I have not had my questions and concerns answered yet by GFC, I got ghosted in mid conversation a month ago. I do know that at least one truck has been done just before Overland Expo NW. I am trying to understand how the camper is mounted.
I was told that new main brackets were designed and that hard spacers were installed in the stake cavities to prevent the (very weak) decorative Ford side rail trim pieces from collapsing like limp noodles. I would really like some more info about this, close-up pictures would be great!
Did they seal the big gaps between plastic and the truck bed rails?
Did the truck have the mandatory (and unobtanium ) Ford bed reinforcement kit (AKA J Braces) installed by the owner? This prevents major bed breakage when accessories are mounted on the rails. (Ranger owners and dealers are really pissed at Ford for having to do this for any accessory weighing over 88 pounds).
Here is what the plastic rail trim pieces look like, what was Ford thinking??? They are 98% air!
Yes to answer your question about support. I initially had it installed and they didnt have supports in the stake pockets. I had a lot of movement on a pretty hard offroad trip the next weekend and pointed them towards the resources from the ranger6g forum about the spaced from the bed cap manufacturers. They worked on it super quick and overnighted billet aluminum spacers to basils garage in SD where they refitted the gfc. Easy install. Has seemed to fix all the terrible plastic bed rail warping i had from before without the spacers.
For j-brace⌠u 1000% need it. I had it installed about a week after installing the gfc though due to delays on fords part for shipping the j-brace (u prob saw my write up about that on the ranger forum). I dont think it was a problem though since only highway driving with the gfc before the braces were installed.
GFC did not do any additional sealing around the plastic bed rail. The doors pretty much seal that area from the outside and our RR truck beds are absolutely swiss cheese already. I went in with a some caulking, butyl tape and wire grommets/plugs.
Thanks for the pics, I am rather surprised and VERY disappointed that the GFC installer did not appreciate the rail problem the instant he saw those little plastic covers. ESPECIALLY since the warnings are prominently displayed on all six of them!!!
It is good that they sent you those very nice aluminum spacers promptly. I hope it was all six� Please confirm the quantity. And they should sit flush with the top of the plastic; they should be milled to a custom height, (about 0.830"), not a standard dimension for aluminum plate. I am not sure how they could have made them correctly so fast without having a RR truck there to measure (with undamaged moldings).
They owe you a pair of replacement moldings (and new side retainer push pins). I am sure yours are completely trashed, if you pull them off, they most certainly (100 % sure) have many bent or broken clips and âlegsâ underneath them. They will never fit correctly again!
Can I see a pic of a hold down clamp? I was told that it was redesigned for this truck.
Can you please post these pics and the background story in a new thread at the Ranger 6G Forum?
I still have no word on my J braces, ordered almost two months ago. -/:;$&@ Ford! I am going to call their number a second time.
I think the clamp is the same as other GFC clamps, new generation billet ones of course. I think they are custom to different trucks to some extent already. My plastic bed rails are a bit warped but it doesnât bother me too much. They ârentedâ a raptor somehow and had it in the shop testing multiple different aluminum blocks until they got the right size and then shipped out a set for me (they did all this within about a week mind you) and yes it was all 6. I could totally see the argument for replacing the bed moulding but I dont blame them too much since I was one of the first to get it done. if they wanted to replace them for me id take it but I havenât asked.
Why would you think GFC is responsible for your truck moldings? That is your responsibility when having an accessory mounted. I donât blame GFC for no longer responding to you, if you had this attitude towards them without even being a customer yet.
GFC could have easily told ranger raptor customers that the bed rail cap has to be removed but instead they immediately sent out the post hole braces.
@BTOC your truck looks great btw, this comment is to John with his unrealistic demands lol.
Dogandagladiator, do you really believe that an aftermarket manufacturer doesnât have the responsibility to follow a vehicleâs OEM restrictions about how stuff can be mounted to it? It is in no way the ownerâs responsibility.
I first pointed this issue out to Ed LaRossa by email, exactly two months ago, with links and pictures, and he was completely unaware of it. I also visited the Belgrade shop in person a week prior, and let the guys there look it over. I specifically asked if the bed was the same as a regular Ranger⌠they did not think that there were any concerns about mounting a Topper. I donât know the time frame for the two installations in this thread, but after June 03 there would have been no excuse for not installing spacers in what could be called the âstake pocketsâ.
The best solution for the Ranger Raptor would be to remove the plastic moldings entirely, that is required for an ARB canopy, for example. Spacers are acceptable. No spacers is totally unacceptable. It is very good that GFC responded so VERY quickly when BTOC found out that his moldings were collapsingâŚ.
IMHO any company that requires full payment six months away from beginning the build needs to be aware of what that implies for their level of customer service. So far I have been extremely impressed with the GFC company and employees.
TFL has also published about another bed reinforcement issue for mounting campers to the 2024 Ranger (Raptor or otherwise). Here it is: https://youtu.be/oUNTtgLx-1g?si=52a8zQC8DAxtqPVA. Ford, shame on you.
John, youâre a reasonable guy. Iâm sure itâs evident that we all get further with patience, understanding, and a calm cool attitude when things donât go as planned. Bummer that someoneâs moldings got bent outta shape, but we donât have to.
GFC has a long history of doing the right thing technically and doing the right thing by their customers. No doubt in my mind theyâre gonna continue to do that, and I find it natural to reflect that generosity & respect right back at them.
After seeing this and watching the video of how the camper is attached to the Rivian I wonder if there is an opportunity to use the mounting points as direct mount locations and bolt straight through the rails rather then using the bracketsâŚ
