JCROUCH

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE: As other members are installing skid plates, it is clear that the skid plate may not directly bolt up to every truck. Minor modification will probably need to be made to either the skid plate or the frame of your truck, or if you are capable of fabricating your own extension brackets, no modification may be needed. Just something to keep in mind for those looking to add a Raptor skid plate to their non-raptor F-150.



Just thought I’d share my Raptor Skid Plate installation on my 2018 F-150 XLT in case anyone else is looking to do the same. I was originally planning to just trim the lower valance but then I saw a new “takeoff” skid plate on eBay for ~$100 so it had me wondering if I could just bolt this onto my F-150. After searching these forums and other posts online I saw that it had been done on a 2015-2017 but there wasn’t a ton of information. So, I thought I’d share what I learned throughout the process.



Parts needed (I’ll add part numbers if I can find them):

Raptor Skid Plate: HL3V-5E154-ED

Skid Plate Brackets: HL3V079 / AL3V079

Rear Support Plate: HL3Z-8307-A

Misc. Bolts and U-nuts

Overall, the installation was very easy and straight forward, required no major modifications aside from trimming the plastic, lower bumper cover. Also requires minor modification to the skid plate or the frame of the truck to bolt up 100%. I did not find this out until I picked up the rear support bar and was unable to fully bolt through with the skid plate as-is. My plan to correct this is to drill a new set of holes at the rear of the skid plate as pictured below.




I found this video to be extremely helpful. The first 2 minutes show the removal of the skid plate from a Raptor, as well as the front brackets and rear support plate that are needed. If you just reverse these steps, you will have your skid plate on in no time, assuming you have all of the parts/pieces. Video:
Pictures of the parts needed and a diagram from Tasca that may be helpful:






Overall, installation was pretty easy. Since my truck is not lifted or leveled it is a very subtle change that really looks much better in person. I personally didn’t mind the lower valance that the truck came with but I also wasn’t a huge fan of just hacking off the lower plastic cover, so this was a good alternative for me; I got to trim the lower cover, and integrate a skid plate.

03screwon22's

Very useful information, and nice job!

OCMike

iTrader: (1)

Great thread...Thanks...I'm thinking I just put another mod on my list. In my case though I'll have the skid plate powder coated black or covered with bed liner. The sliver looks good on your truck.

Mike

JCROUCH

iTrader: (1)

Black or bed liner would definitely look great! I don't mind the silver for now but I'm leaning towards bed-liner when I do my bed and tailgate

Fattom10

Great detailed information and thank you for sharing. I will be doing this very soon. Not sure if I will paint it or leave it silver. Good looking truck, keep up the good work.

goblue90

This is great! Thanks Jcrouch for posting this. I just received all the parts needed to install a raptor skid plate to my '15 XLT and unfortunately it doesn't bolt up. The holes where the front brackets attach to the frame (see 5:12 to 5:27 of the video) are approximately 1 inch further back on my truck. Here's a pic of how off the front holes on the skid plate are from the holes on the front brackets.

I'm going to fab some small brackets with four holes to "extend" those brackets to reach the holes on the skid plate.

JCROUCH

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info. That's unfortunate that it does not directly bolt up. There was another member who installs these at the dealership he works at and he claimed he had to make "minor" modifications to the either the frame or the skid plate for it to fully bolt up. I would do the same with some small brackets to extend those, should do the trick.

I'm guessing mine bolted up because I did not use the original hardware for the rear of the skid plate, and the bolts I used are not 100% how I'd like them as they're not perpendicular to the world. They're at a steep enough angle that I could not use the rear support bar as-is.

What I'll probably do to make mine align better will be to drill new holes at the rear of the skid plate and bolt through there.

genmax4

Look great, thanks for posting.

goblue90

Here are a few pictures of the brackets (larger brackets for front mounting location and smaller brackets for rear mounting location) i made from 1/4" aluminum to get the skid plate to bolt on without modifying either the plate or the frame.

goblue90

Here are pictures of the skid plate installed on my '15 XLT.