J - Braces CONFIRMED NOT needed for Raptors after 9/12

[NickyFlippers]

Great info, thanks for the details!

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[pablo94sc]

Thanks for sharing!
side by side, quite a difference.

Thank you for positing that.

 

[JackpotRR]

go figure......I ordered the J-Braces from Australia for about $224 US and then had my local stealership text me back saying their estimate for installing them was $675......even though the Ford Accessory page says the install should be $266........let's not even remind Ford that they were NOT even in stock until very recently and that's why some of us bought them from Australia.......I ended up paying my trusted local mechanic $250 2 days ago to install them....just for my peace of mind and not because I really "needed them".......I blame not only FORD for this cluster F%#@ but also the local Stealership for trying to gouge me because of their inexperience or lack of knowledge regarding this application......

 

[Johnny 5]

Thanks for sharing!
side by side, quite a difference.

I don't know what I'm looking at, help me out please. My wife's Ranger Raptor was built in March and we had the j braces put on hers. I pre-ordered a set of j braces for my Ranger Raptor that was just built 10-5-2024. I just picked it up 10-16-2024. Are you saying I dont need j braces ? And will the dealer jnow this before I take it in to have these installed ?

 

[SubaruRaptor]

Small world, I grew up and lived in Waukesha all my life - and my wife, daughter and I moved to Madison about 3 years ago. Nice to have a fellow RR owner so close - haven’t seen many (if any) of them! I had RR delivered in June to Madison from Iowa as the spec I wanted wasn’t available around here.

Anyway, I might take those J braces off your hands assuming Ford won’t make it right for early buyers.

DM me, they are missing 2 rivets as the dealer had to use the new ones to button her back up. I will actually be in Madison tomorrow, ill cut you a deal.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

Thanks for all of this detail and photos. Any idea on how to find your true built date? My cactus grey is supposed to be delivered next week, and the ford vehicle tracker says "in production" 08/29/24 and "built" 10/03/24. I'm trying to find out if I will need the jbraces or not, and did a little research on the dates on window sticker, but unsure of which date is actually correct or relevant here. Any info is appreciated!

You should be fine I think. I believe the build date is on the inside of the door.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

I don't know what I'm looking at, help me out please. My wife's Ranger Raptor was built in March and we had the j braces put on hers. I pre-ordered a set of j braces for my Ranger Raptor that was just built 10-5-2024. I just picked it up 10-16-2024. Are you saying I dont need j braces ? And will the dealer jnow this before I take it in to have these installed ?

That is correct. My truck is on the left in that picture. If you notice my "bed frame" is one solid piece and its curved, where as the truck on the right, there is a gap. To install the j braces you cut that gap piece of metal and they bolt up. If your truck was built in october, you dont need them, and CANT install them anyway.

 

[MisterSpock]

Picked up my new Lariat a couple weeks ago. Love it. My first Ford. My built date is 9/13. Anyone know how to determine for sure if I need the braces besides opening her up? I won't be putting a topper on it but it is a truck and I don't want to think about how much weight I am putting where - ugh. BTW - new to this group too. I appreciate all the insights shared...

My Ranger Lariat build date was September 6th, and it appears to have the updated design. You can get a camera up in there without removing anything to check and be sure.

 

[unixadm]

Thanks for all of this detail and photos. Any idea on how to find your true built date? My cactus grey is supposed to be delivered next week, and the ford vehicle tracker says "in production" 08/29/24 and "built" 10/03/24. I'm trying to find out if I will need the jbraces or not, and did a little research on the dates on window sticker, but unsure of which date is actually correct or relevant here. Any info is appreciated!

PM me your VIN. I can tell you the date if it has been built.

 

[Johnny 5]

That is correct. My truck is on the left in that picture. If you notice my "bed frame" is one solid piece and its curved, where as the truck on the right, there is a gap. To install the j braces you cut that gap piece of metal and they bolt up. If your truck was built in october, you dont need them, and CANT install them anyway.

Man as long as you have been on this forum I thought for sure you already had your Ranger Raptor way earlier. Congratulations! I hope you're enjoying it! Wiil Ford take the j braces back for a refund ?

 

[J.Dub]

The load box reinforcement kit is a recall now for early Ranger Raptors. I got mine installed at the dealership for free.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

The load box reinforcement kit is a recall now for early Ranger Raptors. I got mine installed at the dealership for free.

Its only a recall as far as I have seen if you bought the topper from ford.

 

[J.Dub]

Its only a recall as far as I have seen if you bought the topper from ford.

Nope, they did it on mine with no topper. I went to the dealership to have to install it after using my points and they told me I had three recalls and one of them was the Load box reinforcement kit. They installed it and currently going to refund me for purchasing it.

 

[Johnny 5]

Nope, they did it on mine with no topper. I went to the dealership to have to install it after using my points and they told me I had three recalls and one of them was the Load box reinforcement kit. They installed it and currently going to refund me for purchasing it.

So if I had them installed on my wife's RR with no topper, I get a refund ?

 

[Peter949]

The load box reinforcement kit is a recall now for early Ranger Raptors. I got mine installed at the dealership for free.

Don't see the recall on my RR besides the window module. Can you look up your recalls on ford.com vehicle page?

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