Has anyone installed a factory skidplate on their truck (gas tank).....2009-20010

just wondering what all is involve and does the tank have to be remove?

Mine is the STX supercab....36 gallon tank

thanx

 

I have not, but I'm thinking that it should bolt to the frame without removing the tank. Of course, I have no first hand knowledge of that so I'm hoping someone does and chimes in.

 

You will need new tank straps and you will need to support the gas tank while the new straps are added. The new straps have the threaded bolts that the plastic skid plate attaches to.

This is a link to another F150 site where I installed mine. It's not that complicated.
2012 Install of 36 Gal fuel tank skid plate - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

JMO but while I'd rather have that plastic shield instead of nothing, it's really not a "skid plate".

A real skid plate can support the weight of the vehicle should you become high-centered on a rock or other obstacle.

Depending what you're going to run into--like the guy in Alaska--you might want to think about a proper plate, or not.....

 

great write up....and pics............those straps must be stainless steel.....I really would have thought that the skid plate would be partially bolted to the frame......hard to believe that just those 4 small screws holds that on.....or that in 5 years or so that the screws dont rot off,and have the "plate" fall off
I'm going to look and see if I can order one for mine,or just order the straps and make an aluminium one for mine..

thanks

 

Again, jmo but if I was going to put an alumimum plate on there, I would not want it supported buy the fuel tank straps, nor would I want it to bear on the fuel tank if it contacted an obstacle.

 

Reps sent for the write-up.

I agree that it is a Mickey Mouse skid plate. It's more of a splash/rock guard than anything. The skid plate I'm getting for my Land Cruiser is 1/4" steel that bolts to holes in the frame and it carries the weight of the vehicle in the event of meeting said rocks.

 

I think, and this is just my opinion...that you're going to have a lot more problems if you actually hang that fuel tank up on something, and miss everything else under there.

 

^^X2^^

 

i might have to crawl under there and see what i can do to make a skid plate.

 

I have installed all 3 "factory" skid plates on my 08XLT. I too had to buy replacement straps with the studs to bolt the gas tank skid plate. That previous write up really sums it up. I ordered mine online from Tasca Ford Parts, they were much cheaper, I think I saved almost $200 total!