Am I missing a skid plate

[ACF]

I have an 05 2500 QC SB 4x4, I ordered the "protection package" and have noticed that I have no fuel tank skid plate. Is this the case with all of you?

 

[2Gen3Gen]

I didnt think they made one. .

I had an 04 with the snow plow prep and it came with the t/c plate. When I traded it in for the 04. 5, I kept it and bolted it up to my new rig. If someone has a fuel tank plate, post a picture.

 

[MLimpert]

Isn't that a Power Wagon only goodie?



My 05 w/ protection group does not have one.

 

[ilovetrains]

you can order it through the dealer as an accessory, but at least for 05 that is the only way to get it.

 

[ACF]

Thanks man, that's why I love this site. I never knew it was a dealer option.

 

[HLewallen]

Actually, my 05 with the Off Road group came with a fuel tank skid plate.

 

[rjohnson916]

I think the only CTD's that got skid plates where equipped with the 4x4Offroad package. There is one that covers the T/C and fuel tank I believe, or maybe just the T/C and the fuel-skid is a PowerWagon only.





-Ryan

 

[05mxdiesel]

Actually, my 05 with the Off Road group came with a fuel tank skid plate.

Is there any way you could show us a pic of it? I would like to see if it is a worth while mod.

 

[JOblenes]

My 04. 5 has the "Offroad" package and did not come with the tank skid plate. I was quite POed to learn this soon after I bought the truck. When you look at the features I got with other "packages" e. g. towing package, protection package, etc. that also include bigger alternator, tow hooks, etc. the "Offroad" group actually amounts to a sticker, what a joke. The reason I got the "offroad" package on this truck is that on my 2001 1500 the offroad group was actually a very nice package and I assumed I was getting the same level of extras on this truck. But, you know what they say about assume...

 

[JOblenes]

Actually I have a 2005 Ram brochure sitting here on my desk and the protection group (for heavy duty 4x4) includes tow hooks, and transfer case skidplate, that is it. The 2005 offroad group includes 4. 10 axle, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates, tires, decal, tow hooks, fog lamps and shocks "painted" red.



Does anyone else have an 04. 5 offroad? did yours come with fuel tank skid plates? does anyone have an 04. 5 brochure and can confirm if the offroad group was supposed to come with the fuel tank skid plate? Did I get ripped off?

 

[Texasrattler]

I had to buy the fuel tank skid plate parts at the dealer. They have to drill a couple of holes so I had them install it. You add another cross bar like the transfer case skid plate. I think they charged me 30 minutes labor. The parts were something like $125 (I think-it's been a while).



Pete

 

[DBond]

My 04. 5 has the "Offroad" package and did not come with the tank skid plate. I was quite POed to learn this soon after I bought the truck. When you look at the features I got with other "packages" e. g. towing package, protection package, etc. that also include bigger alternator, tow hooks, etc. . .

I don't want to make you more PO'd, but I bet you didn't get a bigger alternator, and if you did I'll be PO'd. I tried everything to get a bigger alternator, even though the snow prep said it had it, it didn't on the CTD, only the Hemi.

 

[JeffJackson]

My '05 has the fuel tank skid plate and I've got the protection group, but not the Off Road group. Mine must have been mis-built because the sticker only lists tow hooks and the t-case skid plate as part of the protection group.

 

[JOblenes]

Forgot to post last night, but I have the 2004 brochure here at home and sure enough the 2004 "Offroad" package did not include the fuel tank skid plate. And the Skid Plate section of the features and options table does not even list the fuel tank skid plate at all. They must simply not have had one available at that time. Needless to say I bought one last Friday afternoon and installed it on Saturday.

 

[MNielsen]

JOblenes

Got any pictures of the skid plat??

 

[MickeyMiller]

Got pictures and the part number? No drilling?



Thank you,

Mickey

 

[JOblenes]

I will check the part number when I get home, its on the invoice. As someone mentioned previously in the thread there are two parts, a cross member up front then the actual skid plate itself, You have to drill two holes on each side for the crossmember. There is another hole that gets drilled in the tubular frame cross-member next to the stud where the fuel tank strap attaches and another hole near the hanger for the e-brake cable (which come off) that is in the drivers side wheel well. I wouldn't sweat drilling the holes, they (DC) drilled them for the TC skid plate and would have drilled them for this plate as well. There are some existing holes that "look like" they are for the fuel tank skid plate cross member but they are not as they are way oversized/one side is missing a hole, etc. When you get the cross member in place you will see that the actual holes are and inch to an inch and a half above any of the existing holes.



I will see if I cen get some pics tomorrow. The "skid plate" one on my 1500 offroad was plastic, this one is fairly thick steel plate about 1/8", not sure what gage. The thing is fairly well skeletonized to lighten it, but this might me a bad thing as a pretty decent sized stick could still poke a hole in the tank. Also the cross member is defenitely not strong enough to support the weight of the truck. Just for fun I threw the jack underneath of it, it will bend fairly easy if the load is in the center.



I paid about $260 Canadian from the dealer.

 

[JOblenes]

OK here is what it says on my invoice,

Cross member - 52022046-AD C/MEMBER 23-032-017

Skid plate - 52121265 AB SHIELD 23-034-121

 

[MickeyMiller]

Jonathan,

Thank you for the update, and the part numbers. I'm defintly going to add one.

Mickey

 

[JOblenes]

If you are going to do the install here are some hints. The cross member and skid plates don't come with bolts, make sure to pick some up before leaving dealership. Remove the e-brake cable retainer in the rear drivers side wheel well. I found it was best to attach the skid plate to the cross member then slide the whole thing under the truck. Use a floor jack under the cross member (off center to support the weight of the plate) and jack it up as much as it will go, then lying on your back under the truck lift up the back part of the skid plate into place. Drill the hole next to the gas tank stud and install bolt (make sure you got all of your tools right there). Once this bolt is in you are good (you can let go), now just adjust the jack height to set the cross member height and drill and bolt, easy as pie. With air tools you can do this in 15-20 min.



If you are not sure what bolts to use just undo one from the TC skid plate to have a look, they are typically called chassis bolts and are self threading (not quite self tapping), I actually used SAE 5/16x1. 5" instead of metric. These will also fit the pre-punched holes where the skid plate attaches to the cross member. I forget the drill size I used but just select one that "just fits" through the factory punched holes in the cross member and you will be good. You will need 9 or 10 in total depending if you put a bolt in every hole in the bracket in the wheel well.