I'm frustrated. For some reason, Ford felt it wasn't necessary to protect the radiator, front differential, steering components, etc. on the 1999 4x4s. My truck even has the "off-road" package, and still I have no skid plate to protect these important front-end components.

So I noticed the 2000 models (identical trucks to mine) do have one. I went to Ford, tried to order a skid plate for the front of my truck since the one on the 2000 models should fit perfectly. They said "We can't get those." WHAT? It's a factory item! Why can't Ford get these?

So I went to a local truck performance shop and ordered an aftermarket skid pan made by TrailMaster. The guy assured me that it would fit 98-00 Rangers in stock OEM form (that is, without a lift kit). I paid out the wazoo for it, and it came today. I took it out of the box, and the instructions say "Skid pan for 98-00 Rangers with TrailMaster lift kit" at the top. It appears this plate mounts to crossmembers that you get if you buy a lift kit.

So I've been trying for weeks to just find a way to protect the radiator and front-end on my 4x4, and I am still having no luck. SURELY there is a way to mount a skid plate under the front of this thing. Can anybody here help?? I can't believe it's so hard to find such a simple part that Ford SHOULD have given me from the factory.

 

The first thing I would do, if you haven't already, is take the kit you bought back to the shop and either get your money back or have them tell you how to install it on a stock truck since they told you it would fit.

Have you tried the junkyards for a stock one? Probably not an easy find, but worth a shot at least.

 

junkyard...never thought of that! i'll look at that possibility. thanks for the idea. yeah, i'm going back to that shop tomorrow to get my money! i called trailmaster to ask them for help, and got a message that they are off for the holiday. what holiday?? it's the 24th of january! what a joke....you can't get anything done correctly now days!