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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 fabrication 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1wXM_zwg-c
Pictures of the parts needed and a diagram from Tasca that may be helpful:
A before picture with the Valance Panel and Lower Cover.
The point of no return, removed the Valance Panel and then hacked up the Lower Cover.
A few pictures of the skid plate bolted up.
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. I plan to level the front in the near future and imagine the skid plate will be much more noticeable with the front raised. I’ll be sure to update with better pictures when I do!
That skid plate looks badass. I want to do the same. I however notice you had to cut out sections of the air dam. I unbolted the bottom half of the Airdam and trimmed off the tabs in the middle. However I kept it smooth at the bottom and really dont want to have to cut it up. Would this plate fit with the upper half of the air dam intact? I was wondering if you just cut it to show the skid plate or if it would not fit otherwise? It almost appears it would just cover a bit of the top tip of the skid plate, which I would prefer to do rather than cut it. If not, I may just get a custom one fabricated.
I am having trouble finding the parts that Jcrouch referenced. I type the part numbers in on tasca.com and they say part not found. Can anyone help with this. For example hl3v079 says sorry not results found.
Thank you Bradley
I am having trouble finding the parts that Jcrouch referenced. I type the part numbers in on tasca.com and they say part not found. Can anyone help with this. For example hl3v079 says sorry not results found.
Thank you Bradley
Hey there Bradley, those are not the "Ford" part numbers, they were simply the part numbers provided via the eBay seller that I bought the brackets from.
Seller is asking $73.50 shipped, quite a bit cheaper than from a Ford Dealer. I believe from Ford the part number for those brackets is HL3Z-6G079-B, in which you'd need two, looks like ~$90 each from Ford. Hope this helps!
Can OP give more info about how he had to trim his lower piece? I currently bough a second lower piece the one that connects to the dairdamn. Did u just trim above the section that has holes that connect to the air damn?
Next order of business is shortening the bumper end caps ~2.5” each and painting Oxford White. Or to do new fenders and bedsides? Not sure if I want the truck 6 inches wider though so I’m leaning towards modified end caps
Next order of business is shortening the bumper end caps ~2.5” each and painting Oxford White. Or to do new fenders and bedsides? Not sure if I want the truck 6 inches wider though so I’m leaning towards modified end caps
We need more photos of this! I've been wondering how the raptor bumper would line up with a raptor bumper. I would rework the end caps. Where you able to keep the front crash bars? Hard to tell in the pic.
08-08-2018, 12:49 PM
