What did you do to your Ranger today?

[subquark]

I traded my man card for a tailgate damper. ???

Well, the damper keeps things from flapping about, so that's good.

I do like using it when standing in the bed. Like today messing with the rails for my tonneau cover. I kept closing the tail gate to check the fit and it's nice to simply reach down, open it, and not worry about flipping out of the bed and landing on my head trying to keep it from slamming open.

Sponsored

 

[Fordup]

So ... later on I saw that I was still having issues with the right rear side. Just like the first cover, the right rail angles inward and catches the plastic tail gate cap (downright hits it and keeps you from closing it).

So I futzed away on that side and adjusted the middle and rear clamps, added the 3M-backed spacers (self-adhesive rubber pads about an eighth of an inch thick that you cut to fit). I probably did it 5 times over until it finally laid flatter. Still sits inward a bit but the tailgate clears it.

the little rear corner cap popped of, it's just held on witha small plastic clip, I think I may add Gorilla glue to both later.

And the cover itself is still too long by about one slat in my opinion, but now I have an eighth on inch gap between the front seal and the cab. Looks kind of wrong but it doesn't hurt anything, might make it a little more water tight, and others on the forum have also said it's long.

I hope that's it, phew!

They seem to be generic parts that they expect the buyer to screw around for hours trying to align and seal them. They had me send 3 pictures and a pic of the receipt but I haven't heard back. If I don't hear by Monday I will do an Amazon return. Amazon delivered it with a big box truck that had 2 guys to put it anywhere you want it. I bet Amazon will charge them big time to send the truck out to pick it up and then send out a replacement. Mine is definitely pandemic quality issues. Stinks because it is a lot of extra work for me due to their lack of quality.

 

[subquark]

They seem to be generic parts that they expect the buyer to screw around for hours trying to align and seal them. They had me send 3 pictures and a pic of the receipt but I haven't heard back. If I don't hear by Monday I will do an Amazon return. Amazon delivered it with a big box truck that had 2 guys to put it anywhere you want it. I bet Amazon will charge them big time to send the truck out to pick it up and then send out a replacement. Mine is definitely pandemic quality issues. Stinks because it is a lot of extra work for me due to their lack of quality.

I agree, the cover I got is ridiculously expensive, yet the finish on the rails isn't done. The aluminum is cut in a big shear (I guess) and had not only incredibly sharp corners, but also burrs. The first one I installed sliced away on the tail gate cap like someone slicing cheese.

The edges would certainly tear your arm open if you rubbed against them with any force (um, like putting and pulling things out of a pickup truck bed).

I can't even imagine how bad a little kid playing in a truck could get hurt.

It only took me a minute to round off 8 corners and they certainly could do that ....

Anyway, shit's expensive and quality seems like a second thought. It's a shame because they are nicely engineered, just need a tiny bit of attention (like you mentioned with torquing).

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Here's the link and pic by @DukeCanBuildit and it's wicked clever:

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/what-did-you-do-to-your-ranger-today.3511/post-427790

Thank you!

 

[AzScorpion]

I traded my man card for a tailgate damper. ???

I'm going to start handing these out along with the t shirts. First you'll get your revoked man card then once you instal your damper you'll get your t shirt. ?

 

[Fordup]

I agree, the cover I got is ridiculously expensive, yet the finish on the rails isn't done. The aluminum is cut in a big shear (I guess) and had not only incredibly sharp corners, but also burrs. The first one I installed sliced away on the tail gate cap like someone slicing cheese.

The edges would certainly tear your arm open if you rubbed against them with any force (um, like putting and pulling things out of a pickup truck bed).

I can't even imagine how bad a little kid playing in a truck could get hurt.

It only took me a minute to round off 8 corners and they certainly could do that ....

Anyway, shit's expensive and quality seems like a second thought. It's a shame because they are nicely engineered, just need a tiny bit of attention (like you mentioned with torquing).

I use a file to clean them up then use a black sharpie on the raw areas. Usually 3 coats makes them look finished. When it dulls in a couple years just hit it with a sharpie again.

 

[Fordup]

I use a file to clean them up then use a black sharpie on the raw areas. Usually 3 coats makes them look finished. When it dulls in a couple years just hit it with a sharpie again.

Well they looked at the pictures and are sending a replacement cover that will ship by 07/05. That will save a lot of time and instead of shipping the bad one back I get to destroy it and then send pics to prove it. Target practice anyone? Now I can drill holes through it to secure the latch with nuts and bolts from the top so I can use it till the replacement arrives. Hopefully they look that one over good before shipping. Great customer service but still should have never happened.

 

[BS67]

Got the mountains to metal lower grill insert in today. Installed in about 5minutes and looks great! Will get a pic tomorrow and post up!

 

[subquark]

I use a file to clean them up then use a black sharpie on the raw areas. Usually 3 coats makes them look finished. When it dulls in a couple years just hit it with a sharpie again.

I never thought about using a Sharpie! Thanks.

 

[subquark]

Well they looked at the pictures and are sending a replacement cover that will ship by 07/05. That will save a lot of time and instead of shipping the bad one back I get to destroy it and then send pics to prove it. Target practice anyone? Now I can drill holes through it to secure the latch with nuts and bolts from the top so I can use it till the replacement arrives. Hopefully they look that one over good before shipping. Great customer service but still should have never happened.

That's good to hear. Fingers crossed it holds up better.

 

[JohnnyO]

Took it to the dealer for the SCab rear seat child restraint recall. Included new rear headrests that fold down. I had simply removed the old headrests to see better. Unlikely that I will ever put a child seat in the back anyway.

 

[gkostolny]

Well, after months of waiting I finally received, and now installed, the new Truxedo Elevate CS rack on my ‘21 Tremor.

I needed something that would still allow me to open and close my Bakflip MX4, and I really couldn’t find any other off the shelf options. So I waited. With the t-slot rails in my garage. For 6 months. ?

to install you have to fully remove your tonneau and then lay down the t slot rails and foam to seal additional gaps. I ended up also removing the default sealing foam from the bottom of the Truxedo rails because it jacked everything up an extra quarter of an inch. I instead slapped on some of the very thin stuff they include supposedly for your tonneau rails.

The end result is pretty solid, in my opinion, if quite the pain in the neck to install. Next up: remove all the terrible stickers.

 

[BettaRanga]

Took it to the dealer for the SCab rear seat child restraint recall. Included new rear headrests that fold down. I had simply removed the old headrests to see better. Unlikely that I will ever put a child seat in the back anyway.

Did you have folding headrests before? I’m jealous!

 

[JohnnyO]

Did you have folding headrests before? I’m jealous!

No. The original headrests were fixed upright. Made it hard to see out the passenger side especially so that's why I pulled them out. Doubful that anyone will ever sit back there anyway.

 

[Sariandan]

Did you have folding headrests before? I’m jealous!

No. The original headrests were fixed upright. Made it hard to see out the passenger side especially so that's why I pulled them out. Doubful that anyone will ever sit back there anyway.

My wife's 2020 XLT has tilting headrests in the front, mine does not. She does not have folding rears, though. Neither do I, but that would be nice. Adding that to the list of stuff I wish I had: tilting front headrests and folding back headrests. Boooo, Ford.

Sponsored