Ford Ranger Raptor Skid Plate Guide: 1/4″ Aluminum Underbody Armor (2024–2026).

Ford built the 2024 Ranger Raptor to run Baja — and gave it a 0.1″ stamped-steel engine guard to do it. It's the most capable midsize truck Ford has sold in the US: a 405-hp twin-turbo V6, Fox 2.5″ Live Valve shocks, front and rear lockers, and a Baja drive mode. But the factory underbody protection is thin and partial, and leaves the fuel tank — and the truck's plastic transmission pan — exposed. This guide covers what the factory skids protect, where they fall short, how the aftermarket kits compare, and how to spec 1/4″ aluminum armor for a 2024–2026 Ranger or Ranger Raptor. We manufacture these plates in Colorado and install them; this guide is a straight comparison, including where a competitor may suit you better.

Jump to our Ranger armor, the competitor comparison, or what the factory misses.

The 2024+ Ranger Raptor — and which armor fits

2024 was the first year the Ranger Raptor came to the US, on Ford's next-gen Ranger platform. North American trucks run the Ford-Performance-tuned 3.0L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 (405 hp / 430 lb-ft), Fox 2.5″ Live Valve internal-bypass shocks, and selectable front and rear lockers. It's built to be driven hard off-road, which is why the underbody takes a beating.

One fitment fact that saves money: the engine, transmission, transfer-case, and package plates fit both the 2024–2026 base Ranger (XLT / Lariat / FX4) and the Ranger Raptor — the underbody packaging in those areas is shared. The one Raptor-specific piece is the fuel-tank skid. So whatever 2024+ Ranger you drive, the powertrain armor is the same; the Raptor adds the fuel-tank plate.

What the factory Ranger Raptor skids cover — and miss

Ford gives the Raptor more underbody protection than a base truck, but more than a base truck isn't enough for Baja. Where the stock setup falls short:

• The engine guard is ~0.1″ (2.5 mm) stamped steel. It deflects light debris but dents and deforms under a real rock strike. 1/4″ aluminum does not.
• The transfer-case cover is thin steel (~3.6 mm) with a single mount. A hard hit can drive it into the transfer case it's meant to protect.
• The transmission pan is plastic. On a truck built to jump and crawl, a cracked plastic pan strands you, and the factory leaves it exposed.
• No fuel-tank protection. The tank hangs exposed to rock and debris on exactly the terrain this truck invites.
• Catalytic converters are exposed — to both trail strikes and theft.

Juggernaut Ranger Raptor underbody armor

Every plate is CNC-cut from 1/4″ 5052-H32 aluminum, powder-coated black, and bolts on with no drilling. Made in Colorado, lifetime warranty. Fits the 2024–2026 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor (the fuel-tank skid is Raptor-specific). Build the full package or add pieces individually.

In-stock plates ship the next business day from our Colorado shop — no multi-week made-to-order wait.

Current pricing is shown on each linked product page above.

For full Raptor coverage, run the package plus the fuel-tank skid — that armors the run from the intercooler back to the tank. A few details owners ask about:

• 1/4″ 5052-H32 aluminum, made in Colorado. It resists hard trail impacts, won't rust against the frame, and weighs less than equivalent steel.
• Oil changes don't fight you. The engine skid has an oil-change hole and the package includes an oil-drain access panel, so routine service doesn't mean pulling armor.
• It armors what the factory leaves open — the plastic transmission pan, the catalytic converters, and (on the Raptor) the fuel tank.

See everything in the Ford Ranger collection.

How it compares

Unlike some platforms, the 2024+ Ranger Raptor already has a real aftermarket — several companies make armor for it. A straight comparison of the players, and where each fits:

Who should buy what: Juggernaut covers the full underbody in one lineup — including the Raptor fuel tank that most makers sell separately — in 1/4″ aluminum, made in Colorado, with in-stock plates shipping the next business day, a lifetime warranty, and the option to have it installed at the Denver shop. The others are situational:

• RIVAL — the most modular range (even radiator and recovery-point kits), but an imported brand sold piece by piece: more plates to buy and no local install.
• ASFIR — excellent premium, extreme-duty armor, but made overseas, sold individually at a premium, with no local install.
• RCI — a strong US-made option in either 1/4″ aluminum (matching our thickness) or heavier 3/16″ steel; the differences from ours are our single-lineup coverage including the Raptor fuel tank, our next-business-day shipping on in-stock plates (RCI's published skid-plate lead times run 2–4 weeks on out-of-stock items), and our local install.
• Foutz / Battle Born — solid, but a lighter 3/16″ gauge than 1/4″.

Competitor materials, lead times, and fitment above are point-in-time (mid-2026) and change — confirm current specs at the source before you buy.

Install

Every plate is bolt-on, no-drill — it uses existing frame mounting points and ships with hardware and instructions. A full package is a couple of hours in the driveway with a floor jack, stands, and hand tools. For step-by-step, see the Ranger skid plate package install instructions and the fuel-tank skid install instructions, plus a YouTube walkthrough on each product page. The oil-change hole and oil-drain access panel mean routine service doesn't require removing armor.

Rather have it done in a shop? We install every plate above at our Wheat Ridge / Denver shop. Call or text (970) 341-4221 for an install estimate.

Frequently asked questions

Do these fit the base 2024+ Ranger, or only the Raptor?
Both. The engine, transmission & cat, transfer-case, and package plates fit the 2024–2026 Ford Ranger (XLT/Lariat/FX4) and the Ranger Raptor — the underbody is shared in those areas. The fuel-tank skid is Ranger Raptor-specific.

Aluminum or steel for a Ranger Raptor?
These plates use 1/4″ 5052-H32 aluminum — it takes hard trail abuse, won't rust against the frame, and saves weight on a truck that jumps. It's the same 1/4″ thickness the top aluminum competitors (including RCI's aluminum option) run, and thicker than the 3/16″ aluminum kits from Foutz and Battle Born. Steel kits are tougher per unit thickness but heavier and can rust where the coating chips.

How fast do these ship?
In-stock plates ship the next business day from our Colorado shop. If something is temporarily out of stock we'll tell you up front — call or text (970) 341-4221 for a current date.

Does it protect the plastic transmission pan?
Yes. The Ranger's transmission pan is plastic, and the transmission skid & cat shield armors both the pan and the catalytic converters — a spot the factory leaves open.

Isn't the factory Raptor skid enough?
It's thin (~0.1″ steel) and partial — a weak transfer-case cover, no fuel-tank protection, and the plastic trans pan left exposed. Fine for fire roads; not for the terrain this truck is built to run.

Does this fit the older global / diesel Ranger Raptor?
These plates are designed for the 2024–2026 North American Ranger Raptor (3.0L V6). The earlier overseas diesel Ranger Raptor (2.0L bi-turbo) wasn't sold in the US and may use different underbody packaging — send us your exact vehicle and we'll confirm fitment.

Can you install it?
Yes — we install all of it at our Denver-area shop in Wheat Ridge, CO. Call or text (970) 341-4221.

Armor your Ranger Raptor

Shop your plates — build the full package and add the Raptor fuel-tank skid, or add the engine, transmission & cat, and transfer case skids individually. Bolt-on, no drilling, hardware and instructions included, lifetime warranty.

Or have us install it in Denver — call or text (970) 341-4221 for an estimate. Got an F-150 Raptor too? See our F-150 Raptor skid plate guide. Not sure which pieces you need? Email sales@juggernautusa.com with your year and trim and we'll spec it. Backed by our 4.9★ review rating.