More cost cutting, or just stupid design? (Bed Drainage idiocy)

[Elmosaurus]

So, it's been cold here... bunch of freeze thaw cycles every few days over last few weeks. Had a mixed snow/ice fall on Friday, which means the bed filled with some since I haven't received my tonneau cover yet. With temps hovering right at freezing last few days, there's melt during the day, but refreeze with windchill or at night.

Once I get a tonneau cover installed, I don't expect this to be as much an issue, but right now, and for anyone that doesn't have a cover, I noticed this when I happened to crawl under my truck to take a pic for someone....

So, is this a case of Ford deleting yet another part that served a purpose, (some kind of water divertor or something) or was someone just too stupid to not realize this would happen?

As sensitive as driveshafts seem to be when out of balance, and the havoc that can wreak on carrier bearings/bushings, this just seems super ignorant to me, to have a water drainage hole for the bed directly above the driveshaft. Not to mention that if the block grows large enough, the ice can potentially do some actual damage as it turns and contacts items in the area.

Again, once I get my cover in a week or two, this becomes a non issue, for me, but it just strikes me as.... dumb as hell.

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[Grumpaw]

3 seconds after you start forward that ice and water will be thrown off, probably before you even back out of your driveway.
And, think about this....just imagine all the mud n crud that adheres to the shafts of those who go off-roading and thru who knows what....probably weighs a whole lot more than a bit of ice.

 

[Elmosaurus]

3 seconds after you start forward that ice and water will be thrown off, probably before you even back out of your driveway.
And, think about this....just imagine all the mud n crud that adheres to the shafts of those who go off-roading and thru who knows what....probably weighs a whole lot more than a bit of ice.

I'm talking if this were allowed to persist; up here in the snow belt we can easily get ice refreeze accumulations measured in inches at times. My pic is only to demonstrate where it happens, not a usual case of how much will accumulate.

Yes, in this case, those tiny amounts will crack right off when it starts turning. But imagine an icicle 1.5" in diameter, 10" long hanging from the shaft; at the least that might leave a dent in the exhaust or fuel tank shield.

My point is, a simple consideration of design should have prevented this from even being a possibility; make sure the drainage hole is offset and not directly over the shaft...

 

[VegasRanger]

That ice won’t do crap to your driveshaft. It’ll be off within a minute of driving.

 

[Joeiconic]

But imagine an icicle 1.5" in diameter, 10" long hanging from the shaft; at the least that might leave a dent in the exhaust or fuel tank shield.

If that’s stressing you out, you better never drive down a gravel road.

 

[Elmosaurus]

If that’s stressing you out, you better never drive down a gravel road.

You guys seem to be missing my main point. I’m not entirely annoyed about the ice existing. That’s par for the course and is part of life. I’ve certainly driven many vehicles with huge chunks of ice hanging off them over the years.

I’m annoyed that Ford didn’t take even a moments thought to consider that the ice forming from drainage on the shaft would happen. That is basic mechanical design engineering 101 level stuff. Let the ice form, but keep it from growing on or near moving parts.

It makes a person stop and wonder what other dumb design may have been built into the vehicle.

 

[D Fresh]

You should sell it and buy a Ridgeline.

 

[jsphlynch]

You guys seem to be missing my main point. I’m not entirely annoyed about the ice existing. That’s par for the course and is part of life. I’ve certainly driven many vehicles with huge chunks of ice hanging off them over the years.

I’m annoyed that Ford didn’t take even a moments thought to consider that the ice forming from drainage on the shaft would happen. That is basic mechanical design engineering 101 level stuff. Let the ice form, but keep it from growing on or near moving parts.

It makes a person stop and wonder what other dumb design may have been built into the vehicle.

What makes you think they didn't consider it? Maybe they did consider it, worked out what would happen to that ice once the driveshaft started moving, and concluded it was not a concern.

I'm no Ford engineer, so I can't say what they did or did not consider. However, I have considered the fact that there's quite a number Rangers that are now routinely parked outdoors in freeze/thaw climates, and I've not yet seen one report of damage to the driveshaft itself or any items in the vicinity.

 

[Elmosaurus]

You should sell it and buy a Ridgeline.

Why?

Because for my $43k plus outlay, I should not expect a modicum of engineering forethought and just blindly accept whatever someone slaps together?

I am thrilled to have gotten the truck custom built in a relatively timely manner, given the supply chain circumstances of the world right now. So far I am enjoying it in many ways. Performance, convenience, aesthetics are all hitting the right notes so far. But in my world where I work hard for the dollars I spend, it doesn’t mean I won’t expect quality in other aspects of design either.

 

[D Fresh]

Why?

Because for my $43k plus outlay, I should not expect a modicum of engineering forethought and just blindly accept whatever someone slaps together?

I am thrilled to have gotten the truck custom built in a relatively timely manner, given the supply chain circumstances of the world right now. So far I am enjoying it in many ways. Performance, convenience, aesthetics are all hitting the right notes so far. But in my world where I work hard for the dollars I spend, it doesn’t mean I won’t expect quality in other aspects of design either.

It's a common issue in the north for all vehicles. Not just Fords. Just Google ice build up on driveshaft. As others have said, it should rarely become a problem. If it does, you'll notice vibration and know where to look.

I said you should buy a Ridgeline because from a quick Google search it's been an issue on them for over 12 years.

 

[RedDakooter05]

Probably just a situation of various conditions that allowed water to drip on your driveshaft.

 

[Blmpkn]

Oh for fvcks sake.

Imagine how much snow/ice/bullshit falls onto the shaft after us "up here in the snow belt" park our trucks after a 20 mile drive through 4" of slush...

Yeah. Should probably make the driveshaft completely sealed in a water tight housing to keep it clean and dry.


Can't believe ford would do this. Someone is surely going to be killed by an off balance shaft coming through the passengers compartment ?‍

 

[Megawatt]

Roll your Ranger 10 feet distance at coasting speed. Stop look again at driveshaft and see that it’s gone without having to drive at highway speeds.

My past vehicles had so much rust on the driveshaft because they didn’t have any protective coating or painting on it. Rust never fell off and no problems.

 

[OFC Ranger]

 

[AdamHarris]

Dude just wanted to post sumpin.

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