How To: Full Mopar Skid Plate Install

Stefan N · Apr 20, 2020

bryce88 said:
Ok, so I just finished a full skid plate install

Nice job!

NapaRam · Apr 25, 2020

Do these plates fit 4WD only and not 2WD?

kad · May 2, 2020

kad said:
As of three days ago they (Part # 82214497) are still on a 4-6 week back order. <sigh>

-K

Just an FYI, the transfer case plate & crossbar kit is now on back order until Sept. My usual supplier said he thinks they are not going to find a new supplier and are going to discontinue them.
I managed to find one at a small fleet maintenance company in PA for only a few dollars more than my order from Benny (sorry, got the last one or I'd give the web site). There are a few sellers on eBay and Amazon selling them for $140-$150 if you're desperate.

kad · May 2, 2020

I got mine installed today and I have to say that I would recommend against using the lever type rivnut installer unless you have access to a lift. I found it almost impossible to get the required leverage to use the installer with the truck on ramps. I had to brace one arm of the tool against my shoulder and pull on the other with both hands to get it to work. (Although, I was using stainless steel rivnuts, they may have been harder to set than the usual zinc coated steel ones.) The bolt style install tools that you use with a ratchet may work better for this install.

-K

El Huapo · May 2, 2020

So color me confused. Why hassle with rivnuts? I see where one of the posters used a drill where the rivnuts go so I would presume there is some kind of clearance behind to let a drill bit go through. If so, why not use regular nuts and bolts where the rivnuts go? No wrench room maybe? And yes, I'm still waiting to get the skid plates on backorder too. Got the front one OK and it went on very easily too. And I love the original post with pictures---that is something I can understand, thanks. :winner_first_h4h:

kad · May 2, 2020

El Huapo said:
So color me confused. Why hassle with rivnuts? I see where one of the posters used a drill where the rivnuts go so I would presume there is some kind of clearance behind to let a drill bit go through. If so, why not use regular nuts and bolts where the rivnuts go? No wrench room maybe? And yes, I'm still waiting to get the skid plates on backorder too. Got the front one OK and it went on very easily too. And I love the original post with pictures---that is something I can understand, thanks.

The rivnuts go into the frame in existing hexagonal holes and are going into hollow frame members, there is no way to get a nut inside that I am aware of.

-K

Sam09 · Jul 15, 2020

Great source of information! Thank you! I just finished installing my skid plates. The only slight delay I ran into was the rivnuts. Cause I did not have the right mandrels for my hand threaded riveter, but I got the install kit from Mopar as well for 15 bucks which does not need a riveter at all.
Part Number: 82212003

Tim7139 · Sep 12, 2020

bryce88 said:
No there is not, unfortunately. I've heard of people modifying a fuel tank skid plate for power wagons and putting them on 1500s but I haven't actually seen pictures of that.

Is it standard for the power wagon? If so I might add it to my pull list at the wreckers.

Toy4everyseason · Mar 2, 2021

Not to revive a dead thread but an alternative to the wildly overpriced Mopar rivnuts would be these:

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...1-25-thread-hex-type-nutserts/11406pk/5569092

My local stealership wanted $15 for just one rivnut.

BakedRam · Mar 2, 2021

Toy4everyseason said:
one

Have you tried them? $15 for 15 is a great price.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...1-25-thread-hex-type-nutserts/11406pk/5569092

Basic Rich · Mar 8, 2021

About to give this a try. Will these skid plates fit a 2017 Ram 1500 express quad cab? I assume so, but didn't know if they differed with crew cab or not.

BakedRam · Mar 15, 2021

Basic Rich said:
About to give this a try. Will these skid plates fit a 2017 Ram 1500 express quad cab? I assume so, but didn't know if they differed with crew cab or not.

I did mine on a 2018. I don't think anything changed from 2017 to 2018.

HoustonRam · Aug 16, 2021

Wanted to give the OP a shout out, installed the full set over the weekend and this thread was a huge help when I was looking for the parts and reference. The parts came with all the hardware when I ordered, bolts and rivnuts. Was a pretty easy installation. Thanks again!

DenverBigHorn · Aug 16, 2021

(Long time lurker, first time poster).

I know this is a three year old thread but just wanted to say thanks to bryce88 for putting it together. I also wanted to say thanks to Benny and AllMoparParts.com -- Mopar proper doesn't sell two of these in the kits anymore but they do a great job of assembling everything in their 'in-house kits' that made ordering easy AND cheap (Grand Total $213.58). Here's the three I bought for my 2015 BigHorn 5.7:
- Genuine Mopar Skid Plate Kit Front Axle & Transfer Case Part Number: RAM1500FRSKIDPLATEKIT
- 2015 Ram 1500 DS Genuine Mopar Skid Plate Electric Power Steering Kit Part Number: RAMPSSKIDPLT
- Genuine Mopar Skid Plate Kit Front Axle & Transfer Case & Crossmember (Mopar) Part Number: 82214497)

And if you're OCD like me and don't trust yourself to tighten Rivnuts by feel, Mopar indicated they should be torqued to 25 Nm/18.439 ft-lbs or "3.5 turns +/- .25 turns"

Sommelier · Apr 29, 2022

bryce88 said:
Ok, so I just finished a full skid plate install on my 2015 Ram 1500 4X4 Express 5.7 Hemi.
I had to do some research to figure out which parts to buy but I finally got it all figured out.

There are 3 available skid plates:
1) Transfer Case
2) Front Axle
3) Power Steering

Part Numbers:
1) Transfer Case 'kit' (includes crossbar and 8 bolts, 4 bolts for mounting the crossbar and 4 bolts for the plate itself)
Part No: 82214497
* Ecodiesel owners* do not need a cross member because they already have one to support the def tank so use part number #82210014AC for just the plate, or 68089777AB for the kit (includes bolts)

2) Front Axle - for some reason, this one is kind of weird because on some of the Mopar sites, this part number is a 'kit' and on others it's just the plate and you n need to buy the bolts separately (which ends up being a ton cheaper by the way)
Also, this plate is identical to the transfer case plate but it bolts directly on, no need for a crossbar
Part No: 68089777AB for kit
Part No: 82210014AC for skid plate only

3) Power Steering - this one requires rivnuts to install it but Mopar offers a little tool to help you install them. This is offered as a 'kit' on some sites but I chose to buy separately because again, it saves money. You'll need 4 rivnuts and 4 bolts.
Part No: 68200064AB

Bolt Part No: 6509233AA (same for all bolts needed, including the crossbar) they are M8 bolts if you're curious

Rivnut Part No: 6507851AA

Rivnut Tool (about $14): 82212003

Alternate Rivnut Tool (about $40 & way better and comes with alot of common sizes):
Smittybilt 2834 Black Nutsert Tool Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDYW44K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YAouCbM42ZQHW

I chose to get the Smittybilt Rivnut tool because I have some other projects in mind that I'll need it for.

After pricing out everything I needed on different Mopar sites, I settled on a local one because free pickup and they had good prices anyway. It was about $60 for shipping on all sites. (skid plates are heavy)
$184 for everything except the rivnuts and Rivnut tool. Not Bad.

View attachment 417743

The install:
View attachment 417744
The pack of Rivnuts you see in the photo are not the ones I ended up using so I would suggest just getting the Mopar ones

Starting with the transfer case cross bar, use a spare jack stand or something to support the other end while you bolt up the first side:
View attachment 417745
View attachment 417746

Then go ahead and bolt on the skid plate itself: (and BTW everything should be torqued to 13 ft. lbs. Per Mopar instructions)
View attachment 417747 View attachment 417748 View attachment 417749

Front Axle skid plate simply bolts on, there are multiple holes, just use the holes that line up:
View attachment 417750 View attachment 417751

Now for the power steering skid plate:
View attachment 417752

Here's the tool in action:
View attachment 417753

These are the rivnuts after installation. These are the two in the rear, but there are two in the front also.
View attachment 417754

All bolted up:
View attachment 417755 View attachment 417756

Sommelier · Apr 29, 2022

bryce88 said:
Ok, so I just finished a full skid plate install on my 2015 Ram 1500 4X4 Express 5.7 Hemi.
I had to do some research to figure out which parts to buy but I finally got it all figured out.

There are 3 available skid plates:
1) Transfer Case
2) Front Axle
3) Power Steering

Part Numbers:
1) Transfer Case 'kit' (includes crossbar and 8 bolts, 4 bolts for mounting the crossbar and 4 bolts for the plate itself)
Part No: 82214497
* Ecodiesel owners* do not need a cross member because they already have one to support the def tank so use part number #82210014AC for just the plate, or 68089777AB for the kit (includes bolts)

2) Front Axle - for some reason, this one is kind of weird because on some of the Mopar sites, this part number is a 'kit' and on others it's just the plate and you n need to buy the bolts separately (which ends up being a ton cheaper by the way)
Also, this plate is identical to the transfer case plate but it bolts directly on, no need for a crossbar
Part No: 68089777AB for kit
Part No: 82210014AC for skid plate only

3) Power Steering - this one requires rivnuts to install it but Mopar offers a little tool to help you install them. This is offered as a 'kit' on some sites but I chose to buy separately because again, it saves money. You'll need 4 rivnuts and 4 bolts.
Part No: 68200064AB

Bolt Part No: 6509233AA (same for all bolts needed, including the crossbar) they are M8 bolts if you're curious

Rivnut Part No: 6507851AA

Rivnut Tool (about $14): 82212003

Alternate Rivnut Tool (about $40 & way better and comes with alot of common sizes):
Smittybilt 2834 Black Nutsert Tool Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDYW44K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YAouCbM42ZQHW

I chose to get the Smittybilt Rivnut tool because I have some other projects in mind that I'll need it for.

After pricing out everything I needed on different Mopar sites, I settled on a local one because free pickup and they had good prices anyway. It was about $60 for shipping on all sites. (skid plates are heavy)
$184 for everything except the rivnuts and Rivnut tool. Not Bad.

View attachment 417743

The install:
View attachment 417744
The pack of Rivnuts you see in the photo are not the ones I ended up using so I would suggest just getting the Mopar ones

Starting with the transfer case cross bar, use a spare jack stand or something to support the other end while you bolt up the first side:
View attachment 417745
View attachment 417746

Then go ahead and bolt on the skid plate itself: (and BTW everything should be torqued to 13 ft. lbs. Per Mopar instructions)
View attachment 417747 View attachment 417748 View attachment 417749

Front Axle skid plate simply bolts on, there are multiple holes, just use the holes that line up:
View attachment 417750 View attachment 417751

Now for the power steering skid plate:
View attachment 417752

Here's the tool in action:
View attachment 417753

These are the rivnuts after installation. These are the two in the rear, but there are two in the front also.
View attachment 417754

All bolted up:
View attachment 417755 View attachment 417756

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

So for front axle, on one side there is wholes with threads but on other side( closer to bumper) there is no threads, and I checked all wholes. So how did you manage to bolt screws for front axle skid plate?

Sommelier · Apr 29, 2022

bryce88 said:
Ok, so I just finished a full skid plate install on my 2015 Ram 1500 4X4 Express 5.7 Hemi.
I had to do some research to figure out which parts to buy but I finally got it all figured out.

There are 3 available skid plates:
1) Transfer Case
2) Front Axle
3) Power Steering

Part Numbers:
1) Transfer Case 'kit' (includes crossbar and 8 bolts, 4 bolts for mounting the crossbar and 4 bolts for the plate itself)
Part No: 82214497
* Ecodiesel owners* do not need a cross member because they already have one to support the def tank so use part number #82210014AC for just the plate, or 68089777AB for the kit (includes bolts)

2) Front Axle - for some reason, this one is kind of weird because on some of the Mopar sites, this part number is a 'kit' and on others it's just the plate and you n need to buy the bolts separately (which ends up being a ton cheaper by the way)
Also, this plate is identical to the transfer case plate but it bolts directly on, no need for a crossbar
Part No: 68089777AB for kit
Part No: 82210014AC for skid plate only

3) Power Steering - this one requires rivnuts to install it but Mopar offers a little tool to help you install them. This is offered as a 'kit' on some sites but I chose to buy separately because again, it saves money. You'll need 4 rivnuts and 4 bolts.
Part No: 68200064AB

Bolt Part No: 6509233AA (same for all bolts needed, including the crossbar) they are M8 bolts if you're curious

Rivnut Part No: 6507851AA

Rivnut Tool (about $14): 82212003

Alternate Rivnut Tool (about $40 & way better and comes with alot of common sizes):
Smittybilt 2834 Black Nutsert Tool Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDYW44K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YAouCbM42ZQHW

I chose to get the Smittybilt Rivnut tool because I have some other projects in mind that I'll need it for.

After pricing out everything I needed on different Mopar sites, I settled on a local one because free pickup and they had good prices anyway. It was about $60 for shipping on all sites. (skid plates are heavy)
$184 for everything except the rivnuts and Rivnut tool. Not Bad.

View attachment 417743

The install:
View attachment 417744
The pack of Rivnuts you see in the photo are not the ones I ended up using so I would suggest just getting the Mopar ones

Starting with the transfer case cross bar, use a spare jack stand or something to support the other end while you bolt up the first side:
View attachment 417745
View attachment 417746

Then go ahead and bolt on the skid plate itself: (and BTW everything should be torqued to 13 ft. lbs. Per Mopar instructions)
View attachment 417747 View attachment 417748 View attachment 417749

Front Axle skid plate simply bolts on, there are multiple holes, just use the holes that line up:
View attachment 417750 View attachment 417751

Now for the power steering skid plate:
View attachment 417752

Here's the tool in action:
View attachment 417753

These are the rivnuts after installation. These are the two in the rear, but there are two in the front also.
View attachment 417754

All bolted up:
View attachment 417755 View attachment 417756

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

As you can see on my photos no threads indide

kad · Apr 30, 2022

Sommelier said:
So for front axle, on one side there is wholes with threads but on other side( closer to bumper) there is no threads, and I checked all wholes. So how did you manage to bolt screws for front axle skid plate?

That's what the Rivnuts are for.

Rivet nut - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

-K

Ashton · Oct 1, 2022

Sommelier said:
As you can see on my photos no threads indide

I was thinking the same thing. The bolts are sold as self tapping bolts in their description. So those ones dont require anything but the plate and 4 bolts.

Win94 · May 13, 2023

How To: Full Mopar Skid Plate Install

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