Rival 4X4 Aluminum Skid Plates VS Factory Steel FX4 Skid Plates

[steveconnery]

I used juggernaut usa's transmission skid plate.

Did this work with the factory stuff? looks like a nice piece to add inbetween the other ones

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[Garaged]

Did this work with the factory stuff? looks like a nice piece to add inbetween the other ones

It did. Just got through hells revenge and poison spider with it and I don't think anything has fallen off.

 

[steveconnery]

It did. Just got through hells revenge and poison spider with it and I don't think anything has fallen off.

That’s what I like to hear!! Nice

 

[John E Davies]

It did. Just got through hells revenge and poison spider with it and I don't think anything has fallen off.

To those of you who rock crawl, do you crawl around underneath the truck, checking all the hardware for correct torque? Rival says you should do so every 250 miles. Of course you can’t do that when your truck has a bunch of nasty Moab mud caked underneath…. I truly hate that stuff.

Do you notice worse damage and hanging up on ledges with soft aluminum vs hard steel? I have always used steel plates, because they are harder - they slip and don’t get gouged and hung up on rocks. Plus steel survives northern winter driving conditions way better. Aluminum does not “rust”, it corrodes. The powder coating will fail if the initial job isn’t done 100% perfectly, and you cannot just touch up exposed metal with a rattle can.

I would like to hear some long term reports, how does the finish on these hold up after one year? More importantly, will they all need to be removed and recoated in three years? If so, I hope you used anti-seize on all the hardware threads.

Does Rival warranty cover a failed powder coating job for the first year?

I just spent two weeks in southern Utah - NOT rock crawling - on easy trails on stock suspension and tires. The truck did fine and never dragged, but my personal observation after three trips in two decades to the Moab area is this: if you plan to try Poison Spider you should definitely be in a Bronco Raptor, not a Ranger Raptor, which is too darn long! Or just rent one for the day… that will be a much better driving experience and you won’t risk completely trashing your personal vehicle. The RR needs $20,000 worth of upgrades to rock crawl … labor not included. Lift, wheels and tires, front and rear bumpers, winch, suspension and dif guards, plus those skid plates. There goes your fuel economy, better add 10 gallons of extra gas…. That entry fee is too steep for me to pay. I already went down that bottomless “Overlanding money pit” with a Series 80. LOL!

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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