Has anyone successfully bought a Ranger RAPTOR Bed Reinforcement Kit AKA J- braces from AUSTRALIA?

[John E Davies]

I just had my Australia sourced kit installed at my favorite Spokane body shop, no issues at all. 2 hours labor, $150 total, no additional charges except sales tax. Their rate is $75 per hour, the nearby clueless Wendel Ford dealer is $110.

The tech found two vent hoses disconnected near the filler assembly and reconnected them. Perhaps these are the diff breather tubes? This seems to be a common problem.

Any Spokane area 2024 Ranger owner, feel free to contact them, they will be happy to help if you supply the complete kit, and let them work you in around their existing collision repair schedule. They charge time and materials (no flat rate). Don’t expect them to do this in winter when they are crazy busy fixing wrecked cars… this is a side source of income for them during slow periods.

American Way Collision Center, Spokane WA

The quality of their work and their customer service is stellar! Highly recommended.

Edit 09/13/24
My shop also handed me a Lifetime Warranty certificate for the job. No dealer will do that.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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[Blue Ridge Raptor]

Thanks John!

 

[GR8-Ride]

I just received my kit today; ordered last Wednesday, and picked up today from the Post Office in Toronto. So one week from order to arrival; can't complain about that.

Now I just need to get them installed. We'll see how clueless the Ford dealers are around me about this kit.


Patrick

 

[JackpotRR]

I just received my kit today; ordered last Wednesday, and picked up today from the Post Office in Toronto. So one week from order to arrival; can't complain about that.

Now I just need to get them installed. We'll see how clueless the Ford dealers are around me about this kit.


Patrick

Sounds like we both got our kits in about the same amount of time....1 week.

Here's been my trouble.....called the dealer I bought my RR from and asked them for a price....gave them the part # and even said I had to buy it out of the country as it is out of stock everywhere in the US.......the NEVER got back to me and I even mentioned I bought the RR there as well as my previous Ranger.

dealer #2.....I talked to the service tech over the phone and who worked on my previous Ranger......same story, gave him the part # and told him I wanted it installed......we even made an appointment for the next day.....I arrive and wait.....just to be told " we didn't know it needed to be lifted up on a rack to do it and we don't have time today"......how lame!!.....they said there was a recall.....and there is....ONLY if you buy a camper shell or any FORD INSTALLED TOPPER/RACK......so the recall doesn't apply......he admitted they have never done this before and wanted to talk to the service manager and get back to me......that hasn't happened and it's been almost a week.....

These dealers have absolutely no idea what these things are and/or how to install them!!......oh, and dealer 2 said it would be $420 for 2 hours unless it takes longer.......which is sounds like it would because they're fricking clueless!

I now will call me bodyshop buddy as they seem best suited for this install then my regular mechanic....but we'll see

and I'm in Southern California....Orange County.....LOTS of dumb dealers around here!

 

[GR8-Ride]

Okay, so I set up an appointment with my local Ford dealer, and they called me shortly thereafter, confirming that I had genuine Ford parts (they were surprised, as they said they weren't able to find any in North America). Confirmed that it was a pretty straight-forward install; 2 hours of labour at shop rates.

They actually asked me how much shipping was from Australia, as the demand for the parts is apparently pretty high!

So, these will be installed next Thursday (delay is on my side, not theirs).

 

[Critical Habitat]

I wonder if anyone who has received their 2.7L Ranger checked to see if these were factory-installed on this job?
Too lazy to search all the various threads mentioning the braces.

My brother wants a Leer Topper on the RR he recently acquired, but they can't seem to get the braces, either, and he hasn't been having any luck. Can't buy a ford-branded Leer because it is unavailable due to no braces available. My preferred after-market shop is not exactly happy, either. Many Ranger buyers use these as work trucks, with no gear/topper solution imminent.
My thoughts as an accomplished whiner:
Jeez - @Ford Motor Company
1. Ford has money and COULD just find a US or Canada union metal fabrication shop that will be dedicated just to the backlog and can make them per spec.
2. Make them "standard" on all Rangers capable of carrying more than 88# above the bed rails. Fix the defect.
3. If you are hoarding them for a mass recall, tell us (and shareholders) so.

 

[John E Davies]

....I arrive and wait.....just to be told " we didn't know it needed to be lifted up on a rack to do it and we don't have time today"......

Well, it isn’t at all required, just optimal. My install was done by a guy sitting on the ground, see pictures at top of this page.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[JackpotRR]

Well, it isn’t at all required, just optimal. My install was done by a guy sitting on the ground, see pictures at top of this page.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I know this install isn't that hard....but I don't have the tools and more importantly the patience.....I'm just dumbfounded as to why the fricking local dealers are so damn gun shy about installing them?!....There are 4-5 local Ford dealers around me and not 1 has installed these and are quoting me $400-$500......which is fine but just get me in the damn schedule and stop giving me the run around.....it's not that hard!.....and this is why Ford is getting a bad name....super hard to deal with even with "easy" stuff......and why in the world did I have to buy the part myself.......from out of the country no less....and now begging them to actually install it!

 

[D. Sampson]

I have mine ordered, should be here in a week or so. Now to find a place to install.

 

[FullSend]

This was absolutely the way to ago and appreciate taking the charge on this one. I ordered from Ford on 7/1 and they continued to kick the can on stock date only to finally outright cancel on 9/6. I ordered from AustralianOnlineCarParts 9/6 (said backordered), shipped 9/8, delivered 9/15.

 

[Aemonn]

Just an FYI, just scheduled service for a recall on my ranger raptor and the dealership scheduled me for a free J brace install pending part availability as part of the customer satisfaction program.

 

[jdgecage]

Thanks for this! Just placed my order today. A little more expensive for shipping, maybe because I’m East Coast USA.

I had ordered mine using points from Ford Accessories, but it got cancelled after 2 months like everyone else. Now I have 0 points and 0 j braces from Ford, hope I can get those points back after a call or something

 

[budmancan]

Okay, so I set up an appointment with my local Ford dealer, and they called me shortly thereafter, confirming that I had genuine Ford parts (they were surprised, as they said they weren't able to find any in North America). Confirmed that it was a pretty straight-forward install; 2 hours of labour at shop rates.

They actually asked me how much shipping was from Australia, as the demand for the parts is apparently pretty high!

So, these will be installed next Thursday (delay is on my side, not theirs).

How did the install go?
I also want to make sure I’m looking at this correctly.
currently the j braces are $162.34 plus taxes canadian no stock
Australia has stock but is 235.05 plus shipping at 122.56 for a total 357.61 AUD which is approx 325 cdn.
any other options where I’m not paying double just for piece of mind.
thanks

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