Adding skid plates to 2018 Limited with tow package?

[LokiWolf]

The properties of this skid plate
It’s 100% Aluminum
Approximately 6mm thickness
3 parts
Local factory in Saudi Arabia
Cost less than 300$


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Whose plates are these? Link?

 

[Artie]

Due to how close my house is to conservation land they had to shave garage bay 3 off to remain within setback restrictions. Because of that I’m limited to 2 cars. Depending on the day I’m either VERY happy or VERY sad about that limitation lol

We have two garages on the main drive way and one on a secondary basement driveway. I believe if I had 5 or 10 I’d find a way to fill them with something. As it is now they are all full so either my wife is getting one of the previously mentioned models or we are upgrading my man cave into a secondary building.

 

[bushpilot]

things no one ever says....

• I wish this thing had LESS horsepower
• I should have built a smaller garage

 

[Deadman]

I have 16 garage stalls and everyone is full and the garages have full upstairs too!! lol. I think I need some more vehicles!

 

[Lou Hamilton]

I don't even have a garage and my Historic District won't let me. My house was built in 1910. All the other "garages" in my neighborhood are more like sheds. Too low to fit much more than a standard sedan or coupe. An SUV or truck would never fit unless it was lowered.

 

[StealthyBulldog]

I don't even have a garage and my Historic District won't let me. My house was built in 1910. All the other "garages" in my neighborhood are more like sheds. Too low to fit much more than a standard sedan or coupe. An SUV or truck would never fit unless it was lowered.

Sooo by "lowered" do you mean something like this??? Haha

 

[Doug997]

I went to replace the tank straps so I could mount the fuel tank skid plate. On the first strap (front) I ended up breaking the U-Nut (spring nut) W717470 and now it just spins with the bolt W719896. I know these bolts have blue thread lock and I did not use a bolt heater. I have not had issues in the past removing bolts with blue thread locker. So, I had the bolt backed out just about ¼” before the U-Nut broke. I have a 2020 Expedition with about 1000 miles.

I stopped at that point as I did not have the time to play with it. It would be very hard to get to the nut side so I guess I am left with drilling out the bolt or grinding off the bolt head (grinder) or cutting off the bolt head (Dremel). Anyone else have this issue and how did you remove the bolt? Any other suggests on how to remove? A little concerned due to the location to the gas tank and the sparks produced by the grinding. I do not think the tank is vented in teh area so I think it should be ok?

 

[John Ehrhardt]

I thought people mentioned they got the skid plate parts for $800-1000. However, I just received a $2,000 estimate from my local ford dealer. Does anyone have a recommendation on where to source these? Is there a reputable online place? I found a few and assume I'd save 50%...

 

[Jeka]

I thought people mentioned they got the skid plate parts for $800-1000. However, I just received a $2,000 estimate from my local ford dealer. Does anyone have a recommendation on where to source these? Is there a reputable online place? I found a few and assume I'd save 50%...

Wow! That's a lot! I bet you can get the set around $1k.
I usually go to rockauto.com for OEM parts, there are mixed reviews online, but I had only good experience.

 

[scottdm]

Fairway Ford Ohio has a large online parts presence and has good prices.

https://www.fairwayfordparts.net/

 

[AKentPhoto]

I found my plan b... Prerunner shape and all!

 

[5280tunage]

I'm telling you folks, I"m pretty impressed with the RCI package. They were great. I know Covid has made them a tad difficult at times to get a hold of, but I was very impressed. Make sure though that you get the right setup, we need the older setup on the 4th gen models. They will help you through that, I accidentally bought the newest F150 setup and had to make some mods and it barely fit, but they assured me the previous gen F150 setup fits the 4th gen perfectly. I know I've posted a few photos of them before.

 

[Black]

If 5280 is correct RCI is the way to go. Their plates are far superior to factory and cheaper.
I had their transmission skid on my 2016 Expedition and it was great.
I bought a Tundra and their skids were one of the first things I ordered for it. Hopefully they’ll be here in the next few weeks.

If anyone orders from RCI try the coupon code TW. Saved me $28 off a $550 order. Not sure if it is still active or not. I ordered a few weeks ago.

 

[5280tunage]

Just to include them for ease of use, here's the parts.
The engine and tranny skids -
https://rcimetalworks.com/product-category/ford/expedition-navigator/07-17-expedition-navigator/

I also received the transfer case skid since I ordered the wrong kit, but I actually made it work quite easily, just used a couple of the quick fasteners and had to drill a couple bolts but it worked great.
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/2015-2019-f-150-transfer-case-skid-plate/

No again, I made the mistake of ordering this kit, and while it worked fine, I did have to drill some extra holes, use some extra clips, and it barely fit front to back, I will probably some day replace a couple of the parts just so they fit a little better (but again, this was my mistake, I didn't check ahead)
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/2015-2019-f-150-full-skid-plate-package/

If you have any questions, Tim @ RCI is great to work with, very knowledgeable.

 

[Fozzy]

I found my plan b... Prerunner shape and all!

View attachment 37196

Damn, got me thinking. That’s way cheaper than the LGE bumper skid. I would have one by now if they would show how they get around the sensors. This look to have no impact on them.


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[AKentPhoto]

The thing about the lge is you get to trim the bumper up. It would appear like a body lift which would make the truck look closer to your 6" goal...

Who cares about the sensors? I'd just turn them off. You have a camera...

 

[5280tunage]

Yeah, the RCI plates will work with even the front airdam on but I took mine off regardless. I was worried about things like tire treads on the highway ripping through the cardboard crap under these.

I also put one of the valves on the oil plug just because it will flow straight down through the opening in the skid plate now.

 

[Slipstream]

very useful thread.
I am in the process of making our '19 Limited Special Ed a little more off-road capable. Started by taking off the front air dam last night and I just ordered the engine skid plates from RCI (coupon code still works btw). Hoping it will bolt up with no drilling/cutting. For the remaining ones I will most likely go with the OEM plates. As an FYI - those prices that others quoted from last year are no longer available. Either Ford raised the List prices on these or the discount got smaller (the former is more likely as I searched several different online dealers and their discount % are pretty close). Its about $900 for the entire set (vs $600 quoted by other users prior).

 

[Slipstream]

So in the spirit of broadening our collective knowledge.....the RCI engine skid plate ended up to be quite the project. I ended up ordering the 09-14 F-150 plate as suggested in prior posts. For reference I have a 2019 Limited Special Edition. If you are counting on them being a 'bolt-on' application...don't. I ended up getting them installed and they fit nicely now, but it cost me $150 bucks of shop time to make the required modifications. The front brackets needed to be modified (drilled an hole in a different spot) and added 2 more bolts to better secure the 2 plates together. Also contrary to the post above (which I think is using the 15-19 F150 skid plates), the mounting location of the brackets is different. I ended up mounting mine on the front 2 bolts (including the tow hook bolt) instead of the back 2. This was the only way to align the rear bolts on the 2 plate. Pics attached.

 

[Pokes_06]

Do you have to remove the front skid plate to get to the engine oil filter?