J-Braces

[Full-size no more]

Hey I don’t know if this is adding insult to injury so I apologize in advance… but I just scheduled a service via the fordpass app and searched for any recalls and they have load box reinforcement as one so I’m going to drop the truck off tomorrow at the dealership and see if they charge me at all to fix this. If it’s free then I only have all of you to thank for raising holy hell to Ford and making them fix this on their own dime. Will keep you posted…

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[SubaruRaptor]

Hey I don’t know if this is adding insult to injury so I apologize in advance… but I just scheduled a service via the fordpass app and searched for any recalls and they have load box reinforcement as one so I’m going to drop the truck off tomorrow at the dealership and see if they charge me at all to fix this. If it’s free then I only have all of you to thank for raising holy hell to Ford and making them fix this on their own dime. Will keep you posted…

The recall is only for people who bought the topper from Ford. They will not install them otherwise, though some folks have gotten random freebies.

 

[Full-size no more]

The recall is only for people who bought the topper from Ford. They will not install them otherwise, though some folks have gotten random freebies.

Absolutely right! You can get them installed if you buy a $2k ford tonneau cover…. And parts didn’t have a clue what I was talking about…

 

[fordgt]

I had my tonneau cover installed today. Asked them to check for open recall issues. Only one under my VIN is the power window module which took about an hour. He said jbrace only applied if you bought a FORD topper. I also asked about the front suspension recall, he said it only applied to builds between July and August (maybe) .
I also asked about the white fiber between the cab and bed on the driver side. They said it doesn’t show up on any parts schematic and also not on any pre-delivery inspection list to address. I showed it to the parts and service managers, neither of them had ever noticed them before. All six of the RANGERS on the lot had them. Didn’t see them on a random sample of F150’s.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

I had my tonneau cover installed today. Asked them to check for open recall issues. Only one under my VIN is the power window module which took about an hour. He said jbrace only applied if you bought a FORD topper. I also asked about the front suspension recall, he said it only applied to builds between July and August (maybe) .
I also asked about the white fiber between the cab and bed on the driver side. They said it doesn’t show up on any parts schematic and also not on any pre-delivery inspection list to address. I showed it to the parts and service managers, neither of them had ever noticed them before. All six of the RANGERS on the lot had them. Didn’t see them on a random sample of F150’s.

You need the braces regardless of topper. If you truck was built past 9/12 you don't need them at all. See my post history and you can find the thread where I posted my journey on the new bed design.

 

[Salt_H2O]

The listing for the J-Braces says

"When installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg) must have load box reinforcement brackets installed"

Which is pretty damn pathetic. I'd be over that with a set of overbed rails and my kayak.

As of Jan 2025, Ford site includes a reference date for vehicles requiring the J-brace. Below copied directly from the Ford web site:

Ford Ranger 2024-2025
-- Required when installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg)
-- Required for vehicles built before 9/19/24

 

[Awirez]

As of Jan 2025, Ford site includes a reference date for vehicles requiring the J-brace. Below copied directly from the Ford web site:

Ford Ranger 2024-2025
-- Required when installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg)
-- Required for vehicles built before 9/19/24

This is great to know. It's a bummer of an engineering mishap for the early builds.

Throwing the link out there for any information seekers. Ranger 2024-2025 Load Box Reinforcement Kit for non-Raptor Models | Accessories | Ford.com

What I don't get, why do they show 2025 as a compatibility year if the 2025 shouldn't require it?

 

[jeffers]

Dealership installed my J braces yesterday.

 

[reichert2024XLT]

As of Jan 2025, Ford site includes a reference date for vehicles requiring the J-brace. Below copied directly from the Ford web site:

Ford Ranger 2024-2025
-- Required when installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg)
-- Required for vehicles built before 9/19/24

Not 100% true, my build date was Sept 4, 2024 and I had the dealer check on mine, and it does not need it, so I was lucky, and here in Canada they wanted $900 total to install them. Best bet would be to crawl under and look to see if it does or not to avoid issues.

 

[mattmico]

As of Jan 2025, Ford site includes a reference date for vehicles requiring the J-brace. Below copied directly from the Ford web site:

Ford Ranger 2024-2025
-- Required when installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg)
-- Required for vehicles built before 9/19/24

I want to know why we have to pay for their mistake?

 

[jeffers]

I want to know why we have to pay for their mistake?

yeah

 

[D. Sampson]

I want to know why we have to pay for their mistake?

I agree, but it appears there's nothing to be done about it. Several months ago, I got tired of waiting and I ordered the J-Braces from Australia. Afterwards, they were briefly in stock in the US, then gone again. None of the (questionable) Ford dealers near me wanted to install them either, they said they weren't trained how to do it... I found an aftermarket accessory place that would do it-they quoted me over $500. So I installed them myself. At least it's done now and I can install what I want on the bed. Total pain in the butt.

 

[superj]

Where do i look to see if i need these? My truck says 9/24 on the door sticker but i dont know what day. I can easily look, i just need to know where to look because i looked in the rear wheel area really quickly and only saw the wheel liner.

 

[mpcraven]

Where do i look to see if i need these? My truck says 9/24 on the door sticker but i dont know what day. I can easily look, i just need to know where to look because i looked in the rear wheel area really quickly and only saw the wheel liner.

See page 1 of the thread "J - Braces CONFIRMED NOT needed for Raptors after 9/12" for side by side comparison photos. You can see the rounded elbow looking up from the pavement, but just barely.

 

[superj]

Well, my truck doesnt have them. That sucks.

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