BL Front Skid Plate Options

[Cactusjk]

Is the Rally Innovations skid the only front skid available?

Not sure I want to remove it for oil changes and catch debris due to the opening at the front. Some skids have access for oil changes.

The OEM skids are probably good for what I want to do but am still open for looking at the options.

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[Major Kong]

Contacted maker
Out of stock
Production set for mid-summer
https://rival4x4usa.com/catalog/ford/bronco_sport/2571/

 

[Cactusjk]

That one looks great and attaches below the bumper. If it will fit a BL then I will hold out for that.

And it has access for oil changes!

 

[Major Kong]

Not sure if what I'm seeing is an access panel for a 2.0 or 1.5 liter oil drain plug.
Rival was quick to respond to any questions by email.
They state the under body is the same on all and I suspect they would know. The location of drain plugs to be in the same location I'm not so sure about.
The plate sounds beefy enough for my needs.

 

[Bluebaru]

That one looks great and attaches below the bumper. If it will fit a BL then I will hold out for that.

And it has access for oil changes!

Looks like it doesn’t extend up in front, at an angle and that doesn’t seem like a good idea

 

[Cactusjk]

It contours the front bumper with no gaps and secures which I think is better than the Rally which has the gap with no fasteners..

 

[Cactusjk]

From Rival:

We did test installation of our aluminum skid plate on all trims of Bronco Sport exceptBadlands. As I remember the original skid plate is steel correct?

So far the underbody is the same pretty sure.

I’ll check what average ETA on our next big batch.

 

[Cactusjk]

Rival is looking for a picture of the front bottom of a Badlands if anyone has one?

 

[Major Kong]

Rival is looking for a picture of the front bottom of a Badlands if anyone has one?

 

[Cactusjk]

Awesome! I sent it to Rival. They are very responsive and want to help us out.

 

[jofer]

I may be missing something, but it looks like what they make wouldn't offer much protection over what's already on the badlands.

There's already a skid plate on the badlands for the area the Rival one covers. The Rally one covers an additional area on the underside of the front bumper that appears uncovered with the Rival plate and is uncovered with the badlands skid plate. If you have a badlands already, I'm not sure the Rival plate adds anything (and you have to remove the stock skid plate to change the oil anyway).

However, the Rally skid plate isn't particularly heavy duty. It's only meant to prevent sticks from going through the underside of the bumper and the plastic there from getting torn easily. It's not designed to take the weight of the car.

Either way, it's really fantastic to see more options, especially for non-badlands models!

 

[Major Kong]

especially for non-badlands models!

 

[Cactusjk]

I may be missing something, but it looks like what they make wouldn't offer much protection over what's already on the badlands.

There's already a skid plate on the badlands for the area the Rival one covers. The Rally one covers an additional area on the underside of the front bumper that appears uncovered with the Rival plate and is uncovered with the badlands skid plate. If you have a badlands already, I'm not sure the Rival plate adds anything (and you have to remove the stock skid plate to change the oil anyway).

However, the Rally skid plate isn't particularly heavy duty. It's only meant to prevent sticks from going through the underside of the bumper and the plastic there from getting torn easily. It's not designed to take the weight of the car.

Either way, it's really fantastic to see more options, especially for non-badlands models!

Great points! Was thinking the same about the existing BL plate. Will need more info from them to really compare.

 

[MaxVelocity]

Not sure if what I'm seeing is an access panel for a 2.0 or 1.5 liter oil drain plug.
Rival was quick to respond to any questions by email.
They state the under body is the same on all and I suspect they would know. The location of drain plugs to be in the same location I'm not so sure about.
The plate sounds beefy enough for my needs.

The one pictured cannot be for a 2.0L. The access for the drain plug appears to be in the wrong location and you would not have access to the oil filter.

 

[timhutch]

I have purchased (and received) the Rally Innovations skid for the front of my BL. Will be installed in the next week or two (by my dealer) once my 2" lift arrives from Woolworth Racing in Las Vegas. Will post back here my impressions once installed. Already know that will be adding counter sunk conical washers so that the mounting bolt heads aren't sticking down for all the rocks to grab!

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