Skid plate to replace felt

[Wandering Pinto]

First time off road I ripped the felt pad off my Badlands. Ford did a good job with underbody protection, EXCEPT This! The after market ones sat lower than I like and required modifications to work on the Badlands, so I decided to make my own.

 

[Quashish]

nice job! i need to do the same, i got acess to sheet metal and a bending brake. But that's really good on your bends. nice and tapered

 

[Mwittke5857]

Drilling through that pinch-weld for my installation was a mother! Not sure how well those stamped steel speed nuts will hold up though, if that's what you used on the outboard sides

 

[ltcdwb]

Looks great! I like how well you have it tucked up nearly flush with the side rails.

 

[Wandering Pinto]

Drilling through that pinch-weld for my installation was a mother! Not sure how well those stamped steel speed nuts will hold up though, if that's what you used on the outboard sides

I will see. The bolts at the front and back are the main support. I may add a few more bolts if needed. Will be testing it in a couple of days at Big Bend National Park in a couple of days

 

[Wandering Pinto]

Looks great! I like how well you have it tucked up nearly flush with the side rails.

I wanted to protect the EVAP lines while maintaining the break over angle.

 

[ltcdwb]

I would like to hear a trip report after the Big Bend National Park excursion. That is a pretty long road trip from Wisconsin to the Big Bend park in Texas.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I would like to hear a trip report after the Big Bend National Park excursion. That is a pretty long road trip from Wisconsin to the Big Bend park in Texas.

I used to travel from Madison WI to Kerrville TX every 6 - 8 weeks for a period of two years. If I left Madison at 1 am, I’d get into Kerrville around 9 pm. It’s pretty decent drive. I’d take 44 into Wichita Falls then head south on 281. To go to Big Bend I’d take 277 towards Midland out of Wichita Falls. That would be a tough one day drive but an easy two day drive.

 

[NMhunter]

Very nice work. You should sell those. I ripped mine off the first offroad trip as well. I've found that on rutted roads, the catalytic converter also needs protection, so I bought a skid for it too. I also put a 1-1/2" lift on. Very capable rig now. I have the skid for the other side, but I'm not sure I need it.

Drilling the pinch welds ate through several DeWalt bits in the first 1/2 hour, and only drilled one hole. I ordered a "13Pcs Cobalt Drill Bits Set, M35 HSS 135 Degree" set from Amazon for $10, and it went through the welds like magic.

 

[Mwittke5857]

Very nice work. You should sell those. I ripped mine off the first offroad trip as well. I've found that on rutted roads, the catalytic converter also needs protection, so I bought a skid for it too. I also put a 1-1/2" lift on. Very capable rig now. I have the skid for the other side, but I'm not sure I need it.

Drilling the pinch welds ate through several DeWalt bits in the first 1/2 hour, and only drilled one hole. I ordered a "13Pcs Cobalt Drill Bits Set, M35 HSS 135 Degree" set from Amazon for $10, and it went through the welds like magic.

I ended up getting carbides, the cobalt ones only seemed to scratch the paint and polish the steel

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