22 IBS with some raptor touches

[bordner42]

Thanks for the kind words! I decided on the raptor skid plate after nothing more than eyeballing the truck and tow hook location along with comparing photos found online, plus I found a cheap skid plate on FB marketplace nearby. I'm confident that it could all be done much easier another way but this was fun and cost effective for me. I used structured, press on door trim to trim the top edge of the SP after lots of trimming and test fitting. I had to use different hardware front and rear. On the rear of the SP I trimmed out chunks of the sides to for clearance which is easy enough to see if you try to hold one up to your truck, I also had to trim a strip along the leading edge to match the angle of the bumper and had to drill a couple of new bolt holes for the SP to attach at the tow hooks. I just unbolted, unplugged, and unscrewed the factory felt airflow deflector plus the active air dam and the fixed airdam. I just covered the empty plugs and zip tied them out of the way and except where I trimmed the front bumper trying to clear the big tires with minimal lift everything can just be reattached and work as it should. No lights or tones from just disconnecting although a detailed scan will indicate that the active air dam is not responding. Everything was close but not close enough to fit directly so lots of minor adjustments with a grinder or drill bit.

I have lowered the truck back on the stock wheels and tires for the summer and left the SP in place. I get roughly 2.3 indicated in mostly 70+ highway driving when minimal to no AC is used. On a similar day and driving with the 35's and lifted I would get 1.5 - 1.7 indicated.

Hope that helps!

How much did you find the skid plate for? I'm looking around me for one and was wondering how much you spent. Roughly how long did it take to trim/remove the active air dam/install?

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[Electric Marine]

How much did you find the skid plate for? I'm looking around me for one and was wondering how much you spent. Roughly how long did it take to trim/remove the active air dam/install?

The skid plate was about $100 if memory serves. Removing the active air damn was pretty easy, taking my time not to overlook something important it was 30-45 minutes. However, fitting the skid plate took me several days with an hour or more here and there. I had to order bolts and nuts as I couldn't find what I wanted locally. I also ordered the door trim I used between the skid and bumper, etc., etc. each time mounting and dismounting. Someone more comfortable with that sort of thing would probably have the whole project done start to finish in 2 hours. But the closest experience I had prior to that was cutting and bending old street signs to replace rusted out floorboards.

 

[bordner42]

The skid plate was about $100 if memory serves. Removing the active air damn was pretty easy, taking my time not to overlook something important it was 30-45 minutes. However, fitting the skid plate took me several days with an hour or more here and there. I had to order bolts and nuts as I couldn't find what I wanted locally. I also ordered the door trim I used between the skid and bumper, etc., etc. each time mounting and dismounting. Someone more comfortable with that sort of thing would probably have the whole project done start to finish in 2 hours. But the closest experience I had prior to that was cutting and bending old street signs to replace rusted out floorboards.

Thanks for the quick response! Do you remember or have a link to what nuts and bolts you needed? Also, what do you mean by needing to order door trim and mounting/dismounting?

 

[Electric Marine]

I don't remember much of use about the hardware other than I matched the factory thread pitch to reuse 1 factory captured but on each tow hook. Length is about 1.5" I think. Rear bolts are about 2.5-3" and I ended up with homemade flag nuts for those. I used press on/clip on door edge trim on the leading edge of the skid plate to facilitate a tight fit between it and the bumper. And mounting and dismounting of the skid plate while I sorted out the fit.

 

[derelict]

Looks like I found my next project

This looks incredible!

 

[Andrewbens]

Still a work in progress but I'm rather pleased with the progress thus far! It has taken more trial and error than I care to admit to get this 2022 Raptor skid plate fitted to the Lightning! The range impact has been substantial but this obviously isn't a direction one takes if seeking to maximize range. Also pictured is the rough country M1 preloaded 3" strut and Icon tremor knuckles

You’re the first one I’ve ever seen running the Same raptor wheels as me. I can tell you ended up cutting up your front bumper like I did. What was everything you had to do to gets your wheels to fit?

 

[derelict]

@Electric Marine , @AZT9 , did you guys have to remove the front bumper to remove that fixed front valence? Or can it be done without removing the bumper?

 

[Electric Marine]

@Electric Marine , @AZT9 , did you guys have to remove the front bumper to remove that fixed front valence? Or can it be done without removing the bumper?

I did not pull the bumper. It may have been easier to gain access or visibility, but I can't say for sure. Wouldn't be the first time I wasted time and energy avoiding a small inconvenience and creating myself a bigger one.

 

[Electric Marine]

You’re the first one I’ve ever seen running the Same raptor wheels as me. I can tell you ended up cutting up your front bumper like I did. What was everything you had to do to gets your wheels to fit?

Your truck looks great! I went through an absurd number of wheel spacers trying to find the right offset and still retaining steering and articulation (what little this bus has) and ended up on 1.5 if I remember correctly. Also had to, er um, massage the front brake calipers with a flapper wheel and trim the trailing edge of the front wheel wells and crash bars! Something similar for you?

 

[Andrewbens]

Your truck looks great! I went through an absurd number of wheel spacers trying to find the right offset and still retaining steering and articulation (what little this bus has) and ended up on 1.5 if I remember correctly. Also had to, er um, massage the front brake calipers with a flapper wheel and trim the trailing edge of the front wheel wells and crash bars! Something similar for you?

yes, front crash bar was cut out, front bumper trimmed on edges, lots of trimming on the inner plastic liner, running 1.5” spacers (I haven’t tried anything else out yet) front calipers I took a grinder wheels and lightly scuffed them up where they’re shinny now.

 

[AZT9]

I did not pull the bumper. It may have been easier to gain access or visibility, but I can't say for sure. Wouldn't be the first time I wasted time and energy avoiding a small inconvenience and creating myself a bigger one.

I did not have to remove the bumper either. As @Electric Marine said. Would have been easier to get the center most screws out but I was able to bent the plastic around the bottom of the cent opening and use a ratcheting wrench to get the few center screws out. PITA but possible

 

[derelict]

I wanted to say thank you to @Electric Marine and @AZT9 for the help and inspiration here. Finally got around to finishing my skid plate, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out…

 

[Electric Marine]

I wanted to say thank you to @Electric Marine and @AZT9 for the help and inspiration here. Finally got around to finishing my skid plate, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out…

Truck looks outstanding! Well done and love the amber in the grill shutters!

 

[boardriderb]

I wanted to say thank you to @Electric Marine and @AZT9 for the help and inspiration here. Finally got around to finishing my skid plate, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out…

Looks great. Did you have to do as much modification as OP did?

 

[derelict]

Looks great. Did you have to do as much modification as OP did?

Not sure... I also cut the front like the others, but I had to trim the sides a bit as well towards the back because my tires were rubbing. I used a portaband to make the cuts and an angle grinder to even things out. The black trim helps hide all the ugliness from the cuts. For the front mounting I bought the Raptor brackets that bolt onto the frame. They kind of fit but not exactly. I had to bend the guide tabs because the slot for them were a little bit further than it needed to be. Bought M10 u clips and M10 screws (35mm) to secure the brackets. My goal was to use the brackets for more stability in the front, but there was still a gap between the skid plate and the brackets so I don't know how solid it would be if I really tried to slide it over rocks. I used 70mm M10 bolts and M10 u clips for the front 4 bolts. For the rear I did my best to line it up with the existing mounting point for the motor skid plate and I think I used 70mm M10 bolts there too. Could probably go with 60mm for all of them but the longer ones made it easier to line things up.

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