Aftermarket Front Metal Skid Plate Needed?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

So the silver piece is only held in with plastic clips? A bit annoying. As that would limit the ability for any 3rd parties to make a "bolt in" replacement. Probably also limit the weight of any such aftermarket part. I wonder what Rivian's original plan was for a front winch?

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[Nine_One_Six_R1S]

So the silver piece is only held in with plastic clips? A bit annoying. As that would limit the ability for any 3rd parties to make a "bolt in" replacement. Probably also limit the weight of any such aftermarket part. I wonder what Rivian's original plan was for a front winch?

Did you take a look under the silver piece? are there any good places where an extension could be made and attached for a plate to hold a front winch at bumper line or so?

 

[Olsonsolar]

Pretty sure it was this pointy rock right here. It looked totally doable, but there was a bit of a hole in front of it that was hard to see in shadow. Pretty much went right over it, but I remember a bump that felt like plastic being squished though...

(Does anyone else wish there were more keyframes in the Rivian's video files??)

I do wish they had designed the damn front license plate holder to not block the front camera. How can they not figure that out before production??

 

[Olsonsolar]

Did you take a look under the silver piece? are there any good places where an extension could be made and attached for a plate to hold a front winch at bumper line or so?

Hell just hitting a raccoon will significantly damage the plastic shit. I would love a metal replacement but with that only being clipped on will be hard to do. Definitely a cheap design.

 

[Glembi2]

I want to believe Rivian was planning on putting a winch behind the panel.

I would love replacing the plastic piece with something substantial enough not to deform when contacting small stuff. Some will never need to replace that piece. For others, it is a question of when, not if.

Anyone know whether the pieces to the side are plastic as well or are they something stronger?

 

[Oyabro]

Here is another part for sale: Front Silver Bumper Cover

 

[Riptonite]

I want to believe Rivian was planning on putting a winch behind the panel.

I would love replacing the plastic piece with something substantial enough not to deform when contacting small stuff. Some will never need to replace that piece. For others, it is a question of when, not if.

Anyone know whether the pieces to the side are plastic as well or are they something stronger?

The plastic skid plate attaches to the subframe along the rear/bottom edge and the one-piece, whole-width, black plastic panel along the sides and top. Mounting a robust replacement will be interesting because it will have to work around that panel. I will see about taking some pictures of that panel in place so we can see about "accessible" structure.
With the bumper reinforcement in place, there is limited room between the cooling duct and exterior panels.

 

[k3g]

The plastic skid plate attaches to the subframe along the rear/bottom edge and the one-piece, whole-width, black plastic panel along the sides and top. Mounting a robust replacement will be interesting because it will have to work around that panel. I will see about taking some pictures of that panel in place so we can see about "accessible" structure.
With the bumper reinforcement in place, there is limited room between the cooling duct and exterior panels.

I think the prototype rivian with a winch had it moutned in between the two tow hooks, where the center portion of the crash crossbar is in your second photo. Those long oval holes are where their prototype had the fair lead exiting.

If I were doing a winch mount, I'd drop that crossbar, cut the middle out, weld in a winch cradle, and live with the new bad crumple zone I'd created.

 

[Riptonite]

I think the prototype rivian with a winch had it moutned in between the two tow hooks, where the center portion of the crash crossbar is in your second photo. Those long oval holes are where their prototype had the fair lead exiting.

If I were doing a winch mount, I'd drop that crossbar, cut the middle out, weld in a winch cradle, and live with the new bad crumple zone I'd created.

Pretty much what I am thinking too. I may give it a go with a slightly tweaked crossbar. If I do, I'll start a separate thread. Intent would be minimal change to exterior profile other than skidplate and winch control access. And the project would need to include at least one 12v deep cycle 650 CCA battery stuck somewhere up front and charged by the 12v system.

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