A closer look at the Ford F-450 bed extender
Bed extenders are nothing new. From the Nissan Frontier crew cab to Ford's own Explorer Sport Trac and the previous generation SuperCrew F-150, the movable metal cage that is the typical bed extender has been the solution to add a few inches of utility to short-bed pick-up trucks. It's too bad that when they're not extending the bed, they're in the way of cargo you might want to haul with the tailgate up. For its new 2008 SuperDuty line of trucks, Ford is offering a well designed solution to the aggravation of the current flip-like-Wilson metal cage bed extenders. The industry-unique stowable extender made from blow-molded polypropylene can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of static pressure. It is split into two separate sections that can be stowed in the sides of the bed, and is clamped together in the middle when it needs to be used.
After the jump you will see photos of the extender in action, as well as a photo of the optional Tailgate Step, which is integrated into the tailgate (look closely at the top of the tailgate and you'll see the panel behind which it's hidden). The Tailgate Step and bed extender are examples of how Ford hopes to differentiate its heavy duty pick-ups to better meet the needs of its customers. While Ford may wish to differentiate itself with these unique features, we hope they disseminate across the segment as standard fare over the next few years.
[Source: Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pedro 2:40PM (10/04/2006)
its almost like a terrible slow animation if you scroll down the page
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Kowell 2:42PM (10/04/2006)
Looks practical but is it as solid as a full steel one?
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Steve 2:45PM (10/04/2006)
That's a very clever solution, actually.
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Kamil 2:51PM (10/04/2006)
OMG! Original thinking at Ford!!!
Congrats, about time!
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Big Al 3:51PM (10/04/2006)
This is a great idea, but I still think Nissan got it right with the Titan. The "tracks" in the floor and inside lips of the bed rails with moveable anchor points are genius, as is the lockable, water tight storage compartment on the lower rear portion of the bed (behind the wheel well). Also, the Titan's rear seat folds either flat against the rear wall of the cab giving a huge open area for cargo, or the seat back folds forward providing a "shelf" like surface.
I'm not a truck aficianado, but I have never seen these ideas before in any truck and they struck me as useful and ingenious.
Okay, commercial over.
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DPC car videos 3:16PM (10/04/2006)
That is awesome, its like a transformer.
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Bill 3:07PM (10/04/2006)
In theory it is nice, but what about long skinny items such as what is pictured in the graphic? If you are hauling lumber, it seems that boards could easily slide right out under acceleration.
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emulous1974 3:30PM (10/04/2006)
I think it's a great idea but the first thing I'm thinking after seeing the pics is they could of made it more versatile. If they would of made it a big larger, when it is fully vehicle to reach the height of the cab and be able to be locked into that position, then with a roof rack on the cab and the bed extender set up vertically, then it could be used to carry much longer items such as ladders, canoes, etc. without having to purchase the aftermarket pieces that so many truck owners already buy.
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Jamie 3:11PM (10/04/2006)
4. OMG! Original thinking at Ford!!!
Congrats, about time!
Posted at 2:51PM on Oct 4th 2006 by Kamil 0 stars
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More "ORIGINAL" than your "comment". Run along now. Leave the auto industry to the serious enthusiasts.
A Camry would suit you just fine.
(P.S. It's "reliable".)
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Adam 3:21PM (10/04/2006)
Is this a dealer installed accessory or something that rolls off the line?
Is it going to be a pain in the ass to get a bed liner installed?
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JasonH 3:29PM (10/04/2006)
Wasn't there just a warning on Autoblog about putting too much weight on a tailgate? How much weight can this one support?
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LK 4:16PM (10/04/2006)
Big Al - my last ranch truck (F250 crew-cab) had the rear seat that folded both ways, and when the seat bottom was folded up there was a steel storage tray that folded out to form a flat load floor. That was a 2004, and I'm not sure when they started offering that feature.
As far as weight on the tailgate, the most I put on the tailgate was about 800 pounds or so. That didn't seem to be a problem, but I did discover that 100-pound bales of hay dropped 15 feet will bend the inside panels of the tailgate after a while. However, the outside still looked fine and the support cables held up.
I'm not sure about the tailgate step - while it's an interesting idea, it doesn't look very sturdy or very stable. Plus, usually if you need a step it's because you're loading/unloading the bed...and I can't imagine trying to use that step while carrying 100-pound bags of feed. What I'd really like to see is some sort of loading ramp that slides under the bed, similar to large trucks & moving vans.
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True Ford Truck Fan 7:54PM (10/04/2006)
Ford has thought of a way to be more proactive in desing and features. As for the nissan trac idea, anyone who uses the truck would see the flaws in that system. Try loading some bark or rock then seeing how well they work. They become alomst useless when for anything other than tying in a washer or dryer. Ford has been the leader in trucks for some time, if you dont believe me ask...
PG&E, AMR ambulance, police, fire, railroad, construction comp, shall I go on?
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laserwizard 5:16PM (10/04/2006)
More reasons why the only REAL PICKUP TRUCK made is a FORD ONE! Bravo! What really pisses me off is that Ford puts so much energy kicking everyone's butt in trucks and doesn't put the same energy into its cars.
All Chevrolet has going for it in its half-baked new GMT-900's is fuel economy - fraudulent claims that aren't borne out in the real world (the full-sized SUV's that just were released don't get anywhere near what GM said they would).
Toyoduh, Honduh, and Nissa better do some homework on their trucks. Ford is showing that there is nothing like a Good Ole American Pickup.
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laserwizard 5:17PM (10/04/2006)
Guys, GM was the company who had to recall their trucks because their tailgate support cables couldn't hold the weight of a BigMac and fries. Ford has never had that problem. It can hold the weight of Robert Lutz's BS.
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John C 6:06PM (10/04/2006)
I think this is a great Idea. I hope Ford offers this as an add-on item that we can install on Previous model trucks. Way to go Ford!
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Robert 7:53PM (10/04/2006)
Two great ideas.
One thing I don't understand is why all bed extenders have perforations. If a piece of wood or pipe has to extend beyond the bed extender then what's the point? The only other thing I can think of is aerodynamics. The problem is it's a myth. DRIVING WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN DOES NOT IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE. There's an SAE paper on it and the MythBusters proved this, though their methods leave room for reproach.
Why not make the bed extender solid so soil and mulch can be loaded in the front of the bed while items in the back stay clean?
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PiCASSO 9:26PM (10/04/2006)
#8. Is this a dealer installed accessory or something that rolls off the line?
Rolls off the line... bed extender, tailgate step, and grab handle.
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Bret 12:11AM (10/05/2006)
We could have used both things today. Climbing in and out of the bed to load a generator and a MIG welding cart would have been a ton easier with that tailgate step. And the bed extender would have helped secure the steel we were carrying. Two fantastic ideas for people who actually use their truck for work. Much more useful than the quarter-panel cubbyhole you get with a Titan, good for little more than a set of jumper cables and maybe a flashlight.
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Ian 11:06AM (10/07/2006)
is he to fat to just jump up in the bed? Why does anyone need that?
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