Ram 1500 Skid Plates: What the Factory Covers, and How Thin It Is (2019–2026).

Order a Rebel, or any Ram 1500 with the off-road group, and you get skid plates over the oil pan, transfer case and fuel tank. That is real factory hardware, and more than most trucks in this class come with. They are thin stamped shields though, and they cover a lot less area than purpose-built armor, so whether you need anything past them depends on where you drive the truck.

This guide covers what sits exposed on a 2019–2026 Ram 1500 and what your specific trim came with.

Jump to what's exposed · what your trim came with · how thin the factory plates are · what nothing covers · lift & install · FAQ

What's exposed under a 2019+ Ram 1500

The fifth-generation Ram (DT, 2019 onward) carries the usual full-size pickup hardware low and forward. One structural difference worth knowing: Ram runs a coil-spring rear as standard, which no other full-size pickup does, with optional air suspension on higher trims. It rides well, and it means the rear underbody is laid out differently from a leaf-sprung F-150 or Silverado.

Front to back, what sits in harm's way:

• Engine oil pan — the lowest, most forward casting. Covered on off-road-group trucks, though the plate is thinner and smaller than most owners expect.
• Front differential and steering rack — on 4WD trucks, right behind the oil pan. Not covered on any trim.
• Transmission and crossmember — across the mid-belly, and there is no factory skid plate under the transmission on any Ram 1500, off-road group or not.
• Catalytic converters — an impact target and a theft target both.
• Transfer case — covered on off-road-group trucks.
• Fuel tank — also covered on the off-road package, open on everything else.

What your trim actually came with

Coverage varies by option package rather than by badge, so check the specific truck:

• Rebel and trucks with the off-road group: skid plates over the oil pan, transfer case and fuel tank, plus a crossmember and guards over the driveshaft and exhaust run. That is the most factory protection in the lineup. It does not include the transmission or the front differential.
• Tradesman, Big Horn / Lone Star, Laramie and Limited without the off-road group: assume very little. These are built for pavement and towing and the underbody reflects it. On these trucks you are starting from bare.
• Ram 1500 Classic: the previous-generation DS platform, sold alongside the DT for several years. Different truck underneath, different fitment. Tell us which one you have before ordering anything.

How thin the factory plates actually are

The factory plates on an off-road-group Ram are stamped shields rather than structural armor. They are thin, and they cover noticeably less area than a purpose-built plate — aftermarket front plates for this truck commonly cover on the order of twice the area the factory piece does.

The distinction that matters is deflection versus protection. A thin stamped shield keeps road debris, gravel and spray off the components behind it, and it does that well. What it will not do is absorb a solid hit. Come down on a rock, a stump or a hidden ledge and a shield that thin deforms — and it deforms into the part it is covering, which is worse than having nothing there at all.

What that means when you are deciding:

• If the truck stays on pavement, the factory hardware is fine and there is no reason to change it.
• If you leave pavement with any regularity — gravel, forest roads, washboard, a trailhead — the factory plates are thinner than the job. They will keep debris off, and they will fold on the first real impact. On a truck that actually gets used off road, they are the first thing we would replace, and the front of the truck is where to start.
• On a Rebel that means upgrading rather than filling a gap, at least where the factory put plates. You have coverage. The question is whether it is rated for what you are driving over, and a stamped shield is rated for debris, not impact.

The engineering behind it is straightforward: resistance to permanent bending scales with the square of thickness, which is why a 1/4″ plate behaves so differently from a thin stamped shield. The full breakdown is in our aluminum vs. steel comparison.

Two things no Ram 1500 covers, on any trim

Whatever badge or option package you have, two components are open:

The transmission. There is no factory skid plate under it on any Ram 1500. The off-road group covers the transfer case behind it and the oil pan ahead of it, and leaves the transmission exposed in between.

The front differential and steering rack. On 4WD trucks these sit behind the oil pan and are not part of the factory package on any trim.

If you are shopping aftermarket plates for this truck, those two are the ones worth pricing first, whoever you buy them from.

Lift, leveling and install

The Ram 1500 is one of the most common trucks through our Wheat Ridge shop, and we install lift kits, leveling kits, wheels and tires on them regularly. We do not manufacture suspension — we install every major brand — so we have no kit of our own to push.

One Ram-specific note that catches people out: if your truck has the optional air suspension, that changes your lift and leveling options and not every kit is compatible. Confirm before you buy. See our Ram 1500 leveling kit installation page, or call or text (970) 341-4221.

Our own Ram 1500 skid plates are designed and built, and in test fitting now — email sales@juggernautusa.com with your year, trim and drivetrain if you want to know when they are available.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ram 1500 Rebel come with skid plates?
Yes. With the off-road group it gets skid plates over the oil pan, transfer case and fuel tank, plus driveshaft and exhaust guards. They are thin stamped shields covering considerably less area than purpose-built armor, so having skid plates and being protected for impact are two different things.

Does the Ram 1500 have a transmission skid plate?
No. There is no factory transmission skid plate on any Ram 1500, including the Rebel and any truck with the off-road group. The package covers the oil pan ahead of it and the transfer case behind it, and leaves the transmission open in between.

Do I still need aftermarket plates on a Rebel?
If the truck stays on pavement, no. If it leaves pavement with any regularity, yes — the factory plates deflect debris but they are thin enough to fold on a solid hit, and a deformed shield presses into the part it was covering. On a truck that gets used off road they are the first thing we would replace, and the transmission and front differential are open regardless.

What about a Big Horn or Laramie without the off-road group?
Assume very little underneath. Those trucks are specced for pavement and towing; the off-road hardware is an option package, not standard equipment. Start at the front.

Is the Ram 1500 Classic the same truck?
No. The Classic is the previous-generation DS platform sold alongside the current DT, with different underbody packaging. The two do not share fitment.

Does the coil-spring rear or air suspension change anything?
For underbody armor, not much — plates bolt to frame points either way. For lift and leveling it changes a great deal, and air-suspension trucks in particular have limited kit compatibility. Confirm before you order suspension.

Are Ram 1500 catalytic converters a theft target?
Full-size pickups sit high enough that a thief can get underneath without a jack, which is why the F-Series tops national most-targeted lists and other trucks appear on them. Our converter protection guide covers what actually blocks a cut.