Rival 4x4 Radiator Skid Plates Installed

[ADVNTURR]

My truck is a standard XLT, non-FX4, so despite there being a lot of available skid plate options for the powertrain the one I haven't really seen available was a radiator skid. Since Ford thinks they're made of gold and since I have already installed the rest of the @RIVAL 4x4 skids on my truck I was quite happy when they made their radiator skid available in the US. Since I've made install videos for all of their other options I figured I might as well complete the package.

This is definitely one of the easiest of their skids to install and would likely be even easier if you were only installing it. I did have to loosen my engine skid and shift its position slightly and I had to flex the factory front mounts slightly to get the bolts started but everything went together smoothly and clamped up properly.



For anyone interested, my install video post for the Engine Skid can be found here
Videos and post for the Transmission and T-Case Skids can be found here
My video and post for their Fuel Tank Skid can be found here

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[Epsilon Phui]

Nice! I was hoping for an aluminum radiator skid to replace the factory steel on my RR. I want to trim weight before I fat back up with a winch.

 

[ADVNTURR]

Nice! I was hoping for an aluminum radiator skid to replace the factory steel on my RR. I want to trim weight before I fat back up with a winch.

Yeah I'm trying to keep weight down where I can because I'm towing my racecar with mine and now I have a RTT and and awning coming.

 

[alrashid2]

My truck is a standard XLT, non-FX4, so despite there being a lot of available skid plate options for the powertrain the one I haven't really seen available was a radiator skid. Since Ford thinks they're made of gold and since I have already installed the rest of the @RIVAL 4x4 skids on my truck I was quite happy when they made their radiator skid available in the US. Since I've made install videos for all of their other options I figured I might as well complete the package.

This is definitely one of the easiest of their skids to install and would likely be even easier if you were only installing it. I did have to loosen my engine skid and shift its position slightly and I had to flex the factory front mounts slightly to get the bolts started but everything went together smoothly and clamped up properly.



For anyone interested, my install video post for the Engine Skid can be found here
Videos and post for the Transmission and T-Case Skids can be found here
My video and post for their Fuel Tank Skid can be found here

Hey my friend, thanks for these posts and for your great Youtube videos!

Can I ask you, do you know why the Radiator skid plate by Rival is stated to not fit the Fx4? I ordered a 2026 Ranger XLT, non-FX4, but noticed that the Rival photos all show Rangers without tow hooks, while my XLT will have tow hooks despite not being FX4. The tow hooks look the same as the FX4 ones to my eye, so was confused why they state it doesnt fit FX4?

 

[ADVNTURR]

Hey my friend, thanks for these posts and for your great Youtube videos!

Can I ask you, do you know why the Radiator skid plate by Rival is stated to not fit the Fx4? I ordered a 2026 Ranger XLT, non-FX4, but noticed that the Rival photos all show Rangers without tow hooks, while my XLT will have tow hooks despite not being FX4. The tow hooks look the same as the FX4 ones to my eye, so was confused why they state it doesnt fit FX4?

I have no idea why it wouldn't fit the FX4 trucks, unless it has something to do with the FX4 engine skid (I'm not sure if those trucks have an engine skid). It shouldn't have anything to do with the tow hooks, I think they're all the same on the non-Raptor trucks. You'd have to ask Rival directly why it doesn't fit.

 

[alrashid2]

I have no idea why it wouldn't fit the FX4 trucks, unless it has something to do with the FX4 engine skid (I'm not sure if those trucks have an engine skid). It shouldn't have anything to do with the tow hooks, I think they're all the same on the non-Raptor trucks. You'd have to ask Rival directly why it doesn't fit.

Thanks for responding @ADVNTURR

Not sure if you realized but your video is posted directly on the Rival product page! Ha. I am actually talking to someone from Rival now and they were under the impression that the non-FX4 trucks didn't have recovery hooks and instead had plastic caps as seen in this picture... so maybe something changed between 2024 and 2026? Nonetheless it looks like your plate fit fine so I'm going to send it!

 

[ADVNTURR]

Thanks for responding @ADVNTURR

Not sure if you realized but your video is posted directly on the Rival product page! Ha. I am actually talking to someone from Rival now and they were under the impression that the non-FX4 trucks didn't have recovery hooks and instead had plastic caps as seen in this picture... so maybe something changed between 2024 and 2026? Nonetheless it looks like your plate fit fine so I'm going to send it!

Glad the videos are helping people, and yes, I am aware that Rival is using my videos on their website (they were kind enough to send me a set of their tow hooks as a rewards which was very cool of them).

I'm not sure where the confusion lies with the factory tow hooks, I think only the base-base model XL didn't come with them. My 24 XLT had the factory hooks and the install of the plate worked without any issue. I can't imagine it would be any different on a 25 or 26 truck with the factory hooks.

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