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J Brace to Stiffen Front Corners of the Box

FreezingFlatlander

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You can search YouTube for J Brace to find video of the J Brace installation but here are 3 photos showing the problem area, the brace itself, and the brace after installation. It appears to me that the structure without the brace might be ok but the brace is a very substantial piece of metal that would add a great amount of strength to the box structure. The brace must have been designed for a reason so would think it should be installed on every new Ranger. Am still sticking with the decision to get the Ranger but not happy about the weak design of the box.
These pictures are from an Austrialian version of the Ranger and I don't know if the U.S models have been built to address this issue or not. I hope someone can confirm that the U.S. models that are being produced have or have not been built to stiffen this area of the box. I looked at the structure of the front of the box for my F150 and it is nothing exotic or of the strength of the J-Brace so maybe I'm making too much of this issue but yet that J-Brace must have been made for a purpose.

Ford Ranger J Brace to Stiffen Front Corners of the Box IMG_6154


Ford Ranger J Brace to Stiffen Front Corners of the Box IMG_6153


Ford Ranger J Brace to Stiffen Front Corners of the Box IMG_6150
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CACTUSGREYFX4

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Just a piss poor design I think. Needs a brace/bracket to make it work. :LOL:
 

NASSTY

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I'd probably buy a set now if a US based company was selling them. So I guess I'll just wait it out.
If the issue is really that bad maybe Ford will start installing them at the factory by the time my truck is built in March
 

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Wayfaring Ranger

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We've already discussed this in another thread but all indications are that Ford was always planning to install these from the factory in the USA.

The RoW ranger manual has a whole page about installing them. The USA ranger manual doesn't mention them once, hinting that there's no need for USA rangers to require this.
 

CACTUSGREYFX4

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We've already discussed this in another thread but all indications are that Ford was always planning to install these from the factory in the USA.

The RoW ranger manual has a whole page about installing them. The USA ranger manual doesn't mention them once, hinting that there's no need for USA rangers to require this.
Maybe American steel is better than the rest :clap:
 

jedadiah

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The Ford Service Info site has instructions for the J-Braces, but they aren't mentioned in the truck's owners manual. The only other reference I've seen is in the instructions for the Ford version of the RSI Smart Cap.
Ford Ranger J Brace to Stiffen Front Corners of the Box Screenshot 2024-02-11 at 09.06.36

99 lbs would basically mean that you couldn't install anything above the bed rails without this modification. A rack probably won't weigh that much, but anything you would use it for would.
 
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FreezingFlatlander

FreezingFlatlander

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The Ford Service Info site has instructions for the J-Braces, but they aren't mentioned in the truck's owners manual. The only other reference I've seen is in the instructions for the Ford version of the RSI Smart Cap.
Screenshot 2024-02-11 at 09.06.36.png

99 lbs would basically mean that you couldn't install anything above the bed rails without this modification. A rack probably won't weigh that much, but anything you would use it for would.
Probably wouldn't want to sit on the bed rail then, or maybe even cinch down a tiedown strap when loading my Honda 4 wheeler. Would it be safe to lean against the box, Ha, Ha. What kind of product is Ford putting out. Yes, I could install the J Braces but shouldn't have to.
 

pablo94sc

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If y'all look at the ROW trucks, they likely don't come with j-braces because they like to run sport racks. Here, well Ford will likely have something already installed because:

Hey, hold my beer and watch this! <crumple> wahhhhhh, I'm suing.
 

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Gator21

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Long McArthur mentioned this in their video tonight. Apparently it’s not a recall but there’s already a customer satisfaction bulletin I think is what it was called out about it for the US Rangers.
 

rwolfcastle

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Long McArthur mentioned this in their video tonight. Apparently it’s not a recall but there’s already a customer satisfaction bulletin I think is what it was called out about it for the US Rangers.
Yes, here is the clip at 1:28:17:



They call it "load box reinforcement kit" but it sounds a lot like the J-braces. Only they mention it for "extreme offroad" and didn't say anything about weight above the bed rails.
 

Wayfaring Ranger

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Yes, here is the clip at 1:28:17:



They call it "load box reinforcement kit" but it sounds a lot like the J-braces. Only they mention it for "extreme offroad" and didn't say anything about weight above the bed rails.
So the way it sounds, only if you buy a "ford licensed accessory bedcap", you get a $160 refund for the "reinforcement kit" and they waive the cost of labor. Am I hearing that right?

So basically if you order something not through Ford or you just want to be safe and install the "reinforcement kit" without any cap, it sounds like you're on the hook for the "reinforcement kit" + labor costs.
 

MAV

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Not sure if all the Rangers went up by the same $105 that the Raptors did, but the factory installation of these braces could explain the price increase that occurred late last year.
 

CherryCoke

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I'll definitely have to get this installed as I plan to buy a canopy from the ranger.
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