2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD - Rival Engine Skid Plate First Impressions and Installation

[710-oil-614]

@MABETT should do some skids!!!!!!

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[Mean Green BP]

I sent an email to ASFIR, a company in Israel that makes outstanding skid plates. I used them on my Mitsubishi Pajero (Japanese market vehicle). If enough of us contact them I think they would make them! Great quality and good pricing even with shipping.
Check out www.asfir.com

 

[710-oil-614]

Circled back yesterday to install some rivet nuts into the front bolt locations so that they won't slide around when attempting to reinstall the skid plate after removal, and an opportunity to improve the rivnut, washer, and bolt to stainless steel.

In the picture below you can see how the bolt is not really secure in the front location when it is loosened because the nutsert that is provided moves freely until torqued down.

This causes the bolts to move around when attempting to install and re-install the skid plate.

Here is the less than stellar nutsert provided:

Replacing the provided nutsert with a stainless steel M8 rivnut:

Had to use a step drill bit to open the hole for the rivnut to fit. Also painted (after this photo) with rustoleom to protect the bare metal.

Once the paint dried I pressed in the Rivnut and re-installed the skid plate. Total actual work time was about 20 minutes with a few hours to let the paint dry in between.

 

[Frenchy]

I received my skid plate three days ago after waiting for it, I believe, over two months.
I am too old to crawl under my truck. I shall have my mechanic install it.
It is very expensive for what it is but less expensive than a replacement engine, I drive on unpaved roads frequently.
I do not know of any one else who makes a skid plate the 2025 Maverick

 

[JohnCondren1933]

Can absolutely confirm its a beefy skidplate, aluminum is just barely light enough for 1 person to handle at its thickness, about 5/16 of an inch its significantly thicker than the Maverick stamped steel cross members - you would have to be doing something real idiotic to break the skidplate if you landed on a rock hard enough to break the skidplate you would IMO also landed hard enough to bend the lower engine cradle cross member.

The threaded inerts provided with the skidplate to bolt to the frame were...meh, zinc-coated, very tight took alot of elbow grease to bolt them definitely not vibrating loose, but if something is gonna fail from roadsalt in 3 or 4 years its gonna be those cheap zinc plated threaded inserts, but I didnt have better grade nuts when I installed. I'll replace them one day.

Its something I've noticed outside the US & Europe is these tuners will buy super exotic material CAIs & turbos and then have the idea that "a bolt is a bolt, high grade bolts are just marketing for more money, if the thread isn't stretched obviously its fine".

I don't want to persuade anyone from ordering. I mean it is a beefy skid plate and if I can find nutserts (that Rival should have already provided) for the front bolts then I will be happy with installation of it.

It's just a premium price for not a premium product. At least that is my impression.

 

[SteakAndAle]

Just installed mine this afternoon - I would echo all of the above, especially about the laughably bad fasteners. Rear holes were factory threaded (2026 Hybrid), for the front holes I followed @710-oil-614 's lead and fitted some M8 rivnuts. Somewhat regretted using stainless as it took some effort to set them, even with the right tool!

Put some blue loctite on the rear bolts per Rival's reccommendation, nothing on the front ones for fear of spinning rivnuts next time the skid plate has to come off. Put some anti-seize on the access panel bolts for good measure.

Will probably do the catalytic converter plate too at some point, but it's long lead time here in Canada.

 

[710-oil-614]

I’m still quite pleased with mine. Would also like to at least add the catalytic converter plate and if they ever come their senses on price the other two skid plates as well.

 

[Frenchy]

I’m still quite pleased with mine. Would also like to at least add the catalytic converter plate and if they ever come their senses on price the other two skid plates as well.

These skid plates are way too expensive for what they are. I have the engine one.

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