WARNING FYI: Ford pivot bed storage case caused tailight damage

Cortez1521

Tremor Buff
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Current Ride
1999 F250 7.3
Current Ride #2
2023 F350 Tremor
I ordered the Ford branded pivot bed storage case for the left side bed, behind the wheel well. It was installed by the Ford dealership. I didn't notice this until the tailight lens cracked. Apparently the pull lever style latch handle arrests the swing of the case and its contents by striking the lens. I am going to approach the dealer regarding this. This is an FYI for those of you who are ordering the pivot bed storage case. For those of you who will reflexively defend the Ford product, yes I limited the storage case to one gallon of DEF. IMHO the lens should not be the hinge stop for a storage case.
 

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That sucks! You are making me wonder about how mine rests, but it is the passenger side one. I ordered the Undercover brand, but I believe they are the same, just rebranded.
 
Please check and let me know if there is a hinge stop missing. Thanks.
 
Here are a few pictures of mine, closed and swung open. No "stop," but appears that the bed retention cable keeps it from hitting the light. I would have to swing it open hard or really pull against the cable to get the latch handle to contact the light housing.
 

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Here are a few pictures of mine, closed and swung open. No "stop," but appears that the bed retention cable keeps it from hitting the light. I would have to swing it open hard or really pull against the cable to get the latch handle to contact the light housing.
Just looked. My cable on that left side is under less pressure, it seems it may be marginally longer than the cable on the right side. I carry some Ford one gallon DEF in the box, due to how thirsty the truck is. Park on a hill and bingo. This is going to happen to others. That tail light is a $1000 part, right?
 
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I don't think there is a right and left side to the cables. I would try swapping them and see if that helps at all. Of course, either have a helper or make sure there is something soft to protect the tailgate at full drop when both cables are off.
 
I don't think there is a right and left side to the cables. I would try swapping them and see if that helps at all. Of course, either have a helper or make sure there is something soft to protect the tailgate at full drop when both cables are off.
Yeah good idea. Wish I had seen this earlier. Still, it seems a bad idea to not have a limit on the travel of this pivot. Bad design, hopefully they will cover it.
 
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For those of you who will reflexively defend the Ford product, yes I limited the storage case to one gallon of DEF. IMHO the lens should not be the hinge stop for a storage case.
I would like to hear from those guys as to why the pivot on the hinge is not where the red line is in this photo. That would have allowed the entire case to open a full 90 degrees. Ford or the aftermarket should solve this. Too bad Ford just didn't do this right. The bracket with the pivot out here could not cost more than a few dollars more than the one they have now if even that.

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Damn I was thinking about purchasing one of these , definitely having second thoughts
 
Damn I was thinking about purchasing one of these , definitely having second thoughts
I like mine and use it for straps and stuff that is normally floating under the seat. I do watch how much weight I put in it and leave my shackles and snatch blocks in a bag under the seat. I chose just the passenger side so I didn't block the plug in for future 5th wheel.
 
I like mine and use it for straps and stuff that is normally floating under the seat. I do watch how much weight I put in it and leave my shackles and snatch blocks in a bag under the seat. I chose just the passenger side so I didn't block the plug in for future 5th wheel.
Yes I have the 2kw pro power outlet on the passenger side, so it had to go on the left, don’t see how that would change things though.
 
Yes I have the 2kw pro power outlet on the passenger side, so it had to go on the left, don’t see how that would change things though.
Makes sense. I did look at my bed retention cables today. Not sure why, but the driver side seems to have some play when the passenger side is tight.
 
Update: I have trimmed the pull handle so that it misses the lens; I have installed Gate King tailgate ratchet bars which stop the body of the storage box from striking the stop light, and their ratchet function allows me to lower the tailgate 80% when my trailer hitch would normally contact the tailgate camera.
 

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