Really disappointed with lack of EL mods

[Munkiebunz3]

Also really disappointed in shops giving me low estimates over the phone then upping the price by 2-3x once they see me in person.
Looking for a storage system. Super expensive unless I build it myself.
Looking for rock sliders: nope. Gotta go custom. Someone quoted $600 then did $2500 in person.
Looking for a roof rack: nope. Gotta go custom.
Looking for a rear bumper: nope.
Asked about getting line-x for the driver and passenger side. Initially quoted 1500-2k. 2nd call to confirm appointment was increased to 2500. In person? $7k. Went to the line-x shop & the reception expert quoted $4k per side for "labor of removing doors and stuff" once I asked for labor rates & price per gallon she shut up, gave me a card & stopped helping me.
Looks like I'm going to be going to be doing a lot of my own welding next year. Doing all the measurements this year. Ugh.
Well now I get to design rock sliders with removable steps.

 

[Black]

Thought about Raptor lining it yourself instead of Line X?

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Just heard of it now. Thank you. Looking into it.

 

[Black]

Most Raptor liner reviews and YouTube video looks pretty good. Seems like a pretty solid product. I am not brave enough to do the whole rig though.
I plan on getting a kit to do the bed of my Silverado. I’ll also spray the factory motor skid plate and see if RCI will sell a bare steel transmission skid. I’ll also use it on the Ford plastic skid for the fuel tank to add some strength.

Rear bumper even if the Expedition was F150 popular would still likely be nonexistent. With the EL having nearly 2 feet of bumper on the side that ties into the wheel well skirts for stability. It would look pretty awkward.

Your best bet is to Raptor Line the bumper for scratch resistance and some impact resistance but get yourself a Willco Swinggate offset hitch mount tire carrier.
You’d want to run a camera to your 3rd brake light or mounted to the hitch. Put that and the factory can on a switch to choose which camera in the even you decide to remove the carrier.

 

[Trainmaster]

I've used Monstaliner with great success. Good product and excellent service. Custom colors too.

http://www.monstaliner.com/

I also wish there were more off-road accessories for these trucks.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Wouldn't the wilco hitch gate also eliminate the parking sensor's ability to detect anything beyond the hitch gate?
I looked at monstaliner & I don't think I could easily do a roll on application with the exterior.

 

[Black]

Hitchgate Solo runs at the same level as the hitch so it is slightly lower than the bumper and your tire arm comes up the center so should not obstruct the sensors.

The Hitchgate offset will block the center sensors but not the outside sensors. It would be interesting to know how the system would react to just unplugging the middle two sensors.
It would also be simple enough to extend the wires of the center sensors and mount the sensors to sheet metal bracket in the openings to the left and right of the Wilco reciever hitch.

 

[mcloven]

I raptor lined my daughters jeep tub and it turned out awesome. I spayed it with the supplied gun. after prep work, it was fast and easy.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Hitchgate Solo runs at the same level as the hitch so it is slightly lower than the bumper and your tire arm comes up the center so should not obstruct the sensors.

The Hitchgate offset will block the center sensors but not the outside sensors. It would be interesting to know how the system would react to just unplugging the middle two sensors.
It would also be simple enough to extend the wires of the center sensors and mount the sensors to sheet metal bracket in the openings to the left and right of the Wilco reciever hitch.

Unplugging a single sensor throws the whole system into fault and ceases function with an error message on the cluster.

I was interested in Gardit truck liner but there isn't a dealer within 600 miles of me. I can buy the machine (black only) & starter kit for $6k. That liner is said to be tougher than line-x.

 

[Adieu]

What are you trying to line? Exterior? Interior?

 

[ExplorerTom]

Sliders for an F-150 don't work?

And roof rack:
https://www.equipt1.com/collections/eezi-awn/products/k9-roof-rack-platform
Have one of these racks on my Expedition. Great rack.

Storage:
http://store.arbusa.com/Roller-Drawers-C81.aspx
I have some of these drawers in my Explorer. Love them. Might fabricate some drawers for my Expedition because of how much I love them.

Try to find a local fabricator. I found one near me on Craigslist. He built my sliders and bumpers for my Explorer. Believe me, the aftermarket support for Explorers isn't good either.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Did you mount it to the factory rack mounts, drill additional mount holes?

The mount points are different for the EL I hear.

I'm lookin to bedline the exterior. What purpose would I have in lining the interior?

 

[ExplorerTom]

You remove the factory rack completely. The new rack comes with rails that look like this:


You take your factory rails and transfer the holes to this piece so it fits into the roof the same.

The new rack has feet that look like this:


It’ll fit. Trust me. It won’t be listed in a catalog that it’ll fit, but it’ll fit just fine.

 

[ExplorerTom]

 

[Black]

Mounting points for the F150 running boards aren’t even close.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Running boards and sliders are NOT the same thing.

Running boards help you get into/out of the vehicle. Sliders are bolted/welded to the frame and can take the full weight of the truck being supported on them to protect the body in the event a large rock ends up finding its way under the rocker panel. Most sliders are tucked up right under the body and do a poor job of assisting ingress and egress. Good sliders can be used as jacking points with a hi-lift jack.

Like I said, I'd be surprised if some iteration of an F-150 (regular cab/long bed, regular cab/short bed, extended cab/short bed....there's only about 2 dozen combinations.....) sliders wouldn't fit an EL.

 

[Black]

Running boards and sliders are NOT the same thing.

Running boards help you get into/out of the vehicle. Sliders are bolted/welded to the frame and can take the full weight of the truck being supported on them to protect the body in the event a large rock ends up finding its way under the rocker panel. Most sliders are tucked up right under the body and do a poor job of assisting ingress and egress. Good sliders can be used as jacking points with a hi-lift jack.

Like I said, I'd be surprised if some iteration of an F-150 (regular cab/long bed, regular cab/short bed, extended cab/short bed....there's only about 2 dozen combinations.....) sliders wouldn't fit an EL.

Clear on the difference though all the sliders for the F150 I have come across use the running board mounting points but use a more J shaped bracket vs. the running board L shaped bracket to tuck the main tube up to protect the rockers.

https://www.addictivedesertdesigns....-150-series-rock-slider-side-steps-supercrew/


Many folks are doing step sliders these days that have the main tube tucked along the rocker for the protection but have an arched tube extending out and plates welded between for steps.

A couple inches higher than a running board step but still a solid point for footing and not sacraficing ground clearance.

The ones that weld or bolt to the frame tend to be the universal length style and the 90” kits are what the 3rd Gens need.

http://www.chassisunlimited.com/product/armor-bumpers/rock-sliders/rock-slider-kit-sqaure.html