2024 F150

[deserteagle56]

I think that’s the highest range I’ve seen in an F150. Do you have the 2.7 or 3.5? What’s your gearing?

I edited my post to include the information.

 

[windtraveler]

I hear you about the electronic nannies. I was not ready to buy a new pickup in 2016 but I read that Ford was going to put the automatic start-stop technology and the new 10 speed automatic in the 2017 models so I bought early to not have to put up with start-stop and be a beta tester for the new transmission.

I live in rural Nevada where there is very little pavement. My F150 spends most of its miles on dirt roads and I too worried about protecting the underside so I eventually broke down and bought a full set of RCI skid plates. They cover pretty much everything under the truck and may even help fuel mileage as they leave the bottom of the truck smooth and slick.

Yes, this is a road. But during spring runoff it can also be a stream bed.
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Thanks. RCI skid plates look like a nice option. DO you mind telling me what you paid for them? How difficult is the installation?

 

[windtraveler]

Done lots of off road with my '22 F150 XLT. It has the 360 cams and all the other techy bells and whistles and the only issue I had so far is I chipped and scratched my wheels. You mentioned you'd pretty much be exploring dirt roads, not rock crawling. Sounds like the exploring I like to do with my truck. Enjoy your mild build and checking out trails!


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Appreciate your input. I'm sticking with the truck and starting my "build".

 

[SDDiver5]

Thanks. RCI skid plates look like a nice option. DO you mind telling me what you paid for them? How difficult is the installation?

I got the 1/4 inch bare aluminum, full set. Got it with a 10% discount for black friday and I want to say it was $800. This was in 2021 or so, I imagine prices have changed a bit.

I'll echo what everyone else here has said, you'll be fine and should not need to worry. I have done some serious offroad with my truck and the only thing that has ever snagged or touched the ground was my sliders when I was in a very deep rut. These trucks are really great offroad I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Ozarker]

Looks like the driveway to my lake cabin!

That's not off roading, just rough roading.....

 

[deserteagle56]

Thanks. RCI skid plates look like a nice option. DO you mind telling me what you paid for them? How difficult is the installation?

Bought mine over 8 years ago. Don't remember exactly what they cost but they were expensive back then and I'm sure they are much more expensive now. Mine are the 1/4" thick aluminum ones also. Installation was easy - they bolt to existing holes in the frame.

One caveat...to reach the oil filter in my truck with the 3.5 Ecoboost I have to remove the front RCI skid plate. Its easy to do but it is an extra step. Some guys have said they can reach the oil filter from the top of the engine but I'm not that limber! Also be aware that these, like most skid plates, will accumulate road debris on the up side...especially if you drive two-track roads with brush growing in the middle. I remove dirt/gravel/brush off the skid plates every time I change the oil.

Also, before I installed the RCI skid plates I installed an "EZ Drain" valve on my (aluminum) oil pan. There is a little access panel on the RCI skid plate beneath the engine oil pan; to drain the oil I remove that panel and stick a hose on the nipple of the drain valve and drain the oil directly into a bucket without spilling a drop. I'm thinking that without that drain valve the oil would shoot all over the skid plate and make a mess. So you'd need to remove that skid plate also to avoid that.

 

[SDDiver5]

Bought mine over 8 years ago. Don't remember exactly what they cost but they were expensive back then and I'm sure they are much more expensive now. Mine are the 1/4" thick aluminum ones also. Installation was easy - they bolt to existing holes in the frame.

One caveat...to reach the oil filter in my truck with the 3.5 Ecoboost I have to remove the front RCI skid plate. Its easy to do but it is an extra step. Some guys have said they can reach the oil filter from the top of the engine but I'm not that limber! Also be aware that these, like most skid plates, will accumulate road debris on the up side...especially if you drive two-track roads with brush growing in the middle. I remove dirt/gravel/brush off the skid plates every time I change the oil.

Also, before I installed the RCI skid plates I installed an "EZ Drain" valve on my (aluminum) oil pan. There is a little access panel on the RCI skid plate beneath the engine oil pan; to drain the oil I remove that panel and stick a hose on the nipple of the drain valve and drain the oil directly into a bucket without spilling a drop. I'm thinking that without that drain valve the oil would shoot all over the skid plate and make a mess. So you'd need to remove that skid plate also to avoid that.

Can confirm oil gets everywhere without the valve. Learned the hard way. Had to take off all the skids and clean them.

 

[windtraveler]

Installed Ranchhand replacement bumper and 10 ply AT tires. Mileage dropped by 1 - 1.5 mpg on a 500 mile trip. Air dams (both powered and static) removed. Ranch Hand did not put any attachment brackets to replace either on the bumper for 2024 models.