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 is specifically about the Ranger Raptor: what the factory skids protect, where they fall short, how the aftermarket kits compare, and how to spec 1/4″ aluminum armor. Driving a standard XLT, Lariat or FX4? Our Ford Ranger skid plate guide is the one you want.

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

The 2024+ Ranger Raptor

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 — and why the factory armor runs out faster here than on any other trim.

The one piece that is Raptor-specific in our lineup is the fuel-tank skid. The powertrain plates are shared across the 2024–2026 Ranger range — if you're on a standard Ranger, start with the standard Ranger guide instead of this page.

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 — and this is the gap only a Raptor-specific plate fills.
• 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. In-stock plates ship the next business day from our Colorado shop — no multi-week made-to-order wait.

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 — which matters on a truck built to land.
• 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 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, 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. The oil-change hole and oil-drain access panel mean routine service doesn't require removing armor.

Want to see the job before you buy it? Both step-by-steps are published: the Ranger / Ranger Raptor Skid Plate Package instructions and the Ranger Raptor Fuel Tank Skid Plate instructions. There's a YouTube walkthrough on each product page too.

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 a standard Ranger, or only the Raptor?
The powertrain plates fit the whole 2024–2026 Ranger range; the fuel-tank skid is Ranger Raptor-specific. If you're on an XLT, Lariat, or FX4, our Ford Ranger skid plate guide covers your truck properly — start there.

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.

How hard is the install?
Bolt-on to existing frame points, no drilling — a couple of hours in the driveway. The full instructions are published so you can read the job before you commit to it.

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

Or have us install it in Denver — call or text (970) 341-4221 for an estimate. On a standard Ranger? See the Ford Ranger skid plate guide. 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. We're rated 4.94 stars by verified customers.