The Aluminium Falcon

[dvdswan]

It's amazing how far bedliners have come along. With all the slots for holding cargo or stacking cargo, but for the life of me I can't figure out what the 4 flat squares are on the floor.

On the plus side, it looks like they've started adding speaker pockets to mount speakers in the rear of the bedliner by the tailgate.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It's amazing how far bedliners have come along. With all the slots for holding cargo or stacking cargo, but for the life of me I can't figure out what the 4 flat squares are on the floor.

On the plus side, it looks like they've started adding speaker pockets to mount speakers in the rear of the bedliner by the tailgate.

The big holes in the side are for "boxlink" accessories. One of which is s divider with two feet that sit in those pockets (or on the bed floor if you don't have a bedliner.

F-150 2015-2023 Bed Divider

Why Buy: Organize your truck bed by creating dual load zones with this durable, easy-to-use divider. It’s constructed of a reinforced plastic and nylon composite that’s weather-resistant and built to confidently secure heavy loads. Details:Create dual load zones in your truckbed with this...

accessories.ford.com

The big rubber plugs cover the regular bed tie downs, there is a smaller one on the left side for the bed light switch.

I also need to do some fiddling, my truck is wired for a topper and the wires are interfering with the bedliner a little on the drivers side.

I am going to snag the boxlink tie down kit now that I know what it is.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well for an update, hit a deer with it a couple years ago and upgraded to tow mirrors while they were replacing one from that. Upgraded from Falken Wildpeak AT3w to Wildpeak AT4's last winter... and really it has just continued to be the quiet force behind the scenes that just gets stuff done.

Took it to the Black Hills last fall and it did great.



It laughs at pulling our camper lol



After all our storms and whatnot it has been hauling brush like crazy.

I have noticed that it has had a rotating noise when the windows were down at low speed. I had kind of worried about a front wheel bearing... until I noticed this when I as changing the oil the other night....



That thing so extremely stupidly routed along the front crossmember is the vacuum line for the vacuum operated hubs. (IWE, Integrated Wheel End)

Upon further inspection I guess flying gravel beats them up until they get chewed up like this. That is also the leading edge for knocking down cornstalks and brush as well, they couldn't really have put in a more stupid place if they tried.

So if you have a similar truck, keep an eye on that vacuum line, there is no warning light or anything. 4WD still work because the default position for the hubs is "locked" the vacuum disengages them unless truck is put in 4wd, meanwhile the IWE's are open to the elements...

MPG has seemed slightly off but truck has been busy doing truck things so it is hard to really track that.

 

[Curious Hound]

When you replace it, stick it through a section of bright green pool noodle for protection.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

When you replace it, stick it through a section of bright green pool noodle for protection.

My brother said he always put them in heater hose when he replaced them.

I have also had an issue with snow getting crammed up in there and messing with the belts/alternator when breaking thru snowdrifts... I managed to find the front skidplate from my '02 F-150. It is a little two narrow to fit between the frame rails but I know a guy that can get a little steel to make it work.

Oddly Ford offered 0 skidplates for this truck unless it was a Raptor. Then that would entail the front bumper and who knows what as well.

This thing will never see rocks. Gravel, brush, cornstalks, snow etc it sees a lot of. Just a deflector of some kind would be great.