Armor/skid plates - 4th Gen Expedition Max

[Flying N]

Has anyone here tried these? https://www.sharptruck.com/truck-ha...PZk0zHCgDpLxVs4WtJuGq2FxLMW45hORoCOC0QAvD_BwE

Plus, if others have not yet seen these, I thought they may want to look at them as well.

I corresponded with them. They said one customer just installed these on his Expedition, with just need one extra bolt. However, he was not sure about if it was for a Max or std length.

 

[lurch]

1/8 aluminum does not seem like a very effective skid plate for a full size SUV. Jeep skid plates often use 3/16 steel, and Jeeps are much lighter.

 

[Flying N]

1/8 aluminum does not seem like a very effective skid plate for a full size SUV. Jeep skid plates often use 3/16 steel, and Jeeps are much lighter.

I have a built Jeep with lots of armor as well. I am not looking to rock crawl the Expy, but Aluminum is a lot stronger than what is on it now, and probably stronger than what is stock on the FX4/Timberline, but IDK.

 

[LazSlate]

1/8 aluminum does not seem like a very effective skid plate for a full size SUV. Jeep skid plates often use 3/16 steel, and Jeeps are much lighter.

I have a built Jeep with lots of armor as well. I am not looking to rock crawl the Expy, but Aluminum is a lot stronger than what is on it now, and probably stronger than what is stock on the FX4/Timberline, but IDK.

The stock front plate on the TImberline is thick heavy steel. Aluminum skid plates are silly. Aluminum is light yes but its a soft metal. You land a 6k vehicle on a rock it will bend the Aluminum like butter and most likely cause damage to parts which sit right next the skid plate. There is a reason you do not see alum in wide use on frames, bikes, bull dozers, tanks, etc.

 

[rd618]

I’d really not recommend these for off road use. For comparison 1/8” aluminum to steel, the weight savings goes to aluminum but the strength is no contest. steel alloy of the same dimensions as aluminum is nearly always more rigid, puncture resistant, and less likely to deform, but is more dense.
For minor under body protection from some light road debris, sure. This will be better than the felt that you have stock.

 

[myers]

Has anyone here tried these? https://www.sharptruck.com/truck-ha...PZk0zHCgDpLxVs4WtJuGq2FxLMW45hORoCOC0QAvD_BwE

Plus, if others have not yet seen these, I thought they may want to look at them as well.

I corresponded with them. They said one customer just installed these on his Expedition, with just need one extra bolt. However, he was not sure about if it was for a Max or std length.

What did you end up getting? I’m looking for skids. RCI is way overkill for what I’ll be doing but don’t want to purchase thin junk. Mainly just driving through fields etc., not looking to drag them over anything.

 

[Trainmaster]

Consider the Ford OEM plates for light duty steel plates at a reasonable price. Several threads about these: