What did you do to your Ranger today?

[Glocker]

So far today has been going without any snags or snafus. Almost all my projects never translate 100% from concept to truck and always having to halt and adapt.

But today is not that day. I'm not done yet however. I need to get my pods reinstalled and my rear panel up and its lights running.

I love the awning. I'm only going to be able to run a 5' awning because of my rack. Ughhhhh. So much stuff I still need to spend money on. HAHAHA

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[OFC Ranger]

I love the awning. I'm only going to be able to run a 5' awning because of my rack. Ughhhhh. So much stuff I still need to spend money on. HAHAHA

Do you have clearance issues if you want to run an 8 foot? Tell me your problem (or show me a picture) and I bet I can suggest a work around.

 

[T Bone]

So far today has been going without any snags or snafus. Almost all my projects never translate 100% from concept to truck and always having to halt and adapt.

But today is not that day. I'm not done yet however. I need to get my pods reinstalled and my rear panel up and its lights running.

damn i love that!!!!!!

 

[Glocker]

Do you have clearance issues if you want to run an 8 foot? Tell me your problem (or show me a picture) and I bet I can suggest a work around.

At just a glance, I think the way my rack is configured I'll have issues with anything that extends forward towards the cab.

 

[Scooter]

I have now run this cover for almost 2 years and 25k miles, including with kayaks, skis, SUPs, etc. up on the rack and items on the bed cover (can hold 200lbs on the cover itself in the version I have) so I have definitely put it to the test. I love the convenience of opening and closing as well as locking in any position, however, on water tightness, it is great all around the cover, expect at the tailgate, but the tailgate itself is also not water tight so I can't say for sure it's all the cover. I only see water in the bed though when going through the touchless car wash or maybe a really hard rain, and even then, it kind of has to be directed at the tailgate, so it does do quite a good job on that! One other thing with this cover to note is that you lose about 8"-10" where the toolbox sites to roll the cover into at the front of the bed up high. For most of what I do, it is no issue, but just something to note! Let me know if you have any other questions I would be happy to answer for ya the best I can!



Thanks!

That's good to know that the side rails

The most popular cover to work with this rack is the Retrax Tonneau covers with the t-track side rails. This are also sold from Ford under the rebranded Embark name. I have the RetraxOne XR which is the polycarb cover version and is slightly cheaper, but still great quality. The more expensive ones have a metal retractable cover.

The rack that you are seeing here is the Yakima rack and it was designed with the Retrax/Embark cover in mind and to work very well here. The key you want to look for with this rack is the ability to receive a t-rack base mount in the bed rail attachments of the tonneau cover. If you google search "bed covers with t-track rails", you will get a bunch of different options like Retrax, Pace Edwards, Truck Hero, and more.

That's good to know that the racks will only support 200lbs with that style of track. Hopefully, other manufacture's will step up and produce more options on tonneau covers to work with the racks. I want to be able to load motorcycles, the 10" Retrax's box is in the way.

 

[OFC Ranger]

At just a glance, I think the way my rack is configured I'll have issues with anything that extends forward towards the cab.

This is easy, start mulling over ideas to basically either fine something or have something made that is what I called a "z shaped" angled bracket. Your only problem is door clearance if you just use stand off brackets to put the awning away from the truck. So basically you need some stand off brackets that also raise the height to clear your doors from opening.

I am assuming you would have to install the awning on the non-fold out side of your RTT.

Actually I can tell you right now what you can do to fix your problem for around $100-125 dollars.

Get yourself three 10 foot piece of 1 5/8" unistrut (or its called superstrut at Home Depot) and chop two to 8 feet lengths. Take the remaining 10 foot piece of unistrut, measure your top rack length and chop that unistrut into two pieces to match (Im assuming you have a 4 foot long rack by looks of it. Install those 4 foot pieces of unistrut as vertical spacers directly to your rack. Then I can direct you to Amazon for some heavy duty 1" x 2" rubber spacers. Place these spacers at minimum at the four corners of your new unistrut spacer. Then install the 8 foot lengths of unistrut on top of these. The total combined spacer heigh of 2 5/8 should clear your roof line if your rack is at least 18" tall (cab height). If not stack the rubber spacers and double them up. Reinstall your RTT ontop of all this.

Basically your new setup should be a sandwich that looks like rack -> unistrut -> rubber -> unistrut. Soak the unistrut down in white vinegar (kills the galvanization) and sand with 80 grit so that some black enamel will stick. You can skip this step if you locate a local dealer with pre-painted unistrut in black (gonna cost double though). Attach awning to unistrut.

Does that make sense?

Edit: Honestly you could probably just do 1/16" square aluminum tubing instead of unistrut. About the same price, but lighter and easier to work with (chop, sand, paint). You would only have 3 feet of unsupported weight and I don't think the aluminum will bend because you have 5 feet of awning acting as a counter-bend in the other direction.

You can find end-caps for both square bar and unistrut on Amazon. I just think unistrut looks neat with the pre-punches holes in it and sort of matches the rack design.

 

[SVTPaul]

So far today has been going without any snags or snafus. Almost all my projects never translate 100% from concept to truck and always having to halt and adapt.

But today is not that day. I'm not done yet however. I need to get my pods reinstalled and my rear panel up and its lights running.

Looking great! Congrats on a successful day, gotta enjoy those when you can. I think the black and white theme of your truck is looking more awesome with each project you've added.

 

[OFC Ranger]

@Glocker

See previous post, but also here is a picture that might help explain. Now my new step uses a total of 12+ spacers on my subplatform, but that is because I can get up and walk on it so it needs more middle support.

 

[Glocker]

@Glocker

See previous post, but also here is a picture that might help explain. Now my new step uses a total of 12+ spacers on my subplatform, but that is because I can get up and walk on it so it needs more middle support.

You just gave me an idea. I can use the extruded aluminum members to accomplish something similar. THANK YOU!!!

 

[T Bone]

@Glocker

See previous post, but also here is a picture that might help explain. Now my new step uses a total of 12+ spacers on my subplatform, but that is because I can get up and walk on it so it needs more middle support.

you sir are an asset to this forum. i ordered that 20 inch light bar thanks for the help with that also.
tony

 

[KNI]

Went and bought a pressure washer for reducing the mud from the truck.

El'Cheapo Kärcher* K5 plastic, but it seems to do the job for now. I still need to get AutoGlym Polar Blaster foam lance & juice for it. Anyway I'll probably mostly do mud rinse with water only and occasional wash on it. That's just because of the gravel/sand road to home which pretty much makes washing pointless.

* = They do make real pressure washers also, but the line starts from 1000$ and goes up to 25000$ At the farm I got heating 3-phase 200bar 1300l/hour weight a ton on wheels from them but it's bit too much to bring it home (and washing at farm would be pointless as the truck is dirty when I get back home)..

 

[OFC Ranger]

I had to take a break from the heat.

I got the pods back in though.

 

[ndwgolf]

Do you know if the tow hooks on the bumper are rated or just design?

I think they are just for show

 

[Fawnbuster]

Had the Roush tune installed at the dealer, installed the cold air kit at home and just finished removing the oem cat back exhaust intact and installed the Gibson cat back exhaust with.the black ceramic tip. Runs GREAT! Haven't even tried sport mode yet, too much traffic. Nice mellow truck sound at start up, no back firing fart cans when revved and no highway noise in the cab. Also installed some lights, just haven't had a chance to post it yet.

 

[Trigganometry]

I think they are just for show

Factory tow hooks on front are not for show. They work fine, hauled a Jeep out of the ditch using straps and hooks. 4L and some juice and out of the hole it came!

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