Catalytic Converter Protection

Catalytic converters sit low under the truck — especially on vehicles like Tacomas, 4Runners and Broncos — making them vulnerable to rocks, logs and trail obstacles. A solid protection guard prevents expensive damage, saves you from being stranded on the trail, and gives us peace of mind knowing the converter and O2 sensors are shielded.

The catalytic converter is part of your exhaust system that reduces emissions. It’s made of fragile internal materials and expensive metals, so when rocks or trail hits damage it, you can be looking at a costly repair. A protection guard acts like armor — deflecting trail hazards and preventing those impacts.

RCI offers catalytic converter protection for popular off-road platforms including Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser, and Ford Bronco models. Each guard is vehicle-specific so it fits cleanly to the frame and exhaust routing of that platform.

Yes — RCI builds guards for specific years and generations of trucks and SUVs. For example, there are Tacoma CAT guards for certain years, 4Runner guards for other ranges, and similar fitments for Broncos and Tundras. Check the product page for your exact year to ensure proper fit.

We build these guards from heavy-gauge steel or aluminum with precision bends and rugged welds. They’re finished with corrosion-resistant coatings so they handle mud, rocks and road salt while protecting your exhaust components.

Yes. Many RCI guards wrap around the exhaust area and help deflect impacts from rocks and obstacles under the cab — so they also offer some protection for nearby pipes, sensors and structural components depending on the vehicle.

The catalytic guard bolts up using mounting points that are part of the RCI transmission skid plate interface on many models (like Tacoma and 4Runner). That means the skid plate needs to be in place first — it provides the proper frame anchors and clearance to install the converter guard securely.

Minimal. RCI designs the guards to sit close to the exhaust and frame so they don’t hang low and catch on obstacles. The goal is to protect while retaining as much clearance as possible.

With proper tools and (in some cases) the required RCI transmission skid plate already installed, most installs are straightforward and bolt-on. You’ll need basic hand tools and the instructions included with the guard to complete it.

Yes — it protects your existing emissions equipment rather than changing it. RCI guards are designed to maintain the factory catalytic converter and O2 sensor locations so emissions systems function normally.

Absolutely. While we’re built for trails, these guards also protect from road debris, speed bumps and rough gravel — so they benefit daily-driven trucks and SUVs as well.

Converter guards add an additional barrier that discourages opportunistic thieves because converters are harder to cut out. While no solution makes it impossible, guards make theft much harder than leaving factory pipes exposed.

Yes — we recommend building a full underbody protection system that includes engine skid plates, transmission skid plates, transfer case, differential and the catalytic converter guard for the most complete defense against trail hazards.

Universal shields often don’t match the exhaust routing and frame points of specific trucks, leaving gaps or interfering with components. RCI guards are engineered for specific models and year ranges, bolt up cleanly, and integrate with our other armor — giving us real protection instead of guesswork.