MULTITASKING FOR THE MASSES
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Slick 66
Doug Schultz of Maple Valley, Washington, is not your typical home builder. Several years ago, he owned Street Works, a shop for hot rod and racecar fabrication. He built a black-and-silver ’62 Impala, which we featured in the December 2002 issue of this magazine, as well as a ’67 Nova that earned Goodguys’ Street Machine of the Year honors a few years back. Today he’s a fabricator and press-brake operator with his local municipal government, but during this time, he never lost his love for cars.
AMERICAN RACING TORQ-THRUST
Undoubtedly, the most significant and influential hot rod component in recent history is the American Racing five-spoke Torq-Thrust wheel. It has been the most-copied wheel ever, as American Racing continues to fight off design infringements. In its many legitimate variations, it has—in many ways—influenced the whole of the aftermarket automotive car culture. No single wheel has ever made such a significant impact on the customizing scene as the Torq-Thrust has.
FABULOUS FALCON
When Jim Anderson builds a car, he really builds it. Other than paint and a few of the more intense aspects of the interior, he takes on the task of reconstructing the entire car into what he thinks it should be. And when asked what he thinks a vintage car should be, he responds that it should be fast and handle well.
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!
