Skid Plates Priority

[MNBigfoot]

Yea I think I see what u r talking about
Had to crawl under my car real quick but I think mine does have the 2nd engine plate behind the initial bash plate with my “capable” bumper so I think I got that covered.

I’ve been on keeping an eye on the OEM “full body” plate but I already have half of it (the set minus fuel tank and transfer case) so it feels kinda pointless.

I think I’ll take up @B22-2023 ‘s advice on the rear lower shock mount covers and call it there.
thanks again!

The OEM transfer case is like $60 plus shipping threw @flip. However the OEM gas tank kit doesn't cost much less than the entire kit, last I saw.

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[NC_Oak]

Fuel tank - fuel tank, def fuel tank. If you're not doing trails with biggish embedded rocks / boulders you likely aren't going to hit that front skid plate at all. But you got the OEM one so it's fine. Tranny pan is also plastic and although it's elevated in comparison with other things, it's vulnerable to sticks. Really. But if you're going light, you can replace the pan rather than use a skid. user's choice. I covered most of my underside (steel) as where I live trails are all rocks.

As for corrosion, aluminum, steel, et cetera, your use case seem support aluminum. Less weight and strong enough for occasional bumps. Corrosion is out the door then. If you do use powder coated steel, it's gunna get gouged anyways down to bare metal. And when it does, rubberized undercoating spray it or I personally use krylon fusion all in one textured matte black. Looks identical black textured powder coat. Just shot some on the bottom this past sunday actuall.y

 

[Brian_B]

good call. Just heard that ppl talking about corrosion and figure powder coated ones maybe will be less likely to corrode?
in terms of paint. What do u usually do to paint the skids. I’m looking at a pair of steel rear shock mounts by DV8 and I want to paint them.
Do u just do the usual sanding -> base coat -> paint. Do u have a brand of paint you recommend? I assume its not anything too expensive since plates are meant to be scuffed

Most any spray paint is gonna be fine. I use Rustoleum Black Truck Bed (it has just a little bit of texture when it dries), and it has held up extremely well on a lot of parts.

It’s gonna scratch if you hit rocks, but easy to touch up this way - just make sure whatever you get is something readily stocked. Custom color or obscure paint will be harder to find in the future

Nothing special needed for the paint - just make sure the surface is clean and dry. If there is some rust just wire brush it off before you clean it.

 

[Returntothefog]

The OEM transfer case is like $60 plus shipping threw @flip. However the OEM gas tank kit doesn't cost much less than the entire kit, last I saw.

yea the gas tank piece by itself is like 560 excluding hardware, but I will def look into the transfer case, thanks!

 

[Los]

I would love to purchase the OEM skids for my WT, however Ford will not sell it to me because I have the bumper with the fog lights.

 

[Returntothefog]

I would love to purchase the OEM skids for my WT, however Ford will not sell it to me because I have the bumper with the fog lights.

I also have the same bumper (capable), that’s strange that they wouldn’t sell it to you?

 

[Roofus]

Depends how bad you want your mpg to get.

 

[Roofus]

This is the 9mpg/city, 15-17mpg/highway version from NVM.

 

[Returntothefog]

This is the 9mpg/city, 15-17mpg/highway version from NVM.

What a tank build, looks cool man.
but 9mpg in city is crazy

 

[Roofus]

Thanks! It's definitely saved my butt enough times that I've justified the extra grand I'm paying in gas a year.
Agree with others though... gas tank, lower rear shocks mounts, differential, and oil pan would be what would keep me up at night.

 

[NC_Oak]

the ford OEM skid set is like $700 with discount code and fuel tank skid is pretty legit especially for your use. the rest are kinda flimsy

I would love to purchase the OEM skids for my WT, however Ford will not sell it to me because I have the bumper with the fog lights.

Just order direct from ford parts. They'll sell you whatever. No need to enter a vin.

 

[Roofus]

I would love to purchase the OEM skids for my WT, however Ford will not sell it to me because I have the bumper with the fog lights.

@flip can you help this member with an OEM skids order?

 

[flip]

@flip can you help this member with an OEM skids order?

Yea, he should just order from the accessory website and pick the dealer he wants them sent to nearby. Will either need a truck or trailer to pick up the crate but there's no reason Ford won't sell him a kit.

 

[userdude]

When you say "light but nothing over a 5", do you mean like this (see slide 4)?

https://docs.google.com/presentatio...SukYyA/edit?pli=1#slide=id.g2ec405a0f7d_0_101

Because very much, if you're in those conditions, you want full skid plates and rock rails.

So we're already at an impasse on terminology (I would consider light maybe moderate fire and forest roads that are maintained but not perfect). From advising-a-stranger-on-the-internet POV, I'd say risk is high I miss what you're actually doing, so I'd say get full plates and rock sliders, just to be safe. It's just hard to say because there's a lot of variable terrain and experience.

So if I were to dial that back a little bit, seeing as you don't think it's very hard, I'd say the Ford stock plates w/gas plate skid and the trail armor rock rails that come stock on the Badlands. I'd look for some takeoffs perhaps, although you won't get the gas tank most likely. But they're light and do a decent job if you're not going crazy on the Maze or whatever.

From a minimum, gas tank and rock rails. Then preferably front and engine skid that are steel. A boulder or step could take out transfer case, so if you're doing those, consider that as well.

So yeah, you're a prime case for the stock armor, and you can leave the plates sans front plate and gas tank skid off when you don't need them. They are pretty easy to put on/off and aren't very heavy.

 

[userdude]

Here is my stock front skid plate after about eight months of ownership and maybe 30ish days off road. Two things to keep in mind here: I wasn't looking to hit anything, I just did; and while it looks rough, the stock front plate held up fairly well (as did the others). They may be thin, but for probably 80% of off roading, they're more than adequate.

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