What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Skid Plates

BlueXWA

BlueXWA

Member
Messages
70
Reaction score
30
Points
18
What are the aftermarket options for skid plates? Will the new rebel 2500 skids work .. has anyone just bought some materials and did their own... I own a plasma gun and welder .... Thinking the first thing is to remove the front lower plastic guard... What bits of the underbelly are really at risk for "soft" wheeling older forest roads and tame trails... I don't think I need the entire kit.... Likely the front area and oil pan... Ideas????
 
BlueXWA said:
What are the aftermarket options for skid plates? Will the new rebel 2500 skids work .. has anyone just bought some materials and did their own... I own a plasma gun and welder .... Thinking the first thing is to remove the front lower plastic guard... What bits of the underbelly are really at risk for "soft" wheeling older forest roads and tame trails... I don't think I need the entire kit.... Likely the front area and oil pan... Ideas????
Click to expand...
There are a lot of options. It just depends on what your budget is
 
Quickest way is to google ram 2500 skid plates. But to name a few…
SDHQ
VICE design
ARB
AEV
 
Thank you... I knew about AEV but not the others.... Off to the races I go... Also trying to figure out why the spring rate on my truck is soooo bounce like.... I don't mean soft like a Cadillac or jitter like... I am sure it is unsprung weight... But man.... It likes to hop in the back
.. doo peeps run full recommended PSI in their tires... I think my tears are 65PSI.... I have a class c and I adjust my air based on load and temperature of the road (sort of). I know running low and heat build up can expand and blow a tire
 
Most run lower tire pressure, anywhere from 45-55 depending on who you ask
 
Still the unsprung weight and hop is significantly more than my 3/4 ton Silverado on leaf springs.... I was surprised.... It wasn't something I knew to really pay attention to during the test drive...I plan to put a camper shell on and maybe a Deck slide or drawer like system..
 
BlueXWA said:
What are the aftermarket options for skid plates? Will the new rebel 2500 skids work .. has anyone just bought some materials and did their own... I own a plasma gun and welder .... Thinking the first thing is to remove the front lower plastic guard... What bits of the underbelly are really at risk for "soft" wheeling older forest roads and tame trails... I don't think I need the entire kit.... Likely the front area and oil pan... Ideas????
Click to expand...
I installed the SDHQ front skid plate on my 2024 power wagon last weekend.
It was an easy one person install and the product, instructions, and packaging were really good.
It’s a subtle upgrade that eliminates the lower plastic air dam and replaces with a steel support subframe and a nice aluminum skid.
I’d 100% buy this again and I feel was worth the money.
It’s got little slots for Baja Design rock lights and I’ll add those when I do the rest of the rock lights.
These pictures are kinda crummy, but I only took a couple.
sdhqoffroad.com

'19-26 Ram 2500/3500 Powerwagon Skid Plate System

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: Our SDHQ Built 2019-2026 Ram 2500/3500 HD (including Power Wagons) Skid Plate System is designed and manufactured with precision, using 3D CAD technology for an OEM-quality fit and finish. This system, designed specifically for trucks with stock bumpers, is made from heavy-duty...
sdhqoffroad.com sdhqoffroad.com
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2984.jpeg
    IMG_2984.jpeg
    558 KB · Views: 33
  • IMG_2986.jpeg
    IMG_2986.jpeg
    672.4 KB · Views: 31
Onefin said:
I installed the SDHQ front skid plate on my 2024 power wagon last weekend.
It was an easy one person install and the product, instructions, and packaging were really good.
It’s a subtle upgrade that eliminates the lower plastic air dam and replaces with a steel support subframe and a nice aluminum skid.
I’d 100% buy this again and I feel was worth the money.
It’s got little slots for Baja Design rock lights and I’ll add those when I do the rest of the rock lights.
These pictures are kinda crummy, but I only took a couple.
sdhqoffroad.com

'19-26 Ram 2500/3500 Powerwagon Skid Plate System

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: Our SDHQ Built 2019-2026 Ram 2500/3500 HD (including Power Wagons) Skid Plate System is designed and manufactured with precision, using 3D CAD technology for an OEM-quality fit and finish. This system, designed specifically for trucks with stock bumpers, is made from heavy-duty...
sdhqoffroad.com sdhqoffroad.com
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info.... This is good stuff....real world reviews...
 
Thank you for the input... I ran 55 on the back today and it was slightly better... I think I am going to try 50 on the front and 50 on the back... I think my tires measure out around 33.4"... I am pondering 35".... But will wait on that ... I am watching videos on shocks now and trying to imagine what type of terrain I will be driving... And how much weight I will be carrying.... Sounds like Carli has done a lot of work with this vehicle.... I might jump in with Fox 2.0..maybe...
 
BlueXWA said:
Thank you for the input... I ran 55 on the back today and it was slightly better... I think I am going to try 50 on the front and 50 on the back... I think my tires measure out around 33.4"... I am pondering 35".... But will wait on that ... I am watching videos on shocks now and trying to imagine what type of terrain I will be driving... And how much weight I will be carrying.... Sounds like Carli has done a lot of work with this vehicle.... I might jump in with Fox 2.0..maybe...
Click to expand...
Soooo, I am now 50 PSI in the front and 45Psi in the rear.... The deflections are better but it still hops on rough stuff.... Still believe it's because of the HD springs and no weight in the back...as to be expected...but I repeat... Other 2500s I have driven with 60 and 70 and 80 PSI in the back handled better... Some differences in those trucks were the 8 foot bed and the leaf springs were older and maybe worn a bit.... I was thinking about (just for fun and not for sinical reasons) test driving Ford and Chevy 2500 and run them over the same roads with the same PSI.... If I had the spare time that is... I researched Carli suspension and who wants to spend NORTH of $4K to get a better ride.... Wowza.... I mostly have worked on IFS systems so I will need to deep dive some of this stuff... Maybe softer shocks and a front track bar and a different sway bar... Don't know yet.... I have a message out to shock surplus to see what they say besides the Carli suspension... Thank you for your input and maybe I should move to the suspension forum for further dialogue
 
Have you contacted CJC offroad? They've done a lot with the ram HD platform.
 
E

Thread 'REFERENCE: 2019+ Power Wagon Armor'

Just making this thread as reference for people. Mods can sticky it maybe?

I compiled a list of armor(skids, sliders, guards) that fit 2019+ Power Wagons, in addition to or as replacements to the factory underbody armor (crossmember, fuel tank skid plate, transfer case skid plate, 3-bar transfercase/driveshaft/exhaust guards).

If you know of more, post them and I’ll add it in.

I might add front bumpers since would be PW specific and there’s not a ton of options, but I’ll leave off rear bumpers since any HD rear bumper fits and there are tons of options.

Updated 5/13/2025...
  • Like
  • Love

I think the most vulnerable pieces on a stock 2500 are the fuel tank and front diff cover, and intercooler on diesel. I *think* the fuel tank skid from a PW/Rebel fit on a regular 2500 (don’t quote me on that).
The transmission/transfer case/oil pan are somewhat vulnerable, but not as much as it may seem. I have the Gen 1 Dethloff transmission skid and it honestly doesn’t have many scrapes on it.

Your rocker panels without sliders are fairly vulnerable due to the long wheelbase.

My radius arms are probably one of the other most scraped things on my truck, but they seem able to take the abuse

My rear diff housing has taken some hits, but as long as you don’t back up into rocks and hit the thin rear cover, the front of the housing is pretty stout.
 
Onefin said:
I installed the SDHQ front skid plate on my 2024 power wagon last weekend.
It was an easy one person install and the product, instructions, and packaging were really good.
It’s a subtle upgrade that eliminates the lower plastic air dam and replaces with a steel support subframe and a nice aluminum skid.
I’d 100% buy this again and I feel was worth the money.
It’s got little slots for Baja Design rock lights and I’ll add those when I do the rest of the rock lights.
These pictures are kinda crummy, but I only took a couple.
sdhqoffroad.com

'19-26 Ram 2500/3500 Powerwagon Skid Plate System

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: Our SDHQ Built 2019-2026 Ram 2500/3500 HD (including Power Wagons) Skid Plate System is designed and manufactured with precision, using 3D CAD technology for an OEM-quality fit and finish. This system, designed specifically for trucks with stock bumpers, is made from heavy-duty...
sdhqoffroad.com sdhqoffroad.com
Click to expand...
Damn that thing is beefy! It doesn't say anything about not working with a Hemi, but I may reach out to them to find out. Nice install.
 
I found mostly expensive options... When I have time I will try to catalog them here... Obvious difference are aluminum vs steel and gauge thickness.... Aluminum is nice and light but once it ends from crushing rocks you won't be able to hammer it back into shape like steel... The other question I have since I haven't gotten under my truck to investigate... Are the holes threaded or are there nuts welded to the back side ...
 
BlueXWA said:
I found mostly expensive options... When I have time I will try to catalog them here... Obvious difference are aluminum vs steel and gauge thickness.... Aluminum is nice and light but once it ends from crushing rocks you won't be able to hammer it back into shape like steel... The other question I have since I haven't gotten under my truck to investigate... Are the holes threaded or are there nuts welded to the back side ...
Click to expand...
These trucks are like 7000-9000lbs, when they come down on a rock you want that skid plate to hold up to that weight and force. You want thick steel or very thick aluminum. The benefit of aluminum is it’s a bit lighter weight…which is pretty irrelevant on an 8000lb truck

There’s no way I could “hammer out” a dent on any of the steel skid plates on my PW, it’s all 3/16”-1/4” steel. Even the stock skids, with the exception of the bars—maybe, are going to laugh at the idea of being reshaped with a hammer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top