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Finally got around to throwing the Rival cat skid plate on the truck today. Since I’m setting this thing up for overlanding, I figured I needed some actual metal under there.
Honest opinion: I see people saying you "need" AWD constantly, but I haven't found the limit of the FWD yet. I'm running 235 Wildpeaks aired down to 25 psi, and it eats up fire roads, gravel, washboards, ruts, creek crossings, and even decent mud without issues. The actual bottleneck I'm hitting isn't traction, it's clearance. I’m way more worried about smashing the oil pan than I am about getting stuck.
The install was super straightforward. I managed this one solo, but I’m planning on buying more armor from Rival later, and I can tell the bigger pieces are definitely gonna be a two person job just to hold them in place.
Best part is the plate actually sits a little lower than the battery heat exchanger. That was a big worry with rocks, so having that protected is nice.
Also, for anyone doing creek crossings in the Hybrid, since the trans breather is just that little vent cap on top of the case and not a hose, dont let the water get above the middle of the wheel.
Next up is ditch lights, and I'm planning to mount the GMRS antenna right on the light brackets to keep it clean. Let me know if you guys have questions on the fitment.
2023 Hybrid Lariat lux
Honest opinion: I see people saying you "need" AWD constantly, but I haven't found the limit of the FWD yet. I'm running 235 Wildpeaks aired down to 25 psi, and it eats up fire roads, gravel, washboards, ruts, creek crossings, and even decent mud without issues. The actual bottleneck I'm hitting isn't traction, it's clearance. I’m way more worried about smashing the oil pan than I am about getting stuck.
The install was super straightforward. I managed this one solo, but I’m planning on buying more armor from Rival later, and I can tell the bigger pieces are definitely gonna be a two person job just to hold them in place.
Best part is the plate actually sits a little lower than the battery heat exchanger. That was a big worry with rocks, so having that protected is nice.
Also, for anyone doing creek crossings in the Hybrid, since the trans breather is just that little vent cap on top of the case and not a hose, dont let the water get above the middle of the wheel.
Next up is ditch lights, and I'm planning to mount the GMRS antenna right on the light brackets to keep it clean. Let me know if you guys have questions on the fitment.
2023 Hybrid Lariat lux
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