Click anywhere to close
Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails: Stop Destroying Your Pinch Welds
Protect your 2020+ Ford Explorer with Steeda's Explorer bolt-in jacking rails. Learn why they matter, what makes them different, and how easy they are to install.
If you own a 2020 or newer Ford Explorer and you have ever tried to properly jack it up, you already know the frustration. Ford gives you four designated jacking points along the pinch welds, and those narrow notches are not exactly floor-jack friendly. Thread your jack under the wrong spot and you are bending metal. Use a rubber puck for protection and it gets chewed apart on the first attempt. Even dealership technicians are notorious for crushing the plastic trim flush against those lift points during routine oil changes.
The Gen 6 Explorer is a fully unibody vehicle. That means the structural integrity of your pinch welds actually matters. Bent, crushed, or corroded pinch welds are not just cosmetic issues, they compromise the integrity of the very seams holding your chassis together. For Explorer owners who rotate tires seasonally, install suspension upgrades, or do their own maintenance, this is a real and recurring problem.
That is exactly why Steeda built a solution specifically for the 2020+ Explorer.
Introducing the Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails
The Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails are a bolt-in chassis upgrade that mounts directly to factory attachment points along the underside of your Explorer. They run the length of the rocker area, creating a long, flat, purpose-built surface for your floor jack or jack stands anywhere along the rail, instead of forcing you to use one of the four notched jacking points.
This is the same concept Steeda pioneered decades ago on Fox Body Mustangs and has since been refined for the S550, S650, Focus ST, Focus RS, and Ford Fusion. Now Explorer owners get the same protection.
Who are these for?
- Owners who rotate their own tires or do seasonal tire swaps
- Anyone who does DIY maintenance including oil changes, brakes, or suspension work
- Enthusiasts running lowering springs, coilovers, or upgraded sway bars who jack their Explorer frequently
- Anyone using a two-post lift at home or a shop
Why Jacking Rails Are Worth It for Your Explorer
Pinch Weld Protection
The most immediate benefit is protecting your factory pinch welds from damage. The 2020+ Explorer's pinch welds are the Ford-designated jacking points, yet they are notoriously difficult to use correctly. The notches are narrow, the surrounding plastic trim is vulnerable, and even a slightly misaligned jack can bend or crush the weld flange. The Steeda jacking rails sit slightly below the pinch seam, meaning your jack contacts the rail, not the weld.
Jack Anywhere Along the Rail
Rather than hunting for one of four specific spots before every lift, you can position your floor jack or jack stands at any point along the rail. This is a significant time saver when you are doing multiple tasks per session, or when you need to reposition while the vehicle is already in the air.
Two-Post Lift Compatibility
For Explorer owners who have a two-post lift at home or use one regularly at a shop, proper arm placement is critical. The Steeda jacking rails give lift arms a flat, solid, and consistent surface to contact, eliminating the guesswork that damages trim panels and misaligns lift pads on the bare factory undercarriage.
Built to Last
Steeda fabricates these rails from high-strength steel tubing, laser-cut and CAD-designed for a precise fit under the Explorer's chassis. The powder coat wrinkle black finish resists corrosion and holds up to years of exposure under the vehicle. These are not a wear item. Install them once and they are there for the life of the truck.
No Added Drama
Open bracket construction prevents water from pooling, which eliminates the rust trap problem common with enclosed rail designs. The hardware is zinc-plated, grade 10.9. the same high-spec fasteners Steeda uses across their lineup. Nothing cheap, nothing that will rattle loose.
Installation Overview
The Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails are a straightforward bolt-in install that uses factory mounting holes. No drilling, no cutting, no modifications to the body. Most installs can be completed in under an hour with basic hand tools.
What you will need
- Socket set and ratchet (4mm Hex Socket & ½” Socket)
- Torque wrench
- Thread locker (recommended)
Driver side install (repeat for passenger side)
- 1. Insert the body clips. Press the included body clips, flat side down, into the three square mounting holes along the driver side rocker: front, middle, and rear.
- 2. Mount the front jacking rail. Using a 1/2" socket and extension, secure the front rail to the body clips with two of the three hex head body bolts. Then press one rubber plug into the large hole at the rear of the front rail.
- 3. Connect the rear jacking rail. Slide the two flat head Allen screws through the rear rail and thread them into the front rail to join the two sections.
- 4. Install the final bolt, torque everything down, and plug the holes. Install the remaining 1/2" body bolt at the rear. Torque all 1/2" bolts to 8.8 lb-ft and the flat head Allen screws to 5 lb-ft. Press the remaining rubber plugs into the open bolt holes to finish the install.
Once both sides are done, it is recommended to use a rubber jacking pad when lifting, it keeps the jack from chipping the powder coat finish on the rail.
For specs, hardware callouts, and reference figures, download the complete PDF installation instructions here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails fit all trims of the 2020 and newer Ford Explorer.
No. These mount using factory holes in the chassis. The install is entirely bolt-in with no permanent modifications.
The rails are designed to sit flush with the underside of the rocker area. Check your specific running board or step bar setup to see if there is any interference.
Yes. The jacking rails provide an excellent contact surface for two-post lift arms and are designed with this application in mind.
23 lbs. The rails are built from steel tubing with a focus on durability rather than minimum weight, but they are not heavy enough to meaningfully affect your vehicle's curb weight or performance.
Yes. Since they use factory mounting holes and do not require any permanent modifications, they can be removed and reinstalled at any time.
Yes. The jacking rails are compatible with other Steeda Explorer chassis components. In fact, having jacking rails installed makes installing other suspension upgrades considerably easier since you always have a reliable lift point ready.
Stop Guessing Every Time You Jack Your Explorer
Every time you slide under your Explorer to change oil, swap to winter tires, or install a new set of suspension components, you are either worried about damaging your pinch welds or wasting time hunting for a safe lift point. The Steeda Explorer Jacking Rails solves that problem permanently.
They are made in the USA, built from the same proven materials Steeda has trusted for over 35 years, and they bolt directly onto your Explorer without any permanent modifications. It is a straightforward upgrade that pays for itself the first time you avoid a bent pinch weld or a crushed plastic panel at the shop.
Ready to Safely Jack Your Explorer?
Shop the Steeda Explorer Jacking RailsSteeda Autosports has been the authority in Ford performance since 1988. From chassis reinforcement to full suspension systems, every product is engineered specifically for Ford vehicles and backed by a team that drives what they build.