how long till it breaks?

 

Novelty or not, if my dad ever sold his 01 Cummins that step could be a selling point. 55 year old retired man who is in and out of his truck bed for firewood and stuff. Anything to make things a little easier and help his back/knees is a HUGE plus for him.

Looks like a good idea, but it's poorly implemented. It wouldn't take much to incapacitate that step ladder. Oh, and it's not the engineers who make the mistakes (generally), it's corporate America who generally has the last word. In Ford's eyes they probably saw whatever compromise they would have had to make to facilitate the removal of the engine just wasn't worth it.

 

Don't know the cost of the tailgate step on the Ford but I paid less than $50 for mine and use it all the time. It's called the Bed-Hopper Tailgate Step and installs quickly and easily. It also supports up to 400 lbs.

 

I can think of one thing. Back it up to the drag strip so you will have a nice high place to watch the races. Then, after you have reached into that convient ice chest too many times, it will be safer for you to get out of the bed to go find a tree.

 

nice idea, one that would come in handy on my truck seeing as it is lifted 5". then again if i had it i probly would not use it. i just climb up on the tire and over the side.

 

Sorry, but the Ford engineers didn't come up with idea....it's been in the aftermarket for quite a few years.

 

I hear Ford's next idea will be a heated tailgate. That way, your hands stay nice and warm while you're pushing.

 

No, no, no. Fords next great idea is the trailer hitch installed and portable smoker/grill. Plugs into your trailer harness to switch on the cooler and has a down pipe to fit over your exhaust tips to give your food that nice char broiled taste!!

 

True. However, my observation of relatives and acquaintances with engineering backgrounds has been that while they are extremely book smart, they often display an astounding lack of real world mechanical ability and common sense.

How anyone could design a pickup in which servicing the engine necessitates removing the cab is beyond me.

 

To me Ford and especially GM add a lot of gadgets to their trucks to woo customers. It's usually a lot of junk that crapps out or expensive to fix. I'd rather buy reliability and longevity. I guess if you trade every two years you can pass it off on the next buyer My .02.

Pete

 

Greg i have seen a fair amount of engineers like you have observed always wanted to grab one by the tie and strap them under the hood and say HERE you engineered it let me see you work on it or fix it
I think a little of this style of real world education would help a lot

I was at the local GM dealer last night picking up a fuel pump i needed for someone and i know the guys there we started talking about diesel trucks and they had a duraslax cummings in today for headgaskets .
Sounds like they are only slightly better than a 6.4 they said oh boy got to rip off the front clip to do the job cause they are so much fun to get at.

 

Have you all looked at the 6.7? I am never touching one of those things. It was dark when I looked at it but I could barely see the oil filter!

 

Not all engineers "lack" real world experience. I have plenty, but what some off you don't realize is that these vehicles aren't designed by one engineer; they are designed by MANY. Not only that, but they work in teams and report to engineers who report to engineers who report to everyone else and so on and so forth.

I said it before, and I'll say it again. There is NO doubt in my mind that the removal of the cab was brought to the attention of at least a few at Ford. Somewheres along the pipeline someone made the decision that they didn't care about that fact, and that the placement of their 14.5 EGR's or squeezing the fifth turbo in was more important.

I for one can tell you that at my job I report to a very illogical man who has good "business" sense, but lacks very little "engineering" sense.

 

You've nailed it Shawn!

For everyone that doesn't know from personal experience, just remember that Dilbert cartoon's are hilarious because there's nothing funnier than real life.

I think every designer or engineer should build something they come up with at least once, to discover the difference between the theoretical and the empirical.

 

Shawn i know you are correct that is why i did not say all were the same so
JUST SEND ME THE LEAD DOG and let me tie him up