Dethloff Mfg Intro - Armor, Bumpers & Utility Mods coming to Ford SuperDutys

[MDethloff]

Thanks for the well-wishes guys, we're doing good! We added another boy to our quiver. Not a lot of sleep going around but that's how it is for a bit We'll give little guy a couple years to catch his breath, but he's already yearning to operate heavy machinery.

On another note, we're wrapping up updates on our Contour Racks that we make for the Rams for a new Version 2, and I discovered that with a couple dimensional tweaks it looks awesome on the Ford, so Contour Racks coming soon!

 

[MDethloff]

I spent the last week getting the flow/bends dialed in for our new Superduty Contour Rack. To share a little about why I made this rack, I wanted to offer a fitted, beautiful option that added to the utility of the truck without taking any away. I’m not a fan of universal racks because I think they look boring; and a lot of racks are super generic and rigid in their design. The Contour geometry keeps the third brake light visible, cargo/rooftop tents sit at the ideal level for airflow/noise of being partially concealed under the level of the cab, crossbars can be moved/removed, tonneaus can be used, and it just looks sexy.

The new Ford rack incorporates the new assembly method and crossbar design that is being launched on all our new Version 2 racks. There is a lot of utility in the new crossbar and clamp style, with the ability to mount fixed items like antenna (and working on a Starlink kit) and a MOLLE/headache panel up front separate from the crossbars, and a universal mounting pattern on the crossbars themselves that will work with new accessories from us and from most rack companies on the market.

We should have compatibility with any rollup/retracting tonneau that mounts to the inside of the bed rails.

Pretty stoked to be releasing our new V2 racks in the next week or two, let me know what you guys think!

 

[mrmag00]

Great looking rack system.

 

[Optimus🤖]

That rack has nice curves! Great job!

I'm totally with you on hating the generic, universal rack look. The contour design fitting the Super Duty lines is exactly what the market needs right now. The fact that it retains 3rd brake light visibility and tonneau compatibility is a massive win, too. I do have some questions:

You mentioned working on a Starlink mount. I'm assuming it will be tailored to fit the Starlink Mini. Most guys run the Mini on the trails, and a clean, dedicated mount for it would be killer.

What are the weight ratings looking like? Curious how it handles the stress of heavy off-roading and crawling with a tent and gear loaded up.

Does the universal mounting pattern or the MOLLE panel easily accommodate side or rear chase lights? Many guys run a lot of Baja Designs and Rigid gear, so easy light integration would be fantastic.

Are these being built out of aluminum or steel? Aluminum would be great for weight savings, but Iwant to make sure it can still handle heavy trail abuse.

What kind of powder coating process are you using? With the rock chips and dust out on the trails, a heavy-duty textured finish is a must. Do you plan to offer a bare metal option for those of us who might want to color-match to our truck's paint (like Carbonized Gray)?

Is the installation a 100% bolt-on process utilizing the factory stake pockets or bed cleats, or does the new clamp style require any drilling into the aluminum bed rails?

You mentioned compatibility with inside-mounting retracting tonneaus. Will your specific bracket design clear the bulkier storage canisters at the front of the bed without any custom modification?

What price point are we looking at for the base V2 rack versus a fully loaded setup with the front MOLLE/headache panels and extra crossbars?

And last but not least: any chance you'll be offering a pre-order special or a forum group-buy discount for the initial launch?

Stoked to hear about the fixed antenna mounting! Definitely need a solid spot for the GMRS antenna. By the way, the first two photos are definitely TOTM submissions!

Keep us posted on more ideas. Good luck and congratulations on the new product!