sigpilocal

Water jet is a cutting process, basically they use a stream of water to cut through the metal.

Feathermerchant

Trust me, nothing is indestructible. My brother...

BlacknTan2

My ATV came with plastic skid plates (Can-Am Outlander), they held up well. I eventually wanted better protection and piece of mind, so I upgraded to aluminum Ricochets. Love them, don't worry about anything but hits to the front suspension now. This truck won't anything close to the hits my ATV takes, so I think plastic will probably be good. The one aluminum skid plate I would like to see is something like what the current Raptor had coming back off the center of the bumper.

Kantuckid

iTrader: (1)

Honestly, I knew the answer but the website selling the al plates (way overpriced? & IMO I'd make em before I'd buy em) made it sound like "it was the metal" not the cut...

Feathermerchant

For those who do not have the fab tools or skills and access to material, it is a good price. The holes are in the right places and all hardware is included.

RCImetalworks

Hey guys, came across this thread and just wanted to answer a couple questions I saw..

We have been the leading manufacturer of aftermarket skid plates for the F150 for several years now and don't plan on losing that with the introduction of the 2015!
We just purchased a '15 XLT Ecoboost and have it in the shop for prototyping as we speak, so you can expect production skid plates to be available for purchase within the next couple weeks!

As for our aluminum products, they are the "top of the line" option and thus inevitably cost a bit more than their steel counterparts. The waterjet cutting process is extremely precise but also inherently expensive, as is the 5052 H32 Aluminum alloy we use for our products. We maintain very competitive prices on our aluminum skid plates which has made them a best seller.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions and I'd be glad to help! Also we do have a wait list for the new skid plates so let us know if you'd like to be put on it so we can let you know as soon as these are ready!

Feathermerchant

RCI makes their skid plates from steel or aluminum.
For those who care
Aluminum specs:
http://asm.matweb.com/search/Specifi...snum=MA5052H32

Mild steel
http://asm.matweb.com/search/Specifi...snum=MA5052H32

Fordwannabe

Anyone know what the weight difference is? Plastic vs aluminum?

RubyFX4

Could it be part of the 700 # reduction?

Feathermerchant

No. At least the 2011=2014 were plastic. It offers some protection. We had a 1966 Wagoneer and it had a metal skidplate on the tank. Some previous owner high-centered on it and flattened the whole tank a little.