Fitment

This pair of Trailing Arm Skid Plates from DV8 Offroad is built for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Ford Broncos whose trailing arm mounts never got a welded factory skid from Ford. Not every Bronco left the factory the same way here. Some trims came with a small welded skid already covering the trailing arm mount, and others didn't, so it's worth checking which version your Bronco has before ordering. DV8 sells a second version of this part, SPBR-05, built specifically for Broncos that already have the factory welded skid in place.

Design

The trailing arm mount is one of the lowest hanging frame points on the entire truck, and on a Bronco without the factory welded skid, it sits there with nothing but sheet metal between it and the trail. DV8's wraparound design bolts over that exposed mounting area and takes the impact instead. Getting hung up on a rock at this exact spot is a common complaint among Bronco owners on technical trails, since the trailing arm mount catches obstacles the rest of the undercarriage clears just fine. The skid is finished in a micro-texture black powder coat that complements the rest of the factory undercarriage structure rather than looking like a bolted-on afterthought.

Protection

A direct hit on an unprotected trailing arm mount can bend the frame pocket itself, and that kind of damage doesn't stay contained to one spot. A bent frame pocket throws off suspension geometry, which shows up later as uneven tire wear or a truck that pulls to one side on the highway. These skid plates prevent that chain of problems by taking the strike at the mount before it ever reaches the frame metal underneath.

Installation

Installation involves minor drilling and a partial drop of the gas tank skid to get access to the mounting area, so plan on more shop time than a simple bolt-on part, typically around three hours. Bronco Forge stocks this DV8 Offroad Trailing Arm Skid Plate set for Ford Bronco owners whose trailing arm mounts are still exposed from the factory and want that low point covered before it becomes a problem on the trail. Confirm your Bronco's trailing arm setup before ordering, since running this version on a Bronco that already has the OEM welded skid means buying the wrong part for your truck. DV8 backs the pair with a 1-year warranty, and once installed, they're built to stay in place for years of repeated trail use without needing attention. The extra install time up front is a one-time cost, and it closes off one of the more commonly overlooked weak points on a Bronco headed for rock crawling or technical two-track trails. Owners who've already dealt with a bent trailing arm pocket once tend not to skip this step twice. The gas tank drop adds time to the job, but it also means the install can be done in a home garage with a floor jack and a set of stands rather than requiring a lift, so it's within reach for anyone comfortable doing their own suspension work on a weekend.