- First Name
- Craig
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2022
- Threads
- 7
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- 94
- Reaction score
- 161
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Vehicle(s)
- Bronco, Raptor, Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Your Bronco Model
- Wildtrak
- Thread starter
- #1
*UPDATE AT END*
Ordered the Ford (Bronco branded) cargo drawer from the dealer today. Those Ford Pass points covered the cost which was not an insignificant factor in the final decision to go with the Ford box. First, I went back and forth between the drawer and the full enclosure. I ended up with the drawer because I carry more than my fair share of gear and my preference is to organize it. Configurable panels and removable dividers gives a host of options. The drawer actually leaves ample room on top for gear bags, range bags, coolers, etc. I cut the rear rug to size and it's a nice addition. A rubber mat or a piece of automotive carpet would be fine too.
Once I decided on the drawer, I did some research. Over the years for me, TruckVault has been the gold standard. impeccable quality, first-rate security, lots of options. They are also 4x the price of the Ford unit! I got to put eyes on the Ford drawer and I was impressed with the fit and finish. Ball bearing slides, clean welds, carpet on the drawer, and a solid lock. Having used the TruckVault to secure firearms, ammo, tactical gear and the like, the Ford unit gives me the same feeling of security as the TruckVault. Nothing is impenetrable and this post isn't to suggest the Ford unit is any better or worse from that perspective. Like a good safe, the goal is to slow down or deter the attack and this box does that, hands down. I also learned from the instructions that it is made by Tuffy for Ford and Bronco-branded.
The install is super easy and doesn't warrant an entire post. Pop the plastic covers off each of the four tie downs. Remove the bolts, replace with the install hardware, set the box and secure it. Super simple. Use power wrench for the 13mm nuts and torque to the specs on the sheet.
BTW, consider removing your jack and gas filler adapter before you put the drawer in. Now this is optional. I prefer a bottle jack that I'll store in the drawer. But, if you do not remove it, you'll simply have to remove the drawer to access your jack. Given that when you pick up that nail and have to change the tire, it will be dark, wet, dimly lit, muddy, with snow and wind in the forecast, choose wisely.
After the install, the front 'gap' where the tie downs where is left exposed. It's really a bad look when everything else is so tight and orderly. In the above photo, the (now custom) cover is in place on the left and the right side is what it would look like w/o a cover.
With the drawer installed, the opening and exposed threads are unsightly. And, the plastic cover you removed doesn't snap back in. So...
With an air grinder and a couple blasts, I removed everything above the lasso graphic on the plastic cover.
After that, a touch of glue/adhesive and it looks just like it did before the install!
Once the drawer is installed, it's looks stock, again. Hope this helps someone!
*UPDATE* So after things settled down and I put a few miles on it. I noticed the bottom of the drawer was touching the plastic threshold piece. Over time, that would definitely show signs of wear. The contact point was very small, less than the thickness of a credit card. I'm sure this is just due to some inconsistencies in manufacturing, build, part variations and the like, but it bugs me.
So, in case you find the same condition or you want to avoid it during the initial install. Here's what I did. Remove the drawer and the four nuts holding the box. Remove the box and remove the 'pillars' at each corner. Insert a thick washer under the pillar bolt and one on top of the bolt (under the box). Do not put two washers together at any point or you'll loose the required bite to torque them down. Four washers under, four washers on top. Set the box in place and reinstall the nuts. This lifted the box enough to clear the threshold with no problem.
And that's it. Lifts it just enough. Now if you want to be fancy, put a thinner washer on top of the thick one just on the front pillars. That will give you the slightest amount of upward cant and assist with full drawer closer.
Hope this helps!
Ordered the Ford (Bronco branded) cargo drawer from the dealer today. Those Ford Pass points covered the cost which was not an insignificant factor in the final decision to go with the Ford box. First, I went back and forth between the drawer and the full enclosure. I ended up with the drawer because I carry more than my fair share of gear and my preference is to organize it. Configurable panels and removable dividers gives a host of options. The drawer actually leaves ample room on top for gear bags, range bags, coolers, etc. I cut the rear rug to size and it's a nice addition. A rubber mat or a piece of automotive carpet would be fine too.
Once I decided on the drawer, I did some research. Over the years for me, TruckVault has been the gold standard. impeccable quality, first-rate security, lots of options. They are also 4x the price of the Ford unit! I got to put eyes on the Ford drawer and I was impressed with the fit and finish. Ball bearing slides, clean welds, carpet on the drawer, and a solid lock. Having used the TruckVault to secure firearms, ammo, tactical gear and the like, the Ford unit gives me the same feeling of security as the TruckVault. Nothing is impenetrable and this post isn't to suggest the Ford unit is any better or worse from that perspective. Like a good safe, the goal is to slow down or deter the attack and this box does that, hands down. I also learned from the instructions that it is made by Tuffy for Ford and Bronco-branded.
The install is super easy and doesn't warrant an entire post. Pop the plastic covers off each of the four tie downs. Remove the bolts, replace with the install hardware, set the box and secure it. Super simple. Use power wrench for the 13mm nuts and torque to the specs on the sheet.
BTW, consider removing your jack and gas filler adapter before you put the drawer in. Now this is optional. I prefer a bottle jack that I'll store in the drawer. But, if you do not remove it, you'll simply have to remove the drawer to access your jack. Given that when you pick up that nail and have to change the tire, it will be dark, wet, dimly lit, muddy, with snow and wind in the forecast, choose wisely.
After the install, the front 'gap' where the tie downs where is left exposed. It's really a bad look when everything else is so tight and orderly. In the above photo, the (now custom) cover is in place on the left and the right side is what it would look like w/o a cover.
With the drawer installed, the opening and exposed threads are unsightly. And, the plastic cover you removed doesn't snap back in. So...
With an air grinder and a couple blasts, I removed everything above the lasso graphic on the plastic cover.
After that, a touch of glue/adhesive and it looks just like it did before the install!
Once the drawer is installed, it's looks stock, again. Hope this helps someone!
*UPDATE* So after things settled down and I put a few miles on it. I noticed the bottom of the drawer was touching the plastic threshold piece. Over time, that would definitely show signs of wear. The contact point was very small, less than the thickness of a credit card. I'm sure this is just due to some inconsistencies in manufacturing, build, part variations and the like, but it bugs me.
So, in case you find the same condition or you want to avoid it during the initial install. Here's what I did. Remove the drawer and the four nuts holding the box. Remove the box and remove the 'pillars' at each corner. Insert a thick washer under the pillar bolt and one on top of the bolt (under the box). Do not put two washers together at any point or you'll loose the required bite to torque them down. Four washers under, four washers on top. Set the box in place and reinstall the nuts. This lifted the box enough to clear the threshold with no problem.
And that's it. Lifts it just enough. Now if you want to be fancy, put a thinner washer on top of the thick one just on the front pillars. That will give you the slightest amount of upward cant and assist with full drawer closer.
Hope this helps!
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