Fast Lane Truck guys get all contused about J Braces

[Blue Ridge Raptor]

I just requested availability, cost & shipping info from the Aussie parts site. Will update with their reply.
although I don’t need them urgently it would be nice to know they’re enroute.

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[John E Davies]

How do you buy the part from Australia? I’m willing to do that at this point

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...cement-kit-aka-j-braces-from-australia.11954/

Mine has cleared US Customs and hopefully I will have the package in a couple of days.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[OddEntity]

Maybe a stupid question, but is there any risk that the Ford Australia part won't fit our NA Rangers?
The part number matches, but is there anything we should be checking?

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

Maybe a stupid question, but is there any risk that the Ford Australia part won't fit our NA Rangers?
The part number matches, but is there anything we should be checking?

Not sure there's anything you can check before they deliver. It's a possibility though...one of the AU skid plate manufacturers had to take new measurements on a US ranger because some of the dimensions were different between both trucks.

There's also the chance that Ford US doesn't consider these AU braces as "official" and it won't save your warranty if you do have issues around these stuff.

 

[John E Davies]

Just got these, they look fine to me, but time will tell, I have an appointment in two weeks for my local auto collision center to install them, maybe sooner if they get a cancellation. My three local dealers are a no go, none have a body shop.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[BuLLg0d]

I agree this never should have been an issue from the start, especially on the RR. It looks bad on Ford regardless.

I'm just saying for the average Joe who adds a topper on his parking lot princess or blue collar guy just using the truck for work, this is a non-issue.

You should honestly advocate for better quality products from Ford. Giving them any defence by defending their "extreme off road" argument just places you on their side. This is a truck, so the expectation should be it can do truck stuff. Arguing for Ford, even slightly, makes it even easier for them to ignore the design flaw and deny poor, uninformed Ranger owners warranty work if they say, hit a pothole, a rough rail road crossing, or just from general fatigue. We should be united on this argument. Not fan boying. We all love Ford here, for the most part. But to love them most is to call them out when they are in the wrong. That's how a good relationship works.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

You should honestly advocate for better quality products from Ford. Giving them any defence by defending their "extreme off road" argument just places you on their side. This is a truck, so the expectation should be it can do truck stuff. Arguing for Ford, even slightly, makes it even easier for them to ignore the design flaw and deny poor, uninformed Ranger owners warranty work if they say, hit a pothole, a rough rail road crossing, or just from general fatigue. We should be united on this argument. Not fan boying. We all love Ford here, for the most part. But to love them most is to call them out when they are in the wrong. That's how a good relationship works.

Newsflash man, if you paid for the truck you're also "on ford's side".

If you aren't voting with your wallet, your voice doesn't mean anything. A few guys complaining on an unofficial forum is meaningless to the company. Very very few consumers are reading these threads before making their purchase.

Outside of that, i stand by saying that >90% of the people making the biggest stink about the j-braces will never be in a situation that it matters. That doesn't mean I think Ford is off the hook, but the issue is very overblown here.

 

[BuLLg0d]

"Very overblown" is how movements get the momentum needed to have issues like this resolved, so I applaud your observation that this issue is growing. I hope it continues and breaches this forum, and out into the real world so that Ford might take better notice.

 

[olefordguy]

The vast majority of people that are up in arms about this j-brace issue would never have their trucks in a scenario that it would even matter. They specifically say "improve the structural performance of the bed when used in extreme off-road conditions".

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/attachments/2024-ranger-j-bracket-memo-pdf.42920/

The youtube comments keep bringing up workers with tool racks for their day-to-day jobs..what tradesmen is taking their fleet truck "extreme offroading"? Even most people going "offroad" are taking well groomed forest roads which also wouldn't be what Ford is talking about. Unless you plan to really test the articulation of this truck on some crazy trails, you aren't in the small subgroup of owners who this applies to.

Don't get me wrong, this is egg on Ford's face. But i think most of the people complaining the loudest have never been "extreme off-roading" in their lives and have no future plans to do so.

The only thing I will add is the statement on the J-Brace Kit Product Details (below). 88 lbs!!!
That's FAR from "extreme off-road conditions". SHAME on Ford for a lacking design. So much for "Built Ford Tough"

 

[Jason B]

They talk about the braces need if anything is adding to the bed, such as camper shell or ladder rack. But what happens if I go to a nursery and have them dump 1,000 lbs. of mulch or a 1/2 yard of topsoil the bed (done it before). Wouldn't the load be pushing against the walls of the bed and cause cracking? My conclusion is I'll add the braces, just in case.
Also wonder if this will be fixed on '25MY.

 

[CrudeBacon77]

Just got these, they look fine to me, but time will tell, I have an appointment in two weeks for my local auto collision center to install them, maybe sooner if they get a cancellation. My three local dealers are a no go, none have a body shop.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Have you gotten these installed? Did they fit?

 

[John E Davies]

Have you gotten these installed? Did they fit?

Yes and yes.

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/thre...cement-kit-aka-j-braces-from-australia.11954/

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

"Very overblown" is how movements get the momentum needed to have issues like this resolved, so I applaud your observation that this issue is growing. I hope it continues and breaches this forum, and out into the real world so that Ford might take better notice.

You're talking about this like this is some political movement for human rights. In reality this is a few men complaining into the void on a forum that ford doesn't own or care about, about an issue that >97% of ranger owners will never come close to creating the conditions for.

Ford has known about the issue since day 1, that's why they offer to cover the expense if you buy a topper from them since day 1 -- before any of us had even heard of the issue. If you use some aftermarket topper, you're on your own and that's not going to change.

There's not even a confirmed case of this issue ever manifesting in the real world to point news stations too if you did want this story to actually gain traction. Trying to build a movement off some hypothetical with 0 real world examples isn't going to get anywhere.

 

[BuLLg0d]

You're talking about this like this is some political movement for human rights. In reality this is a few men complaining into the void on a forum that ford doesn't own or care about, about an issue that >97% of ranger owners will never come close to creating the conditions for.

Ford has known about the issue since day 1, that's why they offer to cover the expense if you buy a topper from them since day 1 -- before any of us had even heard of the issue. If you use some aftermarket topper, you're on your own and that's not going to change.

There's not even a confirmed case of this issue ever manifesting in the real world to point news stations too if you did want this story to actually gain traction. Trying to build a movement off some hypothetical with 0 real world examples isn't going to get anywhere.

It's not Politics. It's Economics 101, particularly "Consumer Activism" (Chapter 5, page 9) . You seem to be taking what I am saying personal. My apologies, I was educated back in the days when economics actually taught us that we were in control and how we can maintain that control. 1 person becomes 3, 3 is then 9, 9 is 20, 20 is 200, 200 is 2,000 and so on, and so on. While it may seem like a small puddle, our planet is over 80% water. We're just fish, trying to reach other fish that have the same problem. I'm not sure why you want to derail that attempt with your opinion but I know that I won't be replying anymore. I do hope though, that you do understand that there is really no reason to get in the way. If you think we are complaining to a brick wall, just move along and let us be the idiots you think we are. You can easily win this argument by just "knowing you are right" in your own narrative.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

I was educated back in the days when economics actually taught us that we were in control and how we can maintain that control

The consumers are in control.

You and many others on this website lost that control when you paid Ford $40,000-60,000 for a ford ranger and only decided to start complaining after that transaction was concluded. To Ford corporate you're a happy customer, not a lost consumer.

Next time maybe reconsider your options before you hand over $45,000 for a truck you think is lacking necessary hardware.

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