(Video) Headlights tilt sky high during light throttle and point back down off throttle when truck bed is loaded.

[AysonDesign]

I know what you're thinking. It's not the truck squatting during acceleration. It's the actual headlights tilting up and down during driving. I drove for 2.5 hours like this in traffic and everyone thought I was high beaming them! I had a few hundred pounds loaded in the truck bed so it was squatting in the rear. Truck turns on and lights level like usual. But during driving they like to point up every time I slightly touch the gas pedal

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[daytoncarter]

That's a new one. Definitely dealer territory

 

[John E Davies]

Probably a bad ride height sensor or faulty wire harness - the sensors are on the front of the rear trailing arms and are very vulnerable to damage from a wayward stone or road debris such as a stick. There are several guards that you can install to prevent that. The sensors auto-adjust the active Fox shocks and also headlight aim. This should be very easy for a dealer to diagnose.

Before that, look underneath (both sides) and see if there is any visible damage or a disconnected or loose harness. It may not be a warranty item unless there is an actual manufacturer fault. Good luck.

Look here, this is the set that I installed on my RR:

https://raranger.com.au/products/20...5v9vREjNrqXL--BGJuT6axQ4kuqmqXnAaAh9VEALw_wcB

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[ZombieDropper]

Ditto what John said. I would also think that with a heavy load in the back your ride height sensors are working overtime and possibly overcompensating. These are great trucks but they weren't built for hauling or towing.

 

[Flak]

Ditto what John said. I would also think that with a heavy load in the back your ride height sensors are working overtime and possibly overcompensating. These are great trucks but they weren't built for hauling or towing.

I think, by design and warranty, they are built for hauling and towing their rated specifications.

A few hundred pounds should still be putting it under payload capacity.

 

[embedded rock]

Pretty sure I'm noticing "gear climb" when leaving from a stop. Accelerating with a bed load could induce the same. The "gear climb" seems to cause the rear suspension to extend, so maybe the sensor believes the headlights need to be adjusted upward.

 

[Roadglide1]

Hello RR friends. Im glad we are on the headlight Subject. Can anyone tell me if we can vertically adjust the beam of raptor headlights ? I installed a 2.5 leveling kit and filks are always flicking their high beams at me. The beam needs to come down. Thank you all

 

[ZombieDropper]

Did you have your Ride height sensors recalibrated. This is a must for headlight leveling and ride quality. This can be done if you have forescan.

 

[Roadglide1]

Thank you for letting me know this. No i did not have the ride Height sensors recalibrate. I had no idea. I dont have Fordscan, but I will ask my ford dealer.

 

[ZombieDropper]

It should take them about 15 minutes to do this. I have no idea what they will charge but you should notice a huge improvement on the ride. It probably rides really stiff right now.

 

[AysonDesign]

Correction on weight. I misjudged the weight lol. I was closer to 900 lb in the truck bed. Flat sheets of steel are harder to judge.

That being said, I am still operating under the payload capacity of the truck.

Probably a bad ride height sensor or faulty wire harness -

Everything operates as normal and startup sequence is normal without a heavy load in the bed. I tried it the next morning with a heavy load and its the same issue. Only happens with the rear suspension compressed.

No visible damage on the sensors or wiring. No faults on the dash.

Ditto what John said. I would also think that with a heavy load in the back your ride height sensors are working overtime and possibly overcompensating. These are great trucks but they weren't built for hauling or towing.

I agree that the sensors are not working in their operating window and it is causing issues.
I don't necessarily agree that the trucks weren't built for hauling or towing. They are still highly capable trucks! Yes we are all hyper aware of this fact because the trucks are rated lower than comparable midsize trucks. However, I have towed 4,000 lbs and thrown 1200 lbs in the bed of this truck and it has done a better job than my previous Tacoma that is tow rated at "7700 lbs". Towing anything close to 7k lbs in a midsize truck is dangerous and not fit for the job anyway.

I think, by design and warranty, they are built for hauling and towing their rated specifications.

A few hundred pounds should still be putting it under payload capacity.

Yes agreed (correction I am closer to 900 lbs) but your point still stands, I am under the payload capacity. My rear suspension still had travel and that is what's most important.

I work in metal fab and we also design/build trailers. So I do tow a lot with this truck and the sport suspension and motor really help. Anytime I have to haul a load closer to 1,000 lbs I usually opt to tow it, but sometimes it's just much easier to haul it in the bed especially if it fits easily. I can't be the only one with a Ranger Raptor putting weight in the bed? lol. Anyone?

 

[John E Davies]

I work in metal fab and we also design/build trailers. So I do tow a lot with this truck and the sport suspension and motor really help. Anytime I have to haul a load closer to 1,000 lbs I usually opt to tow it, but sometimes it's just much easier to haul it in the bed especially if it fits easily. I can't be the only one with a Ranger Raptor putting weight in the bed? lol. Anyone?

You should strongly consider installing stiffer rear springs or add rear airbags!

Also, I am more than a little amused that somebody who does metal fab work AND designs and tows trailers for a living could confuse half a ton of steel with a few hundred pounds.

What kind of trailers?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[HighDesertRanger]

Correction on weight. I misjudged the weight lol. I was closer to 900 lb in the truck bed. Flat sheets of steel are harder to judge.

That being said, I am still operating under the payload capacity of the truck.


Everything operates as normal and startup sequence is normal without a heavy load in the bed. I tried it the next morning with a heavy load and its the same issue. Only happens with the rear suspension compressed.

No visible damage on the sensors or wiring. No faults on the dash.


I agree that the sensors are not working in their operating window and it is causing issues.
I don't necessarily agree that the trucks weren't built for hauling or towing. They are still highly capable trucks! Yes we are all hyper aware of this fact because the trucks are rated lower than comparable midsize trucks. However, I have towed 4,000 lbs and thrown 1200 lbs in the bed of this truck and it has done a better job than my previous Tacoma that is tow rated at "7700 lbs". Towing anything close to 7k lbs in a midsize truck is dangerous and not fit for the job anyway.


Yes agreed (correction I am closer to 900 lbs) but your point still stands, I am under the payload capacity. My rear suspension still had travel and that is what's most important.

I work in metal fab and we also design/build trailers. So I do tow a lot with this truck and the sport suspension and motor really help. Anytime I have to haul a load closer to 1,000 lbs I usually opt to tow it, but sometimes it's just much easier to haul it in the bed especially if it fits easily. I can't be the only one with a Ranger Raptor putting weight in the bed? lol. Anyone?

Just because you're under max payload capacity doesn't mean it still won't effect the headlights.

 

[AysonDesign]

You should strongly consider installing stiffer rear springs or add rear airbags!

Also, I am more than a little amused that somebody who does metal fab work AND designs and tows trailers for a living could confuse half a ton of steel with a few hundred pounds.

What kind of trailers?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I've been considering stiffer springs but then the ride would be pretty bad when I'm unloaded. I would be better off just grabbing a trailer for the times I'm close to 1,000 lbs. if the headlights can't compensate.

Lol we all make mistakes. The pallet was completely wrapped in plastic wrap and loaded in the dark. It wasn't until I actually unloaded the pallet that I realized it was full 5/8 plate. Keep in mind a 48" x 48" x 5/8" steel plate weighs 400 lbs. Two of those youre only 1.25" tall and all of the sudden you're close to half a ton. The suspension is amazing in this truck but it does compress a lot with any type of load in the bed.

We mostly do aluminum boat trailers ranging from 17'-40' in length. Gvwr between 7k-30k. Personally I've designed trailers for both civilian and DOD contracts.

Just because you're under max payload capacity doesn't mean it still won't effect the headlights.

Yes, but it also doesn't mean my headlights should point sky high every time I touch the throttle. At that point I'd rather have a truck that doesn't have adjustable headlights so people don't think I'm flashing them hahahah.

Will this make me sell the truck? No. I love this truck, but like everything it has its pros and cons.

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