Stupid Crappy Underbody Protection!

[LokiWolf]

All of this got trapped in the stupid flimsy larger underbody “protector”. All we did was drive on a few slushy roads to pick up lunch.

Came back out after I finished watching the 24 Hours of Daytona to clean my Explorer off and noticed the belly piece hanging REAL low. 2 screws and it is flimsy as heck! Spent the next hour cleaning out all the trapped wet compacted snow from everywhere. Such a terrible design. Anybody else who regularly gets snow have this issue.



PS - Still really impressed by the 4WD systems in these things. Handles traction issues like a champ even with Stock 22’s.



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[ETC13]

Got salt!?!?

Man that sucks. Glad I don't live in the NE anymore and clearly if so this truck wouldn't last long.

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[DWs-TTEB]

If I still lived in CT, I'd be doing the same thing right now as you Loki.
I'm thinking of taking mine off ( 2 of 2 cloth guards).
Any concerns about doing that?
I know it protects the intercoolers and transmission pan.

 

[aggiegrad05]

Texas person here, so forgive my stupid question...and I’m not asking this to be a jerk, I promise, I’m just curious....

Won’t it just, ya know, melt? I mean, I get that stuff shouldn’t collect up there, but wouldn’t it all just melt out when you get home?

 

[joethefordguy]

oops

 

[ETC13]

Texas person here, so forgive my stupid question...and I’m not asking this to be a jerk, I promise, I’m just curious....

Won’t it just, ya know, melt? I mean, I get that stuff shouldn’t collect up there, but wouldn’t it all just melt out when you get home?

It stays cold in the north my friend.

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[joethefordguy]

Texas person here, so forgive my stupid question...and I’m not asking this to be a jerk, I promise, I’m just curious....

Won’t it just, ya know, melt? I mean, I get that stuff shouldn’t collect up there, but wouldn’t it all just melt out when you get home?

'nother Texas person here... but I've lived above the frost line. It might melt, but then again, it might build up and freeze up until it puts the squeeze on something significant. depends on which way the temperature goes.

 

[LokiWolf]

Correct it will EVENTUALLY melt.

Ever seen those piles of compacted snow in parking lots? Seen how long they stay around? Compacted snow has some staying power. Not only that but it can do A LOT of damage also. This was pushing up on lots of things, like the Cats.

It honestly would have probably ripped the corners where the screws are if it had gotten much worse, and just fell down. Don’t need that tomorrow morning when I am taking the wife to work tomorrow for her 12 hour shift...

It is just a terrible design in general.


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[LokiWolf]

If I still lived in CT, I'd be doing the same thing right now as you Loki.
I'm thinking of taking mine off ( 2 of 2 cloth guards).
Any concerns about doing that?
I know it protects the intercoolers and transmission pan.

There is actually ZERO protection for the IC. There is a large unprotected gap right behind the air dam. This concerns me, cause I found some snow build up on the backside of the IC on the lower sections.

The Trans would be where I would be concerned. I think under non snow conditions it probably doesn’t do a bad job of protecting from road debris.


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[scottdm]

May want to check out this thread if you're interested in installing proper skid plates. Main options seem to be the OEM Ford skid plates from the FX4 package combined with the Raptor transmission skid plate, or going aftermarket with something like the RCI skid plates. I live in the snow belt and have OEM Ford skid plates with the Raptor transmission skid plate and have never experienced snow accumulating like you mentioned.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/adding-skid-plates-to-2018-limited-with-tow-package.38146/

 

[LokiWolf]

May want to check out this thread if you're interested in installing proper skid plates. Main options seem to be the OEM Ford skid plates from the FX4 package combined with the Raptor transmission skid plate, or going aftermarket with something like the RCI skid plates. I live in the snow belt and have OEM Ford skid plates with the Raptor transmission skid plate and have never experienced snow accumulating like you mentioned.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/adding-skid-plates-to-2018-limited-with-tow-package.38146/

Thanks!!! Been reading through that one!


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[5280tunage]

Those fibrous splash covers were a joke. One of the first things I noticed about these. Also why one of the first things I did was put RCI skids on. I love them, albeit a little pain when you're doing work under the rig.

The rear bumper is also bad about this for me, the corners got super full of slush all the time. They are a little better with mud flaps on.

another thing to keep in mind, is that yes it may eventually melt, but if you park this in your garage and you're anywhere like me, that means your garage slabs will start to move a lot on you. Almost no garage these days is built with proper drainage.

 

[LokiWolf]

@scottdm This is your pic from the skid plate thread where 85% of the snow was, and probably would have ripped off. It has ZERO metal in it structure wise. It has the fabric structure on the bottom, and heat reflective coating like on the inside of a firewall on the top. It is what I want to replace....




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[DWs-TTEB]

I want to replace mine to with a transmission skid plate. I believe Scott says the Raptor one fits (what MY?)

 

[carymccarr]

So two different issues right?

1) “skid” plates are basically cereal boxes

2) “skid” plates collect snow

I have never really thought about it/worried much about snow getting stuck in skid plates. Engine is hot and I park in the garage. That said, the cereal boxes need to go. Bad place to cut corners Ford.

 

[LokiWolf]

So two different issues right?

1) “skid” plates are basically cereal boxes

2) “skid” plates collect snow

I have never really thought about it/worried much about snow getting stuck in skid plates. Engine is hot and I park in the garage. That said, the cereal boxes need to go. Bad place to cut corners Ford.

I expect skid plates to collect some, no issues there.

The problem is because of the softness and lack of rigidity, it collected more and more as it flexed more with the weight of the wet snow. It was a self fulfilling prophecy... [emoji23][emoji6][emoji23]


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[Deadman]

I put the FX4 skid plate on for this exact reason. It blocks the front off and pushes the snow downward and keeps it off of the belts, engine, etc. Its ridiculous how wide open the engine is to direct snow/slush spray. The FX4 plate isn't perfect, but it takes care of 90% of the problem and I live in Northern, WI.

As to the questions will it melt, sure it will in Late April. Our snowpack from December is still all here.....

 

[lv2drive]

i absolutely need to get the fx4/raptor plates on asap. today i also got a bunch of snow in my fabric covers, even just a mild snowfall like we're having with the "first wave" of this storm (a small fraction of the total we are expecting 20"+).

on a sidenote, either way i'm probably gonna be either unscrewing - or ripping off - this snowplow of an air dam on the front end. dumb.

 

[carymccarr]

I put the FX4 skid plate on for this exact reason. It blocks the front off and pushes the snow downward and keeps it off of the belts, engine, etc. Its ridiculous how wide open the engine is to direct snow/slush spray. The FX4 plate isn't perfect, but it takes care of 90% of the problem and I live in Northern, WI.

As to the questions will it melt, sure it will in Late April. Our snowpack from December is still all here.....

Snowpack inside your garage lasts two months?

Guess you don’t need a garage beer fridge! BONUS!!


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[Deadman]

Snowpack inside your garage lasts two months?

Guess you don’t need a garage beer fridge! BONUS!!


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The guy asked about it melting in his driveway......Ours doesn't melt til April.

My garage needs a serious fridge. I have a wood furnace in my garage and it averages 78* F all winter. Snow doesn't last long in there.

On a side note, we just drove my Expedition cross country and ran in snow for 6 hours. It went from rain/snow mix to heavy slushy snow to all snow and it never built up underneath because of the FX4 skid plate. I can't believe my wifes Navigator has no protection as well. I assumed it was cost savings on my Expedition, but how stupid.