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

 

[YukonRanger]

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

Here in Canada the bronco Raptor STARTS at full 34K higher sticker price

I could afford it but I like winding up with something more custom and personalized, plus having the box is just far more useful to me. Also the frameless windows might handle southern climates fine, but here in Canada's ice and snow they will leak and rattle in no time.

Made the ranger raptor the easy choice.

I am however concerned about the salted roads here and how they will react to Rival's aluminum skids.

 

[braupe]

Just saw the new Rival Front bumper on their Aussie truck. Can’t wait to get hands on one state side. Love the approach angle on the corners.

 

[HighDesertRanger]

Just saw the new Rival Front bumper on their Aussie truck. Can’t wait to get hands on one state side. Love the approach angle on the corners.

They get all the cool Ranger stuff down under

 

[DutchRanger]

Where are yall in texas? Not corpus christi, obviously, as we have no off-roading except the beach

Go to hidden falls, or Escondido Draw for texas offroad fun.
https://www.hiddenfallsadventurepark.com/
https://escondidodraw.org/

 

[Fawnbuster]

That's what I wanted to read Already have the rest of your skids (just waiting on the gas tank skid shipment )

Just curious what the cost is approximately of a full set of Rival aluminum skids? From front bumper to over the gas tank.

 

[HighDesertRanger]

Just curious what the cost is approximately of a full set of Rival aluminum skids? From front bumper to over the gas tank.

$1,346 by my math.

https://www.rival4x4usa.com/collections/ford-ranger-raptor

 

[Bryan748]

I just received a set of Rival skids and before installing I was curious if anyone had experience with them having any effect on road noise or how loud small rocks getting kicked up into them are. I thought about spraying the topside with a rubberized coating for sound deadening but I also might be way overthinking it and be completely unnecessary.

 

[ADVNTURR]

I just received a set of Rival skids and before installing I was curious if anyone had experience with them having any effect on road noise or how loud small rocks getting kicked up into them are. I thought about spraying the topside with a rubberized coating for sound deadening but I also might be way overthinking it and be completely unnecessary.

No noticeable road noise from the skids. They're not really in a place to have road debris kicked up into them and if you can hear a pebble hitting these skids while driving a rolling brick down the highway then your level of hearing is infinitely more sensitive than mine.

In the few places where these skids do make contact with the chassis and aren't hard bolted to it, Rival does have rubber bumpers to keep it from rattling.

 

[Bryan748]

No noticeable road noise from the skids. They're not really in a place to have road debris kicked up into them and if you can hear a pebble hitting these skids while driving a rolling brick down the highway then your level of hearing is infinitely more sensitive than mine.

In the few places where these skids do make contact with the chassis and aren't hard bolted to it, Rival does have rubber bumpers to keep it from rattling.

I appreciate the information. That does makes sense given they aren't directly behind the weels. ?

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

FYI, Rival created a Fully fitting Trans plate For the US Ranger that fits with the OEM (or aftermarket) Transfer case plate.. Looks great!

https://www.rival4x4usa.com/product...ford-bronco-2door-2024-2025-ford-ranger-fx4-1

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