bought mine because I do a lot of highway driving & just wanted extra protection from shredded tires & other road hazards I might accidently run over while I'm hauling ass.

I haven't yet gotten mine installed as I don't have a lift & I'm not sure I want to use the jack with jack stands for the job. I might just pay an installer who has the lift & experience to professionally install them. My only concern really is avoiding scratching off any factory coating under the 4Runner which could be problematic for rusting. Here in Houston frame rust isn't a big problem unless the vehicle is a beach runner or near the salt air of the coast but I still prefer to avoid any damage to the factory coating under the 4Runner regardless.

When you got yours installed was there any areas of factory surface coating damage sustained from the installation?

I was able to install it without scratching the underside of the truck at all. Leaving bolts loose until everything is in place makes for an easy install experience. I did bruise my head when the transmission plate fell on it due to my own error.

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

I was able to install it without scratching the underside of the truck at all. Leaving bolts loose until everything is in place makes for an easy install experience. I did bruise my head when the transmission plate fell on it due to my own error.

Sorry about your head!

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