The Factory Skid Plate Is A Joke

[D Fresh]

The knob does one thing. Selects between 4LO, 4HI, and 2HI. That's it. Only needs 3 detents. I cannot see the light that lights the selection well during the day. It needs a indicator line.

Are you slow or something?

Let me walk you through it since you appear to have a problem grasping the concept.

Assume the knob functioned as you wish, with 3 detents and a hash mark.

Now assume you pulled out of your garage to see some fresh snow. You push the terrain management button 'till it switches to snow and off you go in 4wd. But if you look down at the knob and the detent it says 2wd? And if you hit dry pavement and want to select into 2wd quickly you can't because the knob is still indicating 2wd and won't spin further left.

Could of this been solved with a motorized switch? Sure. But the current design is much more simple and elegant.

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[dondonbabyraptor]

When I bought my 4x4 Lariat, and saw there were fx4 skid plates for sale, I double checked underneath to see if this trim package included those same plates. The factory bash plate they refer to was there, the black thin metal. After asking on these forums, I went with an fx4 skid plate.

If I didn’t research enough and check under my car, I wouldn’t have known the difference until something hits it. I get both sides of the coin here, a top off road package should have the fx4 skid plate, but at the same time we should also check what our cars actually offer.

 

[TremorOwner]

Ug... dude... stop. Can you engage without acting like a high school bully? I'm not attacking YOU. I'm criticizing a vehicle. It's a object. It's not personal. Let's act like it.

I know what you are saying - I get it the design -- but it's a parts bin compromise to look fancy while saving cost. The GT500 has the same knob (to shift is transmission), just with a fancier surround. It's terrible in the GT500, too, but it least it only detentes on the available selections.

Elegant would mean it doesn't freely spin beyond it's three detente purpose and has more fidelity (space) between each option so you don't rotate past the one you want super easily.

If you like it, great. I'm glad you do. It's certainly tolerable, but I think it can be improved and shouldn't have been released as-is. It requires much more careful actuation than any 4WD selector I've ever experienced and that is just going backwards. The 4WD switch has long been determined to need to be a very obvious, overt switch, heavy detent or large button switch that is easily actuated off road... not a spinny wheel you can play Wheel of Fortune with.

Let's say we get rid of the indicator mark, okay.... it still doesn't need to rotate any more than the three settings. Anyway, you and I both aren't going to change it. You're bullying of me won't work to shut me up about any criticism I have of this model vehicle. So... keep calm and carry on, my dude.

 

[THLONE]

For some reason posters think that they get to control others opinion just they are the OP. If you want to get sucked upped to then go in the basement and look in the mirror. The wild wild west internet is for opinions. Did your tremor tremor when you hit that rock going I will bet faster then you said. JMHOP

 

[DpAtk]

https://www.stage3motorsports.com/2019-2021-ford-ranger-skid-plates.html

https://www.shrockworks.com/FRAN5-SKD-pr-16306.html

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

The. Tremor. Is. The. Highest. Off-road. Package! It. Should. Not. Have. For show. Skid. Plates. Lord... you people have low expectations.

The Tremor may be the most off-road package they offer, but it's still designed for the average urbanite daily driver, who mostly want cosmetic perks and occasional off-road, or snow play.

Five words tell the whole story of FX4 or Tremor off-road packages:
"Plastic fuel tank bash plate" in wheelin terms that translates to "Jeep Sahara".

 

[P. A. Schilke]

The Tremor may be the most off-road package they offer, but it's still designed for the average urbanite daily driver, who mostly want cosmetic perks and occasional off-road, or snow play.

Five words tell the whole story of FX4 or Tremor off-road packages:
"Plastic fuel tank bash plate" in wheelin terms that translates to "Jeep Sahara".

Hi Jay,

I stongely disagree with your statement. Very old school. I would trust my plastic skidplate over steel can opener any day.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Hi Jay,

I stongely disagree with your statement. Very old school. I would trust my plastic skidplate over steel can opener any day.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

I think an impact hard enough to turn a metal plate into a can opener, would likely have been enough to go straight through a plastic plate, and into the fuel tank anyway. No?

 

[Deleted member 1634]

The fact the 4WD selector continues to turn even though there's only three options.
The fact there isn't a dash mark to align to your selection on that same selector.
List goes on. I'd say every car has these kinds of things but this one has a lot of OBVIOUS ones.

The 4WD knob spins freely because that's not the only way you can put the truck into 4WD. The truck also shifts into 4WD by using the Terrain Modes, the button marked "TM" in the center of the 4WD knob (i.e. selecting "Mud/Ruts" automatically puts the truck into 4H and selecting "Normal" automatically puts the truck back into 2WD). If it actually only rotated to the 3 notches, or had an indicator line, then it would require having a motor within the selector knob to turn it anytime you changed Terrain Modes. Hence the lighted indicators on the knob and the light that comes up on the instrument cluster. It's not an oversight, it's a mechanical engineered solution to an electrical engineered choice/constraint. That happens all the time in design.

Your, and others, dislike for this method may be one of the reasons why the new Bronco (and more than likely the next gen Ranger) has buttons for selecting 4WD and a knob for selecting Terrain Modes. Though I'd hazard a guess the the TM knob will more than likely not have stops or indications on it.

 

[TremorOwner]

For some reason posters think that they get to control others opinion just they are the OP. If you want to get sucked upped to then go in the basement and look in the mirror. The wild wild west internet is for opinions. Did your tremor tremor when you hit that rock going I will bet faster then you said. JMHOP

Nah, I just think people have grown up and can read and discuss a complaint or concern about a vehicle without taking it personally or deciding that they need to "stand up for justice" (aka, Ford) while belitting another person. It's childish and it demonstrates low standards and a personality disorder called "I don't get to be tough in the real world, so I am tough on the internet instead-ism".

I have no reason to lie about the speed. I explained what happened. Take it or leave it.

If you like your truck as-is, great.
If you have a complaint... great.

If you think my complaint isn't warranted even though I have a Tremor... okay, we can talk about it. Not going to change my mind that, in a Tremor, it should be a thicker, more durable skid plate.

We can end this thread. My point is made and so is that of the "FoMoCo Defender Crew" here.

 

[TremorOwner]

The 4WD knob spins freely because that's not the only way you can put the truck into 4WD. The truck also shifts into 4WD by using the Terrain Modes, the button marked "TM" in the center of the 4WD knob (i.e. selecting "Mud/Ruts" automatically puts the truck into 4H and selecting "Normal" automatically puts the truck back into 2WD). If it actually only rotated to the 3 notches, or had an indicator line, then it would require having a motor within the selector knob to turn it anytime you changed Terrain Modes. Hence the lighted indicators on the knob and the light that comes up on the instrument cluster. It's not an oversight, it's a mechanical engineered solution to an electrical engineered choice/constraint. That happens all the time in design.

Your, and others, dislike for this method may be one of the reasons why the new Bronco (and more than likely the next gen Ranger) has buttons for selecting 4WD and a knob for selecting Terrain Modes. Though I'd hazard a guess the the TM knob will more than likely not have stops or indications on it.

Buttons are a better design in that situation, then. That's for sure.

YOU seem to be able to discuss an issue with some class. Much respect.

 

[AutobotXJ]

I agree- thin skid plates. I wasn’t impressed at the dealership, but they do their job and protect the important bits. They can be replaced easier than the other components and easily upgradable for those that need the extra protection.
what I do notice is a lot of people with new 4x4’s drive it fast like in the commercials and realize very quickly that, while it looks cool, it doesn’t feel cool.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I think an impact hard enough to turn a metal plate into a can opener, would likely have been enough to go straight through a plastic plate, and into the fuel tank anyway. No?

Hi Jack,

Nope...My friends in fuel systems engineering have experience with both steel and plastic and the plastic works better. We have proved that in testing a few time.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[TremorOwner]

I agree- thin skid plates. I wasn’t impressed at the dealership, but they do their job and protect the important bits. They can be replaced easier than the other components and easily upgradable for those that need the extra protection.
what I do notice is a lot of people with new 4x4’s drive it fast like in the commercials and realize very quickly that, while it looks cool, it doesn’t feel cool.

Can't order the black Tremor one... which would blows chunks (if I wanted to replace it).

Hi Jack,

Nope...My friends in fuel systems engineering have experience with both steel and plastic and the plastic works better. We have proved that in testing a few time.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Hopefully whilst not smoking a cig... and exploding the truck.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Hi Jack,

Nope...My friends in fuel systems engineering have experience with both steel and plastic and the plastic works better. We have proved that in testing a few time.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Hey Phil,

Given some conditions I'd agree plastic may have flexibility merits over metal, but certainly not across the board.

By example sliding over some smooth river rock, stones, or well worn soft rock trails the plastic may flex enough to not crack, where a metal skid plate could crack and slice the fuel tank. Where as the many of the trails I have here, are over fractured granite with sharp, exposed edges. Slide plastic skid plate over that and it slices through like butter.

Dropping on a broken 2-3 inch sappling will punch right through plastic guard and tank, not likely through a metal plate.

Also have to wonder why all the other Ranger plates, upgraded skid plates, and after market skid plates, and wheelers around the world all use metal.

Not looking for an argument, I see and respect your credentials, but my real world experience, tells me different. My skid plate money goes to metal plates.

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