Sorry guys, I got super busy getting ready for a quick trip to Vegas after completing the front skidplate install. I finally have a little time to update the build. I say this a novel solution or one could say goofy. I have mixed feelings about it. It is very functional, light, strong, and simple but it doesn't look the best. I am leaving them for now but short of building a complete bumper, I have decided these are it. I did take the whole front apart and spent a fair amount of time assessing the situation and anything beyond this but short a complete bumper wouldn't be very good and add a lot of weight to the front. Not what I want to do with this build. When full bumpers come, I think all aluminum is gonna be the hot ticket and my aluminum welding skills need more improvement before I tackle that. I also completed all the skidplates based on my own interpretation because I got tired of waiting for mine to come in. Everything is 3/16" mild steel because it is what I had laying around that had sufficient strength. AR100 or other HSLA steel would be the best. The stock ones are a joke, even if they are HLSA because they are too thin and don't exactly protect what needs protecting. When I was at the dealer on Friday I finally got to see the stock ones on another Raptor and I was actually glad I had not seen them before making mine. The stock ones cover the cats and are good for dry grass but also trap heat around the tranny. Mine leave the cats open for airflow under the truck and should keep the area cooler but parking on top of tall dry grass is a no no. The stock ones also leave the cross over pipe fully exposed, leave the charcoal canister and transfer case partially exposed. Mine provide some coverage for the crossover pipe and fully encase the charcoal canister and transfer case. A dented exhaust won't end a trip but a hole in the transfer case will. Weight wise, I think I made a near trade for the running boards. I still need to swap the two low bolts for some pan head ones or counter sunk ones. With the whole setup assembled, the winch mounts hurt the approach angle a bit, but nothing that will affect the truck real world any worse than the rear overhang. For the tech types, these mounts utilize the stock D rings with the load through the system at the exact location as the D ring. The D rings were recycled and moved closer to the frame by a couple inches. Any force or impulse from a winch is a static load and is less than the dynamic load involved with a strap recovery through the D ring. Enough babbling, here are the pics.
Stock D rings
New D rings with receiver mounts
Winch ready for use. I should also mention my most common use of the front receiver is a steel rack for carrying 20' lengths in combination with a headache rack and rear receiver mount. Winch cables also showed up but I haven't had time to get them mounted either.
The main skidplate with 1.5x0.25 wall DOM leading the way where I hit the most. I also added a couple pieces of angle to spread the impact out on the stock frame. I did some research and it looks like the frame is 50ksi steel or better. The plate now mounts through the holes in the front A-arm cups and the engine cross member bolts. No more u-nuts. Oil changes are still very easy.
Finally got all the skids mounted together at the dealer. Sure was nice working with a lift versus making all the steel ones on the ground in my driveway! I took a few cordless tools to the dealer and cut out the front skidplate to clear the receiver tubes and allow the pins to be installed. I am going to paint all of it black as soon as I can. Not a fan of the silver.
If you factor in that the D rings were 2" lower than the are now, there is actually no loss in approach angle.
On the ground and out the door to Vegas!
Dirt simple, light and effective but not pretty in my opinion.
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