Thoughts on removing Braptor Frame support for Flip Down Attic Shelf

[cyrus104]

I'm looking more organized ways of storing more gear for overlanding and came across the Mountains2Metal equipment. I've now have several other things from them and really like the gear.

So my big question is wanting to get people thoughts on removing the large cross member support in the back of the Braptor to enable something like the M2M Attic Shelf. Most of my time this is my Daily Driver and when we do go off road is fire trails / weeks long overlanding. We try to avoid doing anything that has a high likely hood of breaking our rig (obviously anything can happen). Our top speed overlanding on rough terrain is going to be like 30-50mph on washboards but small and medium rocks are crawl speeds.

https://mountains2metal.com/flip-down-attic-shelf-factory-speaker-compatible/

I know the brace is there for frame rigidity and adding stiffness but I don't think I'm pushing the vehicle to the range where that level of support is required... but I don't actually know.

Thoughts?

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[HighVelocity]

There are two certainties in life:

1. Death by snusnu.

2. Taking the word of a bunch of random people on the internet for a structural part as gospel.

 

[Ninjak]

Hard call. The regular Broncosd does not have it, but they are no Raptors. You would still have the B brace, so.....

 

[swamp2]

It would be fine without it. You don't see non Raptors pushed hard off road without the brace having related issues.

That said, why not have your cake and sat it too by getting the American Adventure Labs cargo shelf which is fully Raptor compatible? I have one, but am waiting on all sorts of minor issues requiring cargo area trim removal before installing it.

 

[cyrus104]

It would be fine without it. You don't see non Raptors pushed hard off road without the brace having related issues.

That said, why not have your cake and sat it too by getting the American Adventure Labs cargo shelf which is fully Raptor compatible? I have one, but am waiting on all sorts of minor issues requiring cargo area trim removal before installing it.

I do like AAL stuff and looking at them as well. I have the STP and looking at the MASS but really like the attic which is really high and tucked up in the hard top.

 

[cyrus104]

It would be fine without it. You don't see non Raptors pushed hard off road without the brace having related issues.

That said, why not have your cake and sat it too by getting the American Adventure Labs cargo shelf which is fully Raptor compatible? I have one, but am waiting on all sorts of minor issues requiring cargo area trim removal before installing it.

Also comparing the AAL fridge pullout drawer to the M2M drawer that is the whole back. I like that it's the whole back that pulls out.

 

[Mountains2Metal]

It would be fine without it. You don't see non Raptors pushed hard off road without the brace having related issues.

That said, why not have your cake and sat it too by getting the American Adventure Labs cargo shelf which is fully Raptor compatible? I have one, but am waiting on all sorts of minor issues requiring cargo area trim removal before installing it.

He is referring to our attic shelf for having to remove the cross brace. Our cargo shelf is Raptor compatible.
https://mountains2metal.com/rear-cargo-tray-4d-bronco-6g-2021/

 

[RIDE]

Thoughts?

Theres other threads here about that brace and its importance. Some takeaways are it’s there (and not on regular broncos) to prevent body torsional flex both from Braptor having wider stance/axles and also being heavier than other trims. Also there for safety aspects.
I personally make sure mine’s in place to avoid the chance of future body squeaks from rumbling over rough roads at speed. I find once those gremlins show up you never get rid of em.

 

[tourproto]

The flip down attic is next on my "to buy" list. I think it is the best one around. Largest space and easy access when tipped down.

I don't have any squeaks in my 4 door BL. and I go offroad for hunting/fishing. Lots of bumpy, rutted county roads and no noise that really bothers me. I would say remove the cross bar and install it!

 

[vrtical]

It's there for high speed stability. If your not blasting out west good to go with out it.

 

[cyrus104]

Yeah, no blasting and currently no squeaks. I'll use the term brace in my searches to see if I find more threads on it, couldn't really find much with cross member support etc...

 

[Spyder625]

i heard if removed warranty is gone as well... so if anything happens you may not be covered.. check with ford..

 

[c-dubb]

I personally make sure mine’s in place to avoid the chance of future body squeaks from rumbling over rough roads at speed. I find once those gremlins show up you never get rid of em.

This. My Braptor has the squeaks and it's so annoying.

 

[swamp2]

It's there for high speed stability. If your not blasting out west good to go with out it.

My suspicion is the opposite. It's there for "bulk" flex that is more typical in low speed, crawling/flexing type driving. I.e. it targets body stiffness and the low frequency modes.

 

[RIDE]

My suspicion is the opposite. It's there for "bulk" flex that is more typical in low speed, crawling/flexing type driving. I.e. it targets body stiffness and the low frequency modes.

I agree. At least for me, I’m finding it’s the asymmetrical hits at intermediate speed (~30mph or slower) where I'm either braking hard on rough before a hard turn or miss seeing a double-up rut when I hit hard to one side and feel it’s testing lateral torque. I’ve not visibly verified I’ve bottomed out but sure feels like there was nothing left in the shock when it hit. Running over cattleguards and culvert pipes asymmetrically at 50+ doesn’t even phase it.

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