Bed tie downs

[Peragrin]

I got my tie downs and bolts from tasca parts, at the time it was only $80 including shipping

I also used the M8 eye bolts above in the front bed where there are additional tie down points possible.

I bought a cheap m8/m6 tap kit off amazon, the taps basically wore out on the bed liner material but cleaned out the holes for me.

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[JACKSMYDOG]

Back when the middle tie-downs were eliminated from the builds, they were listed as backordered at many dealers, suggesting there was a shortage of these parts from the suppliers. So was the decision to eliminate the tiedowns due strictly to costcutting? Or did a shortage force a choice between either (a) eliminating the tiedowns, or (b) cutting production over the fact that there just wasn't enough tiedowns available to produce trucks with 6 at the current production rate?

And if the decision to eliminate the tiedowns stems from a supply shortage, then Ford really wouldn't want the factory shortage to be exacerbated by selling what little stock there was through parts departments, hence an crazy markup.

According to people in the know (@Phil) it was due to cost savings.

It's a piece of bent 1/4" bar stock with 2 punch holes. Hard to imagine there has been a multi-year shortage so devastating they need to bend their customers over.

Even if shortage is the cause, make them not available through parts, just like they have with all the Ranger rims, the Tremor Up-fitter switches, etc.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

they are not in the sheet metal. if you try to put a tie down in the sheet metal rather than an actual tie down bolt location it'll rip right out. the OEM parts were designed and tested for a (from memory, check manual) 600# working load. if you buy random stuff from amazon it's rated and tested for ?‍ if you're using the tie-downs for a tarp over mulch that'll be fine. if you're using the tie downs to secure something weighing several hundred pounds, I'd personally make sure to use the specified fasteners.

Indeed there is a structural member behind the middle tie downs, which coincidentally is also folded sheet metal . It was too far out of sight to see the actual backing of the hole, but regardless 350 lb max load into (reinfirced) sheet metal does not need grade 10.9 bolts.

 

[jsphlynch]

Hard to imagine there has been a multi-year shortage so devastating they need to bend their customers over.

Aside from whatever mismanagement that would have led to them not having enough parts initially, there's been other stuff going on.

Plus I'm guessing they have little urgency to deal with a minor issue like this, since almost certainly the vast majority of consumers (with a exception of a few getting all bent out of shape on some online forum) don't care if the Rangers only come with 4 tiedowns. Based on how empty the local dealer's lot is, it doesn't appear that they're having any trouble selling these trucks as fast as they're being produced despite the tiedown deficiency.

 

[MountainGoat]

If you have enough Fordpass points you can use those to pay for the tie-downs for by ordering through FairwayFordParts.net. Just have to email him the part numbers and your Fordpass ID.

I had 40K points when I bought the truck and my local dealer didn't take them so it was a no-brainer.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Aside from whatever mismanagement that would have led to them not having enough parts initially, there's been other stuff going on.

Plus I'm guessing they have little urgency to deal with a minor issue like this, since almost certainly the vast majority of consumers (with a exception of a few getting all bent out of shape on some online forum) don't care if the Rangers only come with 4 tiedowns. Based on how empty the local dealer's lot is, it doesn't appear that they're having any trouble selling these trucks as fast as they're being produced despite the tiedown deficiency.

As noted I have no problem with them removing 2 of the tie-downs. I do however have a problem with them marking up as much as they have, specifically because it is only people who have already bought their product.

It's like buying a burger for $3 and the restaurant asking $20 for ketchup on it.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Aside from whatever mismanagement that would have led to them not having enough parts initially, there's been other stuff going on.

Plus I'm guessing they have little urgency to deal with a minor issue like this, since almost certainly the vast majority of consumers (with a exception of a few getting all bent out of shape on some online forum) don't care if the Rangers only come with 4 tiedowns. Based on how empty the local dealer's lot is, it doesn't appear that they're having any trouble selling these trucks as fast as they're being produced despite the tiedown deficiency.

Also to note, the 2021 supply chain shortage doesn't likely have much influence on April 2020 prices.

If they did have the foresight enough to know the shortage was coming, maybe they should have focused on ordering chips and other parts instead of marking up low volume add-on parts.

 

[Dgc333]

What do you expect of a company that charges us $50 for eliminating the start/stop switch when you're already saving them money on the switch by not having it installed?

They are giving you a $50 credit for not having the auto start/stop.

 

[Dgc333]

Why are you folks that want the extra tie downs not going the local pick-n-pull junk yard and harvesting them from a wreck. I would imagine that they are the same for an F-150 so there should be plenty to choose from.

The local junk yard I go to for this kind of stuff will either not charge you or charge a buck or two.

 

[VAMike]

Indeed there is a structural member behind the middle tie downs, which coincidentally is also folded sheet metal . It was too far out of sight to see the actual backing of the hole, but regardless 350 lb max load into (reinfirced) sheet metal does not need grade 10.9 bolts.

"(Reinforced) sheet metal" is not the same as "sheet metal". The point being that you can't punch a hole randomly in the bed wall and put a tie-down there (or assume that every hole in the bed can support the same load) and that you can't make credible assertions about what will work if you don't actually know what's involved. To use the tie down anywhere near the rating (300kg/660lb) I'd want more analysis of the fastener (and how the materials interact with one another--e.g., is the part going to fail from galvanic corrosion) than "looks good" or "some guy on the internet said the amazon special works ok". There comes a point where it's less effort to just buy the ridiculously overpriced part than it is to determine whether the not-sold-for-purpose replacement is good enough, and it would suck if someone got injured by a substandard replacement chosen because of moral outrage over a few tens of bucks of sleazy markup.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

the $7-10 is way under valued.
the whole supply chain process costs them money, as well as high priced union labor to install them. the Bean counters do their thing. Profits trump your happiness.
I think it's dumb too, dont get me wrong. but the bottom line is if you dont like the product as delivered, or the product price as offered....walk away.
you're complaining about it does nothing.

Sure, let's call it $20, or even $30. Again, I have no problem with them removing them, regardless of their cost.

I did walk away from the parts counter, and may walk away from my next Ford. If my complaining about it doesn't do anything, what does your complaining about my complaining achieve?

 

[21VBRanger]

I installed these. The d-rings were $20.00CAD for all four. I purchased the bolts for $15.00CAD for 25. All from Amazon.ca. Considered moving the brackets from the front to the middle and putting these up front. Instead, I installed all four of these new ones in the middle. I like the lower profile when they are not in use.

Great option for tie downs. What is the bolt size and threads you went with?

 

[VAMike]

I would imagine that they are the same for an F-150 so there should be plenty to choose from.

Ford puts a hell of a lot more effort into the tie downs for the F-150 than the do for the ranger (they aren't the same).

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

"(Reinforced) sheet metal" is not the same as "sheet metal". The point being that you can't punch a hole randomly in the bed wall and put a tie-down there (or assume that every hole in the bed can support the same load) and that you can't make credible assertions about what will work if you don't actually know what's involved. To use the tie down anywhere near the rating (300kg/660lb) I'd want more analysis of the fastener (and how the materials interact with one another--e.g., is the part going to fail from galvanic corrosion) than "looks good" or "some guy on the internet said the amazon special works ok". There comes a point where it's less effort to just buy the ridiculously overpriced part than it is to determine whether the not-sold-for-purpose replacement is good enough, and it would suck if someone got injured by a substandard replacement chosen because of moral outrage over a few tens of bucks of sleazy markup.

I didn't say randomly punched and threaded. I didn't say you could hammer a punch/tap through and call it a mounting point. I didn't say any and every random hole in the box is a mounting point. I know which holes we are discussing, and I understand the product in question.

I also didn't say this bolt or that bracket is an acceptable replacement. I couldn't give less of a fuk about who uses what, but I do not like the mark-up practice from Frod parts.

Sheet metal products are engineered with folds, creases and welds to create structure much stronger than flat unprocessed sheet metal. The mounting points have bends and folds on both sides, and the depression in the center. That all lends to increasing the integrity of the area.

You feel free to pay $50 for 4 inches of 1/4 bar stock, and $10 for a sub $1 bolt, I have no problem with it but I will not.

 

[jsphlynch]

You feel free to pay $50 for 4 inches of 1/4 bar stock, and $10 for a sub $1 bolt, I have no problem with it but I will not.

Class, this concludes our lesson on supply and demand.

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