WildTrak Protection - Gotta have Protection!

So is this the same for a Badlands. I haven't looked under mine, but Ford said it is fully covered. Please don't tell me that's another lie....NO NO NO NOT ANOTHER LIE....DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO IF IT'S ANOTHER LIE!! :0)

LOL You’re good! Skids come as standard equipment on Badlands - No worries.

Cheers

MIGeezer

So is this the same for a Badlands. I haven't looked under mine, but Ford said it is fully covered. Please don't tell me that's another lie....NO NO NO NOT ANOTHER LIE....DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO IF IT'S ANOTHER LIE!! :0)

Kenneth

LOL You’re good! Skids come as standard equipment on Badlands - No worries.

Cheers

Well, hate to break it to you but with the exception of the fuel tank, there are no skids in those locations on the Badlands.

Kenneth

Yeah, installed RCI's tranny, cat & transfer case skid plates. Visited RCI Metalworks in Loveland, Co to pickup some skid plates today. Very large, impressive facility, the guys I met there were helpful, and enthusiastic off-roaders - Obviously, eating their own chow!

These are their steel, black power coated plates - No buggered welds! Also, perfect fitment, easy bolt-install requiring no drilling. Here're some before/after pics:

As far as RCI goes, I'm also really impressed with them except for their packaging department. I ordered a set of Transmission Crossmember skids (mine are mangled - should have gotten them sooner) https://rcimetalworks.com/product/a-arm-skid-plates-21-present-bronco/

When the package was delivered from FedEx, the box had a big hole in the end and all the parts were gone. I contacted them and they sent out a replacement order first thing the next morning free of charge. Needless to say, there was hardly any packaging material in the box so the parts could shift in the box which led to them falling out of the box. When I got the replacement parts, there was even less packing material in the box than the first time but no hole in the box.

When I sent them a thank you message for getting the replacement order back to me so quick, I mentioned the issue with the packaging and how packaging seemed to be a big afterthought. They wrote back "We have been working on packaging due to a good amount of damage claims over the last couple of months. We appreciate your feedback and it will be passed on to my shipping manager". Hopefully they actually do something about it.

So yes they kind of screwed the pooch on the initial order, but they made it right as quickly as possible. That's a sign of a good company.

Deano Bronc

As far as RCI goes, I'm also really impressed with them except for their packaging department. I ordered a set of Transmission Crossmember skids (mine are mangled - should have gotten them sooner) https://rcimetalworks.com/product/a-arm-skid-plates-21-present-bronco/
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So yes they kind of screwed the pooch on the initial order, but they made it right as quickly as possible. That's a sign of a good company.

I ordered RCI stuff for my F-150, and again for this Bronco, they have great products and support. I also like the fact I grew up a few miles from them in Ft Collins, so helping to support a local company.

Deano Bronc

As far as RCI goes, I'm also really impressed with them except for their packaging department. I ordered a set of Transmission Crossmember skids (mine are mangled - should have gotten them sooner) https://rcimetalworks.com/product/a-arm-skid-plates-21-present-bronco/

When the package was delivered from FedEx, the box had a big hole in the end and all the parts were gone. I contacted them and they sent out a replacement order first thing the next morning free of charge. Needless to say, there was hardly any packaging material in the box so the parts could shift in the box which led to them falling out of the box. When I got the replacement parts, there was even less packing material in the box than the first time but no hole in the box.

When I sent them a thank you message for getting the replacement order back to me so quick, I mentioned the issue with the packaging and how packaging seemed to be a big afterthought. They wrote back "We have been working on packaging due to a good amount of damage claims over the last couple of months. We appreciate your feedback and it will be passed on to my shipping manager". Hopefully they actually do something about it.

So yes they kind of screwed the pooch on the initial order, but they made it right as quickly as possible. That's a sign of a good company.

Glad RCI responded well! Our skids were well packed. I mean, container closures were both stapled & taped, hardware bagged and taped to plates, the smaller plates were plastic wrapped, larger plates were bagged - seemed pretty good, perhaps RCI's upgraded their shipping game..

Cheers

Deano Bronc

Well, hate to break it to you but with the exception of the fuel tank, there are no skids in those locations on the Badlands.

Thanks for your correction. I assumed Ford's 'FULL VEH STEEL BASH PLATES' in the '23 Badlands' std equipment we reserved included tranny & transfer case plates. This Badlands never arrived and we bought our WildTrak thru another process & dealership.


Cheers

Kenneth

Glad RCI responded well! Our skids were well packed. I mean, container closures were both stapled & taped, hardware bagged and taped to plates, the smaller plates were plastic wrapped, larger plates were bagged - seemed pretty good, perhaps RCI's upgraded their shipping game..

Cheers

That's great news. I'm sure they will be saving money in the long run by not having to replace parts.
Here is the box with the packing. There were 2 small sheets of this cardboard stuff.

Installed RCI's fuel tank skid today:






WildTrak belly's looking much stronger now. Am thinking FMI's rear shock skid may be another protection element for this off-season's project.

Cheers

While the skiing's been GREAT, I took today off to install couple more skid plates.

Here's some Breckenridge, CO skiing

Fav for us is Breck's Peak 6 ridge - Top-o-da-World scenery with challenging terrain our 6 year old grandson can manage.


WildTrak gets RCI's A-Arm skid plates today:


I had to modify RCI's top mounts to fit WildTrak's fatty a-arms. Call 'em the HOSS 3.0 bent wings.


We're still waiting on Foutz to ship their rear shock mount skids..

Cheers

Somemore quality time under the belly of the Bronco soon. Foutz delivered their HOSS 3.0 rear shock skids today. These are beastly and so are the replacement bolts.

I have a 27mm socket for the OEM shock bolts, these Foutz’s needs a 30mm, and I ain’t got no 30mm socket. Dang - that’s a BIG ARSE bolt!


Cheers

Installed Foutz Motorsports' Rear Shock Mount Skid plates today. These look easy, but give yourself more time than you think. At least, it took me 15 - 20min to figure out a sequence and technique that works. Including rounding up parts & tools, probably 1.5 to 2hr install using a bottle jack on our garage floor.

The big 30MM shock bolt needed my high torque impact driver - That was the easy part. It's those 4 - 15MM position bolts that require a certain procedure.

You see, the shock assembly blocks access to the backside of the lower position bolt, so you'll need to attach it first with the shock pulled out of the way with the 'other hand'. Then loosely attach the 30MM shock bolt, then the upper position 15MM bolt goes in. Then you can torque the position bolts, lower jack and torque the 30MM shoct bolt.




Cheers

Kenneth

Installed Foutz Motorsports' Rear Shock Mount Skid plates today. These look easy, but give yourself more time than you think. At least, it took me 15 - 20min to figure out a sequence and technique that works. Including rounding up parts & tools, probably 1.5 to 2hr install using a bottle jack on our garage floor.

The big 30MM shock bolt needed my high torque impact driver - That was the easy part. It's those 4 - 15MM position bolts that require a certain procedure.

You see, the shock assembly blocks access to the backside of the lower position bolt, so you'll need to attach it first with the shock pulled out of the way with the 'other hand'. Then loosely attach the 30MM shock bolt, then the upper position 15MM bolt goes in. Then you can torque the position bolts, lower jack and torque the 30MM shoct bolt.



Feeling really good that we're all DONE with this winter's Bronco protection project - HURRAH!!

Cheers

Great job. I had Foutz do all the work at their shop as they are not too far from us. We put their full skid plate on, the trailing bracket protection, the rear shock mount skids and their differential skid. There stuff is real stout. It is made and designed well for sure. Greg has a great history with Ford helping design the first F150 Raptor and then racing it in the Baja 1000.

They look great!

Roughstock11

Great job. I had Foutz do all the work at their shop as they are not too far from us. We put their full skid plate on, the trailing bracket protection, the rear shock mount skids and their differential skid. There stuff is real stout. It is made and designed well for sure. Greg has a great history with Ford helping design the first F150 Raptor and then racing it in the Baja 1000.

They look great!

Thanks! Yeah, Foutz’s fit was perfect, beautiful welds - It’s good stuff!

Cheers

Installed RCI's Rock Sliders today. These are frame mounted and built heavy - Very solid!!

RCI offers 5 or 20 degree tilts on their sliders. 20deg is the default provides 3/4inch more clearance and tucks up closer to the body. We installed their 5deg version for more 'door ding' protection and entry step for our grandkids.


Cheers

Another small upgrade. Door sill protectors from Weather Tech. Easy to install and seem very durable. This is such a great forum. I go to Bronco Nation before buying parts because everything you need is here and tested. Antenna is next. Found a bullet shaped stubby one here on the forum and reviews are positive. 👍👍👍