RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed

RangerDangerStranger · Aug 31, 2024

One of my worst fears is that while off roading a branch or jagged rock is gonna punch a hole of tear a gash in my buttersoft fuel tank. The plastic 'Plate' is basically a joke. I think the Bronco has a full steel one available, but that's gotta weight something.

Was looking around and found this @RIVAL 4x4 one. Aluminum and cheap at 300 Bucks. Rival apperently is well known. All i can say is it's a great plate at any price. Happy camper.

Ford Ranger RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed IMG_2292

Ford Ranger RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed IMG_2293

derichio02 · Sep 1, 2024

Nice! Did you have to drop the gas tank to install?

RangerDangerStranger · Sep 1, 2024

derichio02 said:
Nice! Did you have to drop the gas tank to install?

No. It sandwiches with the OE tank brackets/bolts on one side, and has some threaded long inserts for the inner bracket side. About as simple as can be. 12" piece of 2x6 jacks the tank up to take the weight off the tank brackets so you can slide the sistered side onto the OE bolt heads while pushing up the bracket for space. Other side i pushed to spread the Rival bracket a bit to get it to fully bite onto the new bolt, and held it by tightening. Took off the plastic barbie plate first, as per instructions. Took my time on a Saturday afternoon. Rear of the truck on ramps, me on a dolly. Easy peasy. Nearest i could find for torque was 35ft/lb for the stock brackets. not directly sourced. Rival bolts are same.

BrrRaptor · Sep 1, 2024

How did you get one? They have been out of stock or back ordered for 6 months?

RangerDangerStranger · Sep 1, 2024

BrrRaptor said:
How did you get one? They have been out of stock or back ordered for 6 months?

IDK I'v been watching their site, and they suddenly were available. did you check?

Ag3ntC00p3r · Sep 2, 2024

I ordered mine within 5 minutes of getting notification on June 12. Arrived on Aug 21.

Installed mine today. Not sure what instructions you had but mine didn’t mention removing the stock plastic plate. It just states to remove any other aftermarket skid plates.

Front left, front right, and rear right brackets were smooth sailing. I did need a 12 inch extension to reach the rear right factory bolt but still easy.

Rear left on the other hand was a pain. Step 7 didn’t make it very clear that the M10 nut with wire assembly needs to go into the frame. Better pictures would have helped. Then once Iloosened and removed the factory bolt I couldn’t get the new M10 nut assembly with bolt to fit the cutout on the bracket. What I found worked best was the following:

Place M10 nut with wire into hole
Loosely thread M10 bolt into M10 nut with wire
Bring bracket up and loosely thread OE bolt over bracket
Swear to everything that is holy that the bracket is slightly off or factory hole for M10 nut assembly was not drilled within tolerance.
Wrestle bracket into close enough alignment to place wood block at top of bracket and hit with mallet to force cutout to fall around the new M10 bolt/washer.
Celebrate with a beverage
Torque everything down to 35ft/lb

I tried to take some pictures to help show what I was seeing with the rear left bracket alignment but could’t get a good angle while still holding the bracket.

RangerDangerStranger · Sep 2, 2024

Quote: 'If equiped, Remove the factory skid plate OR other aftermarket skid plate'

Pic then shows a tank w/o the plastic plate.

I don't understand the problem you had. I had 2 issues, 1. the rear bracket top was not spread far enough apart to fully seat into the Rival bracket cutout for it. Since it was already fully seated on the other side, i just pushed up on the bottom of the bracket to get it to spread and seat on the other bolt. 2. the front threaded insert wanted to turn clockwise while i was tightening it. I just stuck the blade end of a large flat tip between it and the frame to get it to stay true. Oh, and 3. the slider hole in the front plate, the bolts aren't long enough to unthread them enough to get past the contour on the plate, so i just jacked up the whole plate and put the bolts in that way. About an hour i think? Glad you got your installed.

Ag3ntC00p3r · Sep 3, 2024

RangerDangerStranger said:
Quote: 'If equiped, Remove the factory skid plate OR other aftermarket skid plate'

Pic then shows a tank w/o the plastic plate.

I don't understand the problem you had. I had 2 issues, 1. the rear bracket top was not spread far enough apart to fully seat into the Rival bracket cutout for it. Since it was already fully seated on the other side, i just pushed up on the bottom of the bracket to get it to spread and seat on the other bolt. 2. the front threaded insert wanted to turn clockwise while i was tightening it. I just stuck the blade end of a large flat tip between it and the frame to get it to stay true. Oh, and 3. the slider hole in the front plate, the bolts aren't long enough to unthread them enough to get past the contour on the plate, so i just jacked up the whole plate and put the bolts in that way. About an hour i think? Glad you got your installed.

What rev is your installation manual? Mine is Ver 3 18-AUG-2023.

@RIVAL 4x4 , any input? Was the OE gas tank skid supposed to be removed?

Ford Ranger RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed Rival Gas Skid IM

RangerDangerStranger · Sep 3, 2024

I don't think so.. I can't imagine it creating any issues.

PhoenixRanger · Sep 3, 2024

The "existing" or "OE" is cheap plastic. Not sure why they didn't follow the Bronco and do a steel plate for the gas tank--piece of mind when off-road.

RIVAL 4x4 · Sep 3, 2024

Sorry for the confusion everyone. We are constantly working on updating our instructions.

Factory plastic “skid” plate stays in place, ours goes over it.

Ag3ntC00p3r · Sep 3, 2024

RIVAL 4x4 said:
Sorry for the confusion everyone. We are constantly working on updating our instructions.

Factory plastic “skid” plate stays in place, ours goes over it.

Thanks for confirming.

RangerDangerStranger · Sep 3, 2024

Yeah, that raptor appears different. Can't imagine a Raptor coming with a plastic piece, mine is just a XLT 4x4.

RIVAL 4x4 · Sep 3, 2024

RangerDangerStranger said:
Yeah, that raptor appears different. Can't imagine a Raptor coming with a plastic piece, mine is just a XLT 4x4.

Unfortunately US Ranger Raptor is also plastic from the factory….

John E Davies · Sep 4, 2024

RIVAL 4x4 said:
Sorry for the confusion everyone. We are constantly working on updating our instructions.

Factory plastic “skid” plate stays in place, ours goes over it.

Do you have any concerns about mud buildup on top of any of the skid plates? I don’t see many large drain openings, and the shape will act like a cup to trap stuff. For example, all the dimples on this Outback plate that do not even have weep holes:

Ford Ranger RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed IMG_7469

How about the unavoidable corrosion from deicers or road salt? Do you recommend period removal for cleaning, or to leave them off entirely in the winter? I can’t imagine them being happy when saturated with magnesium chloride ;(

FYI mag chloride is added to road salt to reduce dust during application, and typically salt sprays are used everywhere for summer dust suppression on gravel farm and ranch roads.

I have to say that your web statement is highly misleading about the durability of any aluminum alloy:

“Being an extremely corrosion resistant material aluminum will not rust even if the surface coating becomes gouged or scratched.” Try telling that to the trucking industry and:

Can Ford Aluminum Rust?

What alloy do you use? How are they prepped and powder coated? Can you please comment?

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

RIVAL 4x4 Fuel Tank Skid Plate Installed

RangerDangerStranger

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