Off-Topic...Truck Bed Tie Downs

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Hopefully this is ok to post here and get some opinions? Seems that most people like us who build cars are people who "do stuff" and haul stuff.....so with that in mind...

I bought a 2018 F150 new 5 years ago. As some of you may know, Ford has what they call a "BoxLink" system build into the truck bed.....essentially 4 points in the side of the bed to bolt an assortment of brackets and such for platforms, truck bed dividers, tie down anchors, etc. From what I can gather, I think all of their trucks from 2015 on up use this same bolt pattern to accept the same brackets? Anyway, after owning the truck for 5 years and hauling stuff and constantly wishing I had more places to attach my ratchet straps to strap stuff down, I finally took the time to look into this and see what was available. What I found is that there are a ton of different companies offering a ton of different options for this.....most of them seem exceedingly over-complicated with a bracket that bolts to the bed and then separate "accessories" that snap into that bracket in order to use them for anything. Almost all of them seem very over-priced, over-complicated, bulky, ugly and they stick out into the bed where they're going to constantly be in the way and get snagged on stuff as you try to load and unload stuff.

All I wanted was a place to hook my ratchet strap hooks to. I'm not going to install a platform or bed divider or need some specialized accessory in order to use some other specialized accessory to use with it. All I need are places to hook a ratchet strap that don't stick out and constantly get in my way. This is what I came up with.....

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So......do any of you think there might be a market for something like this? Am I the only one who prefers simplicity over complicated?

[Namrups]

Great idea but it looks like aluminum. It also looks like it has deformed just by tightening the strap. If there was an accident the force might just rip that center section out. I think the design is great but I would do it out of steel. Also is there reinforcement behind the bolts? Don't want them to rip thru sheet metal.

[Papa]

I like the simple design, but would agree that steel would make them better.

On a side note, my new GMC has 14 simple tie down hooks in the bed.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Great idea but it looks like aluminum. It also looks like it has deformed just by tightening the strap. If there was an accident the force might just rip that center section out. I think the design is great but I would do it out of steel. Also is there reinforcement behind the bolts? Don't want them to rip thru sheet metal.

Good points. The aluminum is 1/8" thick and that center section is 1/2" wide. Honestly, I'd worry about the tension from the strap collapsing the box side before I'd worry about the aluminum breaking. Maybe we have an engineer here who could do a strength analysis on that center section?......1/8" 5052 aluminum, 1/2" width, 1.3" length (including the radiused part) with 0.2" radius at each end?

Yes, the center strip is deformed on purpose before installation to give more clearance for the hook to get in there....formed the thickness of the material.....so at the center of the strip, the back of the strip is flush with the front of the plate. The box side has an indentation in that location (clearance for the strap hook to get in there) behind the openings and the hole pattern is reinforced with inserts meant to attach these tie downs to. The entire bed/truck is made from aluminum.

Why make these from aluminum? Again.....simplicity. No need to paint or coat them. No chance of them ever rusting out.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Here is a poor photo of the "BoxLink" mounting area of the bed. As you can see, there is an indentation there already in the box side as well as the reinforced 4-bolt pattern.


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And here is a slightly better view of how the center strip is formed for extra hook clearance and make the geometry better for if the ratchet strap is going to be routed toward the front or rear of the bed as opposed to going across the bed or routing up overtop of whatever you're tying down.


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[mikeinatlanta]

Since any etrack tiedown anchor will fit the factory mount just fine and is free, I would not buy. If needing the factory mounts, they are dirt cheap at the salvage yard.

Something else to consider is that the factory mount allows use of any etrack accessory, so one has many options other than just a tie down strap.
boxlink.jpg

[rthomas98]

There might be a market. But you would need to get under the price of a box link kit. Four tie downs and anchor plates only cost $37.00 on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Boxlink-Compa...720681773&th=1

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

No etrack or BoxLink mounts come with the truck......there is no etrack anchor there unless you buy and install one. I've never been a huge fan of the etrack stuff.....and now you have to carry both etrack anchors and ratchet straps and dig them all out every time you need them. The only people I've ever watched using the etrack stuff usually have a whole bag full of them and they sort thru the bag trying to find one that's not bent or broken and still works.....and then try to find an etrack slot that's not bent or damaged to install it in. Keeping ratchet straps in working order is enough for me.....not looking to add 4 more components to store and hope they work when I need them. Simplicity is key for me.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

There might be a market. But you would need to get under the price of a box link kit. Four tie downs and anchor plates only cost $37.00 on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Boxlink-Compa...720681773&th=1

Well that's certainly cheaper than what I was looking at. All of the Boxlink stuff I was finding was more like $32/corner or $36/pair for a few other options. No matter the price, I'm still not a fan of those and would never buy them. My son just bought a truck with something similar to those installed in the bed.......for me, they would be constantly in the way of what I'm trying to haul.....not to mention a huge eye-sore to look at.

[mikeinatlanta]

No etrack or BoxLink mounts come with the truck......there is no etrack anchor there unless you buy and install one. I've never been a huge fan of the etrack stuff.....and now you have to carry both etrack anchors and ratchet straps and dig them all out every time you need them. The only people I've ever watched using the etrack stuff usually have a whole bag full of them and they sort thru the bag trying to find one that's not bent or broken and still works.....and then try to find an etrack slot that's not bent or damaged to install it in. Keeping ratchet straps in working order is enough for me.....not looking to add 4 more components to store and hope they work when I need them. Simplicity is key for me.

My 2018 SCAB came with them. Tossed the boxlink anchors in the trash. Using etrack allows a few things that just a tie down plate wont. Can use any of my many etrack straps, soft anchors, loop anchors, and also 2X4 mounts to haul full plywood sheets with stuff still in the bed. Not sure why anyone would be concerned with new pricing though as they are in salvage yards by the thousands. The OE screws are a very high quality thread forming screw. I'd go to the salvage yard just for those as they are purpose built for thread forming in the aluminum. Mush better and stronger than a thread cutting screw.

BTW, cut one of the OE anchors in half. They look like plastic but have steel inside. Still tossed them though.

[J R Jones]

Great idea but it looks like aluminum. It also looks like it has deformed just by tightening the strap. If there was an accident the force might just rip that center section out. I think the design is great but I would do it out of steel. Also is there reinforcement behind the bolts? Don't want them to rip thru sheet metal.

My Tundra has 10mm steel "U" loops attached in the four corners to post structure. They have served the purpose; your concept would not survive my abuse. Moreover they appear to be attached with self-tapping screws. The Tundra loops are fastened to weld-nuts. Consider the structure that is in your ratchet strap hooks. Are your mounts equivalent or stronger?
jim

[crash]

I love E-Track and have it in my trailers. That said, the weight ratings on them are relatively low. I only use them for locating heavy objects, not really to hold them strong during a potential impact. In other words I use the E Track straps to hold things in position and keep from shifting while driving, but always consider how the items are packed up against the front of the trailer in order to deal with potential impacts.

I think Shane has his answers...make them out of steel, make them cheap, and you will sell these.

If it were me, I would probably cut a plate out of steel just like you have aluminum there, at least 3/8" thick, then weld a solid round bar behind the bridge for added strength. Basically make sure the truck fails before your part and you should stay out of trouble.