Mud / salt / debris trap

[LC48]

I have been on many muddy job sites recently, and to add insult I got trapped twice behind a brine spray truck, so my Mav was in need of a good wash.

I have a 6-foot extending wash wand with an adjustable head i use to spray under body wheel wells etc., and I pay close attention to the left rear quarter as it is open to the road below.

Today i could not get the water to run clear, so after rinsing the area for 20 minutes I decided to just pull the taillight and flush the area from above. The area was packed with mud, small rocks, and briny crud. Only took a minute to wash it out from above.

Folks in areas with actual winter weather may want to pull that drivers taillight and get that rear quarter cleaned out., and keep a close eye on it.

@Ford Motor Company needs to provide some protection here, a good part of what is cast off from the tire winds up slobbered onto the taillight and up inside that panel. Looks like an awesome recipe for corrosion sooner rather than later.

If you haven't, I encourage you to pull that taillight, less than a minute, and check it out.

Passenger side is rarely dirty at all as it is protected from the wheel well by the storage cubby - so I believe I will add another storage cubby to the drivers side soon.

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[Maverickman74]

Im worried about the felt covering the whole bottom. Unless that is only on the lariat. I ordered an xlt.

 

[Kansas Mavs]

I have been on many muddy job sites recently, and to add insult I got trapped twice behind a brine spray truck, so my Mav was in need of a good wash.

I have a 6-foot extending wash wand with an adjustable head i use to spray under body wheel wells etc., and I pay close attention to the left rear quarter as it is open to the road below.

Today i could not get the water to run clear, so after rinsing the area for 20 minutes I decided to just pull the taillight and flush the area from above. The area was packed with mud, small rocks, and briny crud. Only took a minute to wash it out from above.

Folks in areas with actual winter weather may want to pull that drivers taillight and get that rear quarter cleaned out., and keep a close eye on it.

@Ford Motor Company needs to provide some protection here, a good part of what is cast off from the tire winds up slobbered onto the taillight and up inside that panel. Looks like an awesome recipe for corrosion sooner rather than later.

If you haven't, I encourage you to pull that taillight, less than a minute, and check it out.

Passenger side is rarely dirty at all as it is protected from the wheel well by the storage cubby - so I believe I will add another storage cubby to the drivers side soon.

Can you provide some pictures of what you’re describing?

 

[Red Ryder]

If you haven't, I encourage you to pull that taillight, less than a minute, and check it out.

Passenger side is rarely dirty at all as it is protected from the wheel well by the storage cubby - so I believe I will add another storage cubby to the drivers side soon.

I think I'll plan on adding another storage cubby, especially if it helps with this issue.

 

[LC48]

Im worried about the felt covering the whole bottom. Unless that is only on the lariat. I ordered an xlt.

Mine is XLT as well. The underside covers are not absorbent at all, and make cleaning very easy, same with the soft fender liners, dirt sprays right off..

Can you provide some pictures of what you’re describing?

I didn't take any today, but can take some tomorrow if needed, still need to detail the interior, under hood, and clean out the bed.

TLDR; The area behind the left taillight is open to the road below, nothing to block spray etc. from being slung off the tire into the body panel interior and onto the backside of the taillight assembly. Not easy to clean from below, recommend occasional removal of taillight and wash this area out, especially in areas where roads are routinely salted.

 

[LC48]

I think I'll plan on adding another storage cubby, especially if it helps with this issue.

The cubby is tall enough to serve as a great block - Pax side is never really dirty.

 

[atomguy245]

Would this problem be solved on models with the inverter in the bed on the driver's side?

 

[LC48]

Not sure. I would assume the housing for the plugs should help a bit, the inverter itself should be in the cab.

It may be that one of the mudflap options out would help as well. The storage cubby works so well because it is deep and extends a good way down inside the panel.

 

[cannon]

I have been on many muddy job sites recently, and to add insult I got trapped twice behind a brine spray truck, so my Mav was in need of a good wash.

I have a 6-foot extending wash wand with an adjustable head i use to spray under body wheel wells etc., and I pay close attention to the left rear quarter as it is open to the road below.

Today i could not get the water to run clear, so after rinsing the area for 20 minutes I decided to just pull the taillight and flush the area from above. The area was packed with mud, small rocks, and briny crud. Only took a minute to wash it out from above.

Folks in areas with actual winter weather may want to pull that drivers taillight and get that rear quarter cleaned out., and keep a close eye on it.

@Ford Motor Company needs to provide some protection here, a good part of what is cast off from the tire winds up slobbered onto the taillight and up inside that panel. Looks like an awesome recipe for corrosion sooner rather than later.

If you haven't, I encourage you to pull that taillight, less than a minute, and check it out.

Passenger side is rarely dirty at all as it is protected from the wheel well by the storage cubby - so I believe I will add another storage cubby to the drivers side soon.

I can see the recall from Ford now-

"Obtain locally- Great Stuff expanding foam"

I say this half joking- given what I've seen on recalls this is a real possibility.

 

[LC48]

 

[Maverickman74]

Mine is XLT as well. The underside covers are not absorbent at all, and make cleaning very easy, same with the soft fender liners, dirt sprays right off..

Doesnt it seem like things can accumulate on top of them though? I'm on a dirt and gravel road everyday. Maybe I will look at modifying mine I dont know yet.

 

[Decayed]

Guess I gotta shop for mudflaps. Already planning on the extra cubby.

 

[93nighthawk]

I can see the recall from Ford now-

"Obtain locally- Great Stuff expanding foam"

I say this half joking- given what I've seen on recalls this is a real possibility.

LoL, It was on the Windstar rear axle recall.

 

[LC48]

Doesnt it seem like things can accumulate on top of them though? I'm on a dirt and gravel road everyday. Maybe I will look at modifying mine I dont know yet.

Didn't see any issue on the front cover when I dropped it for its first oil change. I am about a month away from my next one and this will involve a tire rotation, brake check etc. etc., so I will roll under the whole rig and check for any other dirt & moisture traps - I will update with what I find.

 

[Maverickman74]

Nice thanks.

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