Raptor Blackout Skid Plate

[KansasRaptor]

New member, so be gentle if I'm not posting correctly. I took off the lower skid plate and color matching bumper trim and coated them with bed liner paint. I also added vinyl orange letters over the "FORD" on grille. I'm still on the fence with the orange letters, but they look better when the amber daytime lights are on. Both pics are of my 2023 Raptor, just different photo locations.

Sponsored

 

[2023bronco]

Looks good. What's funny to me is, there are some guys who are buying the Raptor skids and putting them on non-Raptor Broncos because they want the silver.

The black looks much better, IMHO.

Question -- is the bumper trim gray plastic or is it metal? It's black plastic on the non-Raptors.

 

[KansasRaptor]

Thanks!

That is funny. I would have assumed some were swapping the plates for metal over plastic; I never thought they were doing it for cosmetics.

The bumper trim is PLASTIC, which is important to note because I made the mistake of spraying with adhesion promoter which caused some issues with the existing paint. Nothing that a little sandpaper didn't fix. In short, sand and primer the plastic and use adhesion promoter on the metal plate itself.

For the bumber trim removal: No special tool needed; it is affixed with black plastic pop out clips and some pressure tabs that require a little finese.

For the skid plate removal: 4 bolts; I think I used 5/8 or 16MM. Quick tip: This thing is heavier than it looks and is a bit cumbersome. I reinstalled it using a floor jack and a piece of cardboard to protect the new paint. This made it super easy to align and bolt back in.

I used the following:
U-POL 0799 Grip#4 Universal Adhesion Promoter
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00397POFC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Herculiner Aerosol Spray Truck Bed Liner
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KPJVDO2?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[2023bronco]

That is funny. I would have assumed some were swapping the plates for metal over plastic; I never thought they were doing it for cosmetics.

Yep, because they can just as easily buy the non-Raptor plates in black (metal).

Typically you should use adhesion promoter over plastic. But I guess that assumes the plastic hasn't already been coated with something. You could have bought the non-Raptor black plastic covers, but paint is cheap.

 

[KansasRaptor]

Any idea of the part # for the plastic cover in case the paint doesn't hold up? To your point on plastic, I'm of the same opinion, in fact, I would insist on using the promoter on uncovered plastic. It looked like it was injection molded, not painted, when I sprayed it. It became obvious that I was wrong when the light covering paint on it began reacting.

 

['18 M2]

I too have a black Warthog but prefer the contrast with the silver. Did you ppf the vehicle?

 

[KansasRaptor]

I didn't. I've had it for 5 days, after waiting a year for delivery. Do you recomend protecting the front part of the hood, or more than that?

 

[swamp2]

Looks great, I'm planning to also paint the tow loops black.

 

[KansasRaptor]

Looks great, I'm planning to also paint the tow loops black.

Send pics when done, please. I'm thinking of doing the same.

 

[bwilly68]

Did mine with line x.

 

[swamp2]

Send pics when done, please. I'm thinking of doing the same.

No need to wait for me.

This beauty was posted here on b6g quite some time ago. A EU truck, IIRC. I think this EG with matte PPF and the blacked out front is the best color combo I've seen.

I also much prefer the smooth paint/bedliner rather than textured. I'm sure the texture additive does not make the paint more durable, so its all about aesthetic preference.

 

[Bschurr]

Nice work @KansasRaptor
I just picked up my Shadow Black Raptor a week ago as well and I need to correct the huge hunk of silver in the front of an otherwise dark & menacing rig!
Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[RowsKing]

No need to wait for me.

This beauty was posted here on b6g quite some time ago. A EU truck, IIRC. I think this EG with matte PPF and the blacked out front is the best color combo I've seen.

I also much prefer the smooth paint/bedliner rather than textured. I'm sure the texture additive does not make the paint more durable, so its all about aesthetic preference.

Mind telling me which bed liner paint you used? The color match looks great and I prefer that smooth finish of yours.

 

[vrtical]

I will probably get mine power coated at some point after its more tore up.

 

[swamp2]

Mind telling me which bed liner paint you used? The color match looks great and I prefer that smooth finish of yours.

Again, not my rig...

I'm planning to use Duraback-18 when I get mine, it fared very well in an independent comparison test on YouTube.

Sponsored