New ARB Skid Plate

[103]

Installed the ARB skid plates on my 4x4 Sport tonight. Took a bit of finagling, but it looks good and feels solid. Got a Fumoto valve, but the extension snapped in half with almost no tightening. Not impressed.

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[daniel3507]

Nice! What are your thoughts on doing the install without a lift?

How's it look from the front with the truck on the ground? The stock fx4 looks like they are angled more than the arb if that makes sense

 

[103]

Nice! What are your thoughts on doing the install without a lift?

How's it look from the front with the truck on the ground? The stock fx4 looks like they are angled more than the arb if that makes sense

Completely doable. Don’t even need to jack it up. I just had access to one and figured it would be easier.

I will say the instructions were pretty terrible. We had to do a bit of trial and error to get it right.

 

[103]

Front picture. Angle does seem shallower than stock.

 

[bentroia]

Looks like it has great form and functlion. Great upgrade. Does it cause any noticable effects inside the cabin (vibration, noise, ridgidity etc)? How does if affect access to key maintenance points like filters, drains, zerks) ?

 

[103]

Looks like it has great form and functlion. Great upgrade. Does it cause any noticable effects inside the cabin (vibration, noise, ridgidity etc)? How does if affect access to key maintenance points like filters, drains, zerks) ?

I haven't noticed any noise difference. No vibration. It "feels" a bit more rigid, but that's probably just in my head.

As for drains--I can still easily get to the oil pan bolt, but I am probably going to use one of those fluid pumps from now on to avoid a mess. I access the filter from the wheel well, so that hasn't changed. I still can get to everything else, but I would have to finagle a way to not drain directly onto the plates. If I really had to do that, I would probably have fluid pumped out.

Interestingly, I now cannot see the alternator from below at almost any angle. I would love to believe that means my alternator is less prone to getting sprayed with mud/sediment when off roading, but we will have to see.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

It looks like the color of the ARB plates is a close match to the factory FX4 plate.

Very nice looking setup

 

[103]

@103 thanks for posting this

I've been looking at skid plate options, mostly for some transmission pan protection. I was curious how the ARB setup looked on a truck. Now I know.

Yeah that's actually the biggest reason I posted it. I couldn't for the life of me find any pictures of it installed. I figured I wasn't the only one.

 

[Frenchy]

Obviously not the reason you buy one of these but I am kind of curious if it helps with fuel mileage what so ever? Why do I ask? Well to an extent it gives you more of a flat surface compared to stock and therefore create less drag. Enough of a difference to buy it for only MPG gains? Probably not but still curious.

 

[103]

About fuel efficiency.

I have no real solid numbers on this, but I just drove from Jacksonville to Orlando yesterday. Averaged a bit over 80 mph the whole time. 20.5 mpg for the ride. I had Been averaging 19.5 around 65 to and from work before the plates. So maybe I’m experiencing less undercarriage drag now?

It’s only anecdotal. But it has felt a lot easier going fast.

For reference: have 1.5 inch taller tires and a 2.5 inch level.

 

[Frenchy]

About fuel efficiency.

I have no real solid numbers on this, but I just drove from Jacksonville to Orlando yesterday. Averaged a bit over 80 mph the whole time. 20.5 mpg for the ride. I had Been averaging 19.5 around 65 to and from work before the plates. So maybe I’m experiencing less undercarriage drag now?

It’s only anecdotal. But it has felt a lot easier going fast.

For reference: have 1.5 inch taller tires and a 2.5 inch level.

Good too kniw!! I'm sure the ARB Summit bumper will kill it anyways but still good to know.

 

[sklnbnz]

I installed mine this weekend. No lift and no helper. Used a Pelican case to prop up the plates since they are a bit heavy for one guy to lift up alone while crawling under the truck.

Made some notes on the install sheet attached due to some omissions and misprints. Will figure out the Oil Plug situation closer to my oil change time.

 

[the5Gmartian]

I installed mine this weekend. No lift and no helper. Used a Pelican case to prop up the plates since they are a bit heavy for one guy to lift up alone while crawling under the truck.

Made some notes on the install sheet attached due to some omissions and misprints. Will figure out the Oil Plug situation closer to my oil change time.

Hows the truck feel at highway speeds with them on? Any difference? Looks awesome

 

[sklnbnz]

Hows the truck feel at highway speeds with them on? Any difference? Looks awesome

I did not notice any difference this morning on my commute (about 15 miles of highway). I did not put the Air Dam back on either.

 

[XL_Ranger_Danger]

3 hours and 2 beers later; ARB skid plates installed with no lift. Is is doable? Yes, is it fun? Absolutely not.

Also ditto on the instructions. Absolute garbage. Huge shout out to @sklnbnz for the real instructions!

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