I tried search but didn't find anything.
I looked in the manual, and can't seem to find anything about boxlink, so...

Is there a problem just leaving them installed in the be? Rust, stuff like that?
Any reason I shouldn't, or wouldn't want to leave them installed?

 

No problem leaving them in all the time.

 

Only reason to take them out is to put a different type of connector in. There is a lot more than cleats that will fit in the boxlink plates.

 

Thanks. Figured there was no point keeping them in a box under the seat if they can just be installed. What else other than a few ford accessories (none of which I bought) can you use? I read you can use "E-Track" accessories, but haven't seen anything else. Is that about it?

 

I wouldn't say "a lot". In fact, I find them not to useful. Ford doesn't seem to think so either or they would have a lot more things designed for them.


I do have a selection of e-track fittings for them too. For quick and dirty, I still go for the corner points instead.

 

Mine have been left in since the day I got it a year ago. No issues so far, and no bed cover yet. They seem to be holding up well against rust. Actually better than the hooks on my ratchet straps which are normally stored under the rear seats, out of the rain. Go figure.

I've thought about getting some e-track things to put in there, but TBH they're FAR more useful than the plastic cleats that came with my Tacoma (they would flex the rail they were mounted to with moderate tension on the straps, and were known to break). I almost never used those, and added 4 more rings to the bed to use instead. By comparison, I've only used the rings in the F150 bed a handful of times when I needed a lower anchor point. The cleats area almost always easier to access and solid for torquing down a ratchet strap (I've put enough pressure on wood pallets to bend the slats).

 

You can get e-track ratchet straps, straps with D-rings on the end, and 2x4 mounts (some people have make bed dividers, cargo management, and bike mounts with those).

Frankly I haven't seen anything that really caught my eye either, but I have 6 people in my family so a bike rack would take some engineering! And I ratchet strap everything down so the cleats by themselves are extremely useful.