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Been messing around outside off and on all day playing with spacers in the bed to center my pop-up truck camper when loading...
Came in the house for an hour or so and went back out to find this on my 2020 XLT>
What the hell?? Nobody has been in the yard, fenced and security cams.
Had to be the sun somehow focusing off something- no idea what. I've seen similar before on a motorcycle instrument panel behind a windshield...but this being a bed rail cap is not behind any glass.
For reference the truck was parked facing close to north so the bed rail was in full southern sun...I also notice a slight curve in the pattern, perhaps as the sun moved.
Any bets on how hard the dealer will laugh when I ask for warranty on this??
I’ve heard of (but not seen myself) of the sun doing such things.
Its something I always warn people about when we sell synthetic turf. When conditions are just right the sun can reflect off nearby windows and melt the turf.
It’s not predictable as far as I know, it just happens sometimes.
Living in a warm climate, we have discussions about heat.
Such as not leaving a water bottle on the seat of your car. It is currently about 100. That is pretty powerful sun to beam through the vehicle glass and through the bottled water.
Or if you're like me and need glasses on occasion and accidentally leave them out, that's probably going to end with damage.
That's really unfortunate -and definitely makes one wonder what the heck was focused on a place so long that not only warped the plastic but put several through holes in it. Ouch.
I've had a similar thing happen on a motorcycle cowling when the sun shines through a curved windscreen. Looks like someone laid a cigarette down and it burned away. It's similar to holding a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on something. As a kid I used fry ants that way. I'm guessing the bed rail was subject to reflected light that got focused. The pattern is consistent with the "movement of the sun in the sky".
Nope nothing dropped on it, nothing applied to it, nothing sprayed on it.
IF I elect to replace it I plan to do some tests on the old part with heat and an IR thermometer to see just how much heat it takes to melt that plastic.
I have SS bed rail caps on my 96 F350*- hmmm wonder if anyone makes those for the 13th gen F150...
* they still look great after 25 years.
EDIT- It appears no one makes SS bed rail caps for the 13th gen F150- in fact can't even find non-OEM caps made by anyone...I'll probably smooth down the bubbled plastic- and fill with something....
My RSi Smart Cap is on the bed 90% of the time, and the rubber bulb seal on it depends on the surface being relatively flat to seal.
Nope nothing dropped on it, nothing applied to it, nothing sprayed on it.
IF I elect to replace it I plan to do some tests on the old part with heat and an IR thermometer to see just how much heat it takes to melt that plastic.
I have SS bed rail caps on my 96 F350*- hmmm wonder if anyone makes those for the 13th gen F150...
* they still look great after 25 years.
Neighbor kid with a mirror in the 2 story next door? That's wild man.
06-18-2021, 05:48 PM
Melted bed rail cap- WTH?
