Question on bed construction

[DSoelter]

Had bed sprayed by Line-X before delivery, and notice a gap between the corrugated floor and the front of the bed. Appears to be about 1/4" or a bit less, and a potential issue when having something like topsoil or mulch dropped into the bed, or even when hauling yard and construction debris to the dump.

Convoluted answer from the guy at Line-X today didn't do much to instill confidence in his level of knowledge.

At the tailgate end, the corrugation is tapered to a closed end and wondering if anything enters through the gap at the front, where does it end up?

Weather hasn't been conducive to crawling under the truck to see if there is flat steel under that corrugation to trap all that enters the gap or if there is an opening for drainage that would clear it with the truck parked on a slope nose down and rinsed out.

Just seems like a sealed bed shouldn't leave any necessity for concerns like this. Anyone had similar concerns and weather better that here in the northwest lately?

Thanks!

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[RoadBoss]

the gap at the front of the bed just drains to underneath the vehicle, I'm assuming so it doesn't fill up with water when sitting nose-down.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Yeah, I put an almost empty hot water tank in the bed over the summer with the truck sitting nose down in the yard. After a few minutes I noticed the little bit of water left in the tank was draining out onto the ground near the front of the box.

I don't think it's big enough to allow a noticeable amount of top soil or gravel out of that slot if that's what you were hauling. Maybe a few dribbles, but it's not going to empty the bed by any means.

 

[FULLSCALE]

I noticed it there too, but it seems that the Line-x has pretty much sealed it all up.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Had bed sprayed by Line-X before delivery, and notice a gap between the corrugated floor and the front of the bed. Appears to be about 1/4" or a bit less, and a potential issue when having something like topsoil or mulch dropped into the bed, or even when hauling yard and construction debris to the dump.

Convoluted answer from the guy at Line-X today didn't do much to instill confidence in his level of knowledge.

At the tailgate end, the corrugation is tapered to a closed end and wondering if anything enters through the gap at the front, where does it end up?

Weather hasn't been conducive to crawling under the truck to see if there is flat steel under that corrugation to trap all that enters the gap or if there is an opening for drainage that would clear it with the truck parked on a slope nose down and rinsed out.

Just seems like a sealed bed shouldn't leave any necessity for concerns like this. Anyone had similar concerns and weather better that here in the northwest lately?

Thanks!

Hi Dale,

These slots are to keep the bed draining so it does not become a bath tub...These slots are your friend, not your enemy.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retried

 

[HenryMac]

Had bed sprayed by Line-X before delivery, and notice a gap between the corrugated floor and the front of the bed. Appears to be about 1/4" or a bit less, and a potential issue when having something like topsoil or mulch dropped into the bed, or even when hauling yard and construction debris to the dump.

Another reason why I like drop in bed liners instead of spray in. But.. since Ford's paint isn't durable enough... a drop in liner can't be used without the bed rusting.

If you're worried about top soil and mulch leaking out those small gaps in the front.. take a look at the gap around the tailgate. Not sure what the hell Ford was thinking?

We really like our Ranger... but there is no arguing that there's room for improvement.

 

[RoadBoss]

take a look at the gap around the tailgate. Not sure what the hell Ford was thinking?

just curious, have you ever had a truck without gaps around the tailgate?
this is my first newer truck, but I owned a 99 dodge dually, a 2000 F250, and a 98? chevy 1500, and any one of those I would need to put a tarp in the bed to keep sand/dirt from leaking out

 

[HenryMac]

just curious, have you ever had a truck without gaps around the tailgate?
this is my first newer truck, but I owned a 99 dodge dually, a 2000 F250, and a 98? chevy 1500, and any one of those I would need to put a tarp in the bed to keep sand/dirt from leaking out

Who said without gaps?

'65 Chevy C-10, '65 Ford F-100, '72 Chevy C-20, 1985 S-15, '97 Tacoma, '02 Tacoma

Every truck I have ever owned had tighter gaps around the tailgate. Like I said: "We really like our Ranger... but there is no arguing that there's room for improvement."

 

[RedlandRanger]

Who said without gaps?

'65 Chevy C-10, '65 Ford F-100, '72 Chevy C-20, 1985 S-15, '97 Tacoma, '02 Tacoma

Every truck I have ever owned had tighter gaps around the tailgate. Like I said: "We really like our Ranger... but there is no arguing that there's room for improvement."

There is ALWAYS room for improvement on any vehicle. Like you, I love my new Ranger but there are a few odd points to it - the tailgate gaps would be one of them. I solved that by installing a tailgate seal which has mostly fixed it.

 

[jerrywin]

There is ALWAYS room for improvement on any vehicle. Like you, I love my new Ranger but there are a few odd points to it - the tailgate gaps would be one of them. I solved that by installing a tailgate seal which has mostly fixed it.

which seal did you use. Could you add a pic to see how you installed it - at the base, and the sides.
thanks ahead.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

There is ALWAYS room for improvement on any vehicle. Like you, I love my new Ranger but there are a few odd points to it - the tailgate gaps would be one of them. I solved that by installing a tailgate seal which has mostly fixed it.

which seal did you use. Could you add a pic to see how you installed it - at the base, and the sides.
thanks ahead.

Same, what seal did you use? I noticed that after my last two trips down the dirt trails around here, the bed is healthily filled with a thick layer of dust.

I've found this one, which seems kind of hobbled together: https://www.amazon.com/ESI-Ultimate-Tailgate-Taper-Ranger/dp/B07YF5BL8M

As well as this list of seals (however each of these specifically say they will *NOT* fit 2011-current Ranger, which is funny since they're listed as Ranger tailgate seal kits. Though I'm not sure why they wouldn't fit given they're universal.): https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-ac...sories/tailgate-seal-kits/v/ford/ranger/2019/

It seems there's a few options out there now, but I'm curious what others have done.

 

[THLONE]

See Phil the engineers post. Ford has been making pickup trucks forever, millions. So, I doubt if they just willy nilly made the bed gaps the way they are. A few scraps of cardboard, plastic bags etc. when you are carrying fine stuff is no problem.

 

[Rp930]

I used Extang MaxSeal. Worked well. It doesn’t seal 100% but good enough help keep dust and dirt out.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

See Phil the engineers post. Ford has been making pickup trucks forever, millions. So, I doubt if they just willy nilly made the bed gaps the way they are. A few scraps of cardboard, plastic bags etc. when you are carrying fine stuff is no problem.

With both the 99 Ranger I had with a topper and the 04 F-150 I had with the same tonneau cover I have now, I never had the kind of blow by I have now. I don't want it to be completely sealed, but I don't want snow or dirt to fill the bed from the tailgate either.

I used Extang MaxSeal. Worked well. It doesn’t seal 100% but good enough help keep dust and dirt out.

Thanks! I don't need it 100%, just enough to keep the majority of the small stuff out while driving, particularly in dusty conditions.

 

[RedlandRanger]

With both the 99 Ranger I had with a topper and the 04 F-150 I had with the same tonneau cover I have now, I never had the kind of blow by I have now. I don't want it to be completely sealed, but I don't want snow or dirt to fill the bed from the tailgate either.

Thanks! I don't need it 100%, just enough to keep the majority of the small stuff out while driving, particularly in dusty conditions.

I used the Extang seal as well and it does a good job of keeping most of the dust out. I was amazed at how much dust was getting under my tonneau thru the gaps before I added the seal.

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