Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review
September 16, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Nuthin’ Fancy
Ryan Newman grew up with a steering wheel in his hands. From the age of five, he has been behind the wheel of a racecar. Now, almost 20 years later, Ryan drives for Penske Racing South on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. In 2003, Ryan won eight races, 11 poles and was named Speed Channel’s Driver of the Year. In 2004, he will be driving a Dodge sponsored by primary sponsor Alltel with associate sponsorship form Mobil 1 and Sony Electronics on 38 weekends.
MOD MOTOR 4-PLAY
Performance enthusiasts are a funny bunch. They all seem to agree that “as much as possible” is the correct answer when asked, “How much power do you want?” But they certainly
disagree about the best way to get there.
MONEY-SAVING, BIG-VALVE PERFORMANCE UPGRADE
You can’t throw a stone these days without hitting an aftermarket aluminum cylinder head. They perform as good or better than anything the factories put out, and then some. They are much lighter than iron heads, and they’re now extremely affordable. Thanks to competition in the aftermarket, it could easily be said that for the performance and price benefits of a new set of aluminum heads, why would anyone bother refurbishing a set of iron castings?
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Talon’s Garage Skid Plate Package for 2015-2025 Ford F-150
Trail Proven. Purpose Built. Made in America.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Imagers Courtesy of Talon's Garage
There’s no shortage of bolt-on parts for the Ford F-150, but very few are built with real-world punishment in mind. The Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package isn’t designed to look good in a parking lot — it’s engineered to protect your truck when conditions turn rough and mistakes get expensive.
This is serious Ford F-150 underbody protection, designed and manufactured in the USA by a Veteran-owned company that puts function first.
Built in the USA, Engineered to Take Hits
Talons Garage builds this F-150 skid plate package from ¼-inch 5052 aluminum, delivering the kind of strength you can feel the first time it takes a hit. It’s corrosion-resistant, lighter than steel, and strong enough to absorb repeated impacts without bending or failing.
No gimmicks. No unnecessary weight. Just American-made aluminum skid plates built to handle abuse.
Full-Coverage Underbody Protection
Instead of offering piecemeal protection, Talons delivers a complete Ford F-150 underbody defense system. The front engine skid shields vital components like the oil pan and intercooler. The transmission skid doubles as a catalytic converter shield, protecting against trail damage and theft. A dedicated transfer case skid completes the package, keeping the drivetrain protected when terrain gets unpredictable.
It’s full coverage from front to rear — the way real off-road F-150 skid plates should be designed.
Designed to Bolt On, Built to Stay On
This system installs using a fully bolt-on design with zinc-coated hardware and no drilling required on stock 4×4 trucks. Integrated service access points mean oil changes and routine maintenance stay simple. For drivers who push harder, optional reinforcement ribs are available to add stiffness where it matters most.
Install it once. Trust it every time.
Real-World Owner Feedback
Real protection only matters if it installs cleanly and works exactly as promised — and that’s where Talons Garage continues to separate itself from typical aftermarket solutions.
One 2018 Ford F-150 owner summed it up perfectly after installing the front skid plates:
“The fit and finish are outstanding! Everything bolted right in and fit perfectly the first time. My truck didn’t have the factory plastic skid or the hardware, and Talons Garage included everything needed to install the Ford F-150 skid plates. No modifications, no frustration — just a fast, easy install with top-notch hardware.”
That kind of feedback isn’t accidental. From upgraded nutserts to complete hardware kits, Talons Garage designs their Ford F-150 skid plate package to eliminate guesswork. No missing parts. No improvising. No bending or trimming to make things work. It’s engineered to install the way it should — clean, secure, and confidence-inspiring.
For owners used to fighting aftermarket parts just to make them fit, this level of execution makes a real difference.
Veteran Owned. Mission Focused.
Talons Garage is a Veteran-owned American brand, and that discipline shows in every detail. The materials, fitment, and design reflect a mission-driven approach — build it strong, build it right, and build it to last. This isn’t trend-driven gear; it’s equipment made for trucks that earn their keep.
The Bottom Line
If you actually use your 2015–2025 Ford F-150 the way it was intended — off-road, overland, or hard-working duty — the Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package is a foundational upgrade. It delivers real protection, American craftsmanship, and the confidence to push farther without second-guessing what’s underneath.
Click here to view details and purchase the Talons Garage Ford F-150 Skid Plate Package!
ARTICLE SOURCES
Talons Garage
Not just an off-road skid plate, not just a catalytic converter protection plate, but BOTH!
