Any disadvantages to skid plates?

[Mtnman1]

Strange how a single, extremely rare event, shapes our decisions for life.

I've got near enough to a million road miles under my belt and 21 yrs. of 5 days per week off road driving for work, none of it with skid plates. Never damaged a thing, that skid plates would have prevented. Though I probably would have been high centered and stuck, numerous times, if I'd had them.

Hardly a single event. Road debris is everywhere. And i have had more than one instance since that the plates helped prevent damage.

I chose to have more protection. Helps me on and off road.

Your luck will run out soon enough. Be prepared or not, your choice.

21 yrs of driving 5 days a week? I have more than twice that. And I have seen enough damage done off road and on, to know a little prevention is the smart move.

You should come drive off road with me some time See how long it takes to change your mind.

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[Davexxxx]

Hardly a single event. Road debris is everywhere. And i have had more than one instance since that the plates helped prevent damage.

I chose to have more protection. Helps me on and off road.

Your luck will run out soon enough. Be prepared or not, your choice.

21 yrs of driving 5 days a week? I have more than twice that. And I have seen enough damage done off road and on, to know a little prevention is the smart move.

You should come drive off road with me some time See how long it takes to change your mind.

21 yrs of driving 5 days a week, off road. If you have more than 40 yrs of driving off road every day for work, thats a lot. Enough to know that 2 decades is too. More than even the most hard core off roaders do in a lifetime.

The OP asked for disadvantages to skid plates. I named some. If you find them valuable, thats fine too.

 

[powerboatr]

i put on the ford steel plate cover used on other models
i was going to do RCI, but i already had gas tank shield, engine and trans case
i dont do tons of off roading but wanted a tough option to stop road debris damage or potential for damage and make it harder to steal the cats
so far it has claimed one racoon

 

[jcaspar]

extra weight so reduced MPG and lower payload capacity.

 

[Mtnman1]

21 yrs of driving 5 days a week, off road. If you have more than 40 yrs of driving off road every day for work, thats a lot. Enough to know that 2 decades is too. More than even the most hard core off roaders do in a lifetime.

The OP asked for disadvantages to skid plates. I named some. If you find them valuable, thats fine too.

I do not live on a paved or graveled road. I am off road every day.

I was commenting on your original reply of there is no benefit. That is not true. Always a benefit if extra protection, even if one choses not to partake.

 

[somecatchyphrase]

i put on the ford steel plate cover used on other models
i was going to do RCI, but i already had gas tank shield, engine and trans case
i dont do tons of off roading but wanted a tough option to stop road debris damage or potential for damage and make it harder to steal the cats
so far it has claimed one racoon

I was unaware Ford made legit skid plates. I thought all of them were the flimsy ones on the FX4 package. Neat. So you are overall happy with them? Self installation easy enough?

 

[HeadBanger]

Most of the vehicles I've owned in since 2000 have had some sort of protection, albeit plastic, underneath. There's definitely advantages to having them.
As for disadvantages, I would highlight what's already been said regarding dropping tools and bolts, and restricting access to various points. Certainly not enough to talk anyone out of installing them though. They are nice and would without question do the job..

 

[powerboatr]

I was unaware Ford made legit skid plates. I thought all of them were the flimsy ones on the FX4 package. Neat. So you are overall happy with them? Self installation easy enough?

less than 5 minutes to install
only i did not do the oil drain cover as its really not needed and instead fashioned one from the old felt cover
the pan bolts to the 10mm bolts in front and 4 bolts on the frame
some f150 are missing the front frame holes, but i believe all 22 and up have the holes, you can use the existing bolts for the felt cover (rear ones and order 2 more for the front ears that attach to the frame. easy as falling off a log

i was going the rci route, but IMO ordering things that i already had seemed not frugal enough.
if the truck had no skid plates, i would have gone the full rci route
search here, there is a whole thread on this pan, another member here found it and did all the research.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/factory-catalytic-converter-protection.15148/

 

[Samson16]

RCI is having a sale on skid plates right now (early April) and has me considering. I would also be adding the catalytic converter protection plate since cat theft seems to have finally made its way down to Florida. I do not intend to purposefully skid over any rocks with my truck so I will forgo steel and go with aluminum skid plates for more generalized protection.
Has anyone encountered any disadvantages to having skid plates on a truck? I'm aware of slightly more annoying oil changes. Any issues with heat build up maybe with the transmission fluid since there is much less air flow down there? Also, it is hard to tell from pictures, but will I be loosing an inch or so of ground clearance with the skid plates on? Any insight/wisdom is appreciated.

I would only install them if I went offroad often. My H3 has a skid plate that channels the oil down to a collection pan which is handy. With a 111.9" wheelbase and about 1000lb. lighter than my F150, not to mention 13yrs old and paid for, it will remain the offroad mule. My beautiful F150 4x4 will pull the trailer and get me to work in style.

 

[Suns_PSD]

There is at least some chance that metal skid plates will cause more engine noise to reflect back towards the cabin area.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Anyways, I just ordered.

Thanks for the discount tip.

 

[somecatchyphrase]

There is at least some chance that metal skid plates will cause more engine noise to reflect back towards the cabin area.

That is a good point. I gather that the instructions for the RCI fuel tank skid say to use foam tape to help with this potential metal on metal rattle. I did not consider the other plates being a source of noise.

Anyone who has RCI skid plates notice any noise associated with them?

 

[Samson16]

If my 4x4 came with them fine, but I'm not going to add them. I have no plans to go serious off-roading with a brand new +60k truck. I have a 2006 Hummer H3 for that with skid plates. If I find myself needing skid plates in this truck something has already gone horribly wrong lol.

 

[EricR]

If my 4x4 came with them fine, but I'm not going to add them. I have no plans to go serious off-roading with a brand new +60k truck. I have a 2006 Hummer H3 for that with skid plates. If I find myself needing skid plates in this truck something has already gone horribly wrong lol.

Like your cats getting stolen?
?

 

[Samson16]

Like your cats getting stolen?
?

That would be bad. Has it actually happened to you?
The 12 year old kid in me wants to know how your truck sounded with just headers lol.

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