Ranger Tiedowns

[P. A. Schilke]

Do you have the TSB?

Hi RD

Likely no TSB as it is not a Technical Issue...Likely just a cost reduction action.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

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[woodzy]

Well, maybe they should leave out the back seat as a cost reduction - I can't believe mid year they would do something like this. That is a crappy way of running a business. I did check that mine was manufactured in 6/19 and only had 4 - I complained to the dealer and today I picked up two more brackets and the four screws. They just robbed them out of another ranger so someone will get one with only two.

Maybe I'll not pay one of the payments as a cost reduction on my end.

 

[t4thfavor]

Bad part is that the poor guy who gets two will be sitting and waiting (probably for months) before they come in on backorder...

It's not like a rotating assembly or something, literally any OEM that bends metal things could supply those, so it if's a volume issue, ask another factory to spin some off in Mexico... I bet there are aftermarket tie downs already on the market too...

 

[bruizer]

My Lariat was built 4/5/19 and fortunately it has all six tie downs. I wouldn’t have known to check if not for this thread. Thanks!

 

[RedlandRanger]

You can replace at your own expense: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/hook-tie-down-11569055-1

They may have cut them due to a national backorder.

Given that this shows they are on backorder, my guess is that it was done due to parts shortages - trying to make existing stock cover more trucks.

Seems like there have been a LOT of parts issues with this new truck. Lots of backorders and lengthy waits for parts.

 

[Mokume]

I suspect this is a result of Ford's "bean counters" prevalence rather than part availability, but I could be incorrect. Have any of you received notices from Ford that this omission of the tie downs is due to a shortage of parts and that such items will become available free of charge at your dealer when the shortage is dealt with? Perhaps even mailed to you?
For you Ranger owners who got the 2 missing tie downs from their dealers, congratulations.
There is a clause in the Ranger brochure that states to the effect that Ford can make changes to equipment/features on the vehicle as stated in the brochure any time they please. So far as I know ALL manufacturer's state this in one form or another.
Ford could eliminate all tie downs anytime they wish, but such a move would be product marketing suicide.
"Hey Bob, did you hear that Joe's new Ranger ain't got any bed tie downs at all?, hell my '87 Toyota had 4 of them!"

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Given that this shows they are on backorder, my guess is that it was done due to parts shortages - trying to make existing stock cover more trucks.

Seems like there have been a LOT of parts issues with this new truck. Lots of backorders and lengthy waits for parts.

Hi Rob,

I have never seen anything like this before in my 30 years in Light Truck Engineering. I can only surmise it has something to do with the Australian Ford Truck Engineering involvement. The tie down is such a simple part that any US supplier of stamped parts could probably make hundreds if not thousands a day. Can't believe these simple parts come across the pond..

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[RedlandRanger]

Hi Rob,

I have never seen anything like this before in my 30 years in Light Truck Engineering. I can only surmise it has something to do with the Australian Ford Truck Engineering involvement. The tie down is such a simple part that any US supplier of stamped parts could probably make hundreds if not thousands a day. Can't believe these simple parts come across the pond..

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Whatever the reason, it seems awfully strange. It is a very cheap part, and having 6 is much more useful than just 4, especially considering the Ranger doesn't have a "flexible" tie down system like some trucks do. I had only 4 in my last Ranger which was OK, but I really like the additional 2. As you stated, it should be easy to source these parts - they aren't difficult to make, but something appears to be a problem since they are on backorder.

On a related note - who is taking the lead on the Gen6 Ranger design? Is it the US engineering team?

 

[Beef_Stew]

Do you have the TSB?

I'll have to look. It was just a small memo on the main news page for my login for FMC Dealer.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Whatever the reason, it seems awfully strange. It is a very cheap part, and having 6 is much more useful than just 4, especially considering the Ranger doesn't have a "flexible" tie down system like some trucks do. I had only 4 in my last Ranger which was OK, but I really like the additional 2. As you stated, it should be easy to source these parts - they aren't difficult to make, but something appears to be a problem since they are on backorder.

On a related note - who is taking the lead on the Gen6 Ranger design? Is it the US engineering team?

Hi Rob,

I only have 4 as well and my build date was 1/22/2019, so do not know when they started deleting the other 2 or why they did so.

As far as Gen 6, I really have no idea, but the folks inside Ford Light Truck Engineering that I know say they are not working on Gen 6 which leads me to believe it will be the Aussies again but that is just my speculation. Will see if I can dig deeper. If I could get someone to read the PDL...Product Direction Letter, it would tell who was doing the freshening and to what extent 6G was...however those documents are not to be shared with the public and likely best I can do is have someone give me the Cliff Notes version of the PDL. There are a couple folks on this forum that are Ford engineers that might be able to shed some light on this question. Being out of the loop for some 17 years now, most of my contacts are also retied or like one fellow...his last year is 2020...

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Roofhopper]

My build date is 2/24/2019 and I have all 6

 

[RedlandRanger]

My build date is 2/24/2019 and I have all 6

My build date is 3/16 and I have all 6 as well. It gets weirder.... Phil's was built in January and only has 4.

 

[SemperVee]

whatever the reason I hope my two others come in. Strange they LEFT OFF the engine foam cover on XL/XLT's also and kept them on Lariats. I complained to my dealer and had them install one engine cover during day of purchase. Come to find out it is an Item $54 for Lariats only. Every nickle counts in manufacturing it seems.

 

[Rp930]

Probably running out for some reason and don’t want to hold back production.

 

[Schafies]

I believe mine was built on 1/10. It has 6.

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