Hey guys,

My employer is looking at replacing some of their F150s with super dutys. We are looking at a F350 xlt CCLB 4x4 diesel with the premium and driver assistance packages, along with BLIS.

These trucks will be equipped with service body's and will be subjected to extensive off road use. Will the service body and mud keep the Lane departure and BLIS system from working?

 

BLIS uses radar in the stock pickup bed tail lamps to function. LDW I believe uses the windshield camera. Therefore, LDW would probably work still, but BLIS will not unless you can reuse the stock tail lights.

 

If you are replacing the box with service bodies most fleets purchase either the box delete option of the Cab/Chassis. The cab/chassis has an advantage of frame dimensions which fit existing service bodies. The newer box frame is not the same design and could exhibit some problems, at least for the time being.

The BLIS is not available with either of those choices. If you are off road extensively you will have it turned off most of the time anyway. The blinking light in the mirror is a nuisance for every tree and rock along the way.

 

Currently the two body manufacturers I sell (Reading and Omaha) have additional supplemental mounting kits you have to use with the 2017 56"CA SRW pickup box off applications. Both manufactures are working on body redesigns that will keep them universal to GM/Ford/RAM here in the very near future.

I actually install more 8' service bodies on trucks that come with pickup boxes (we just give them a credit and keep them to re-sell) mainly because it keeps the inventory of trucks easier to sell (pickups) rather then pickup box deletes.

I agree you will loose the BLIS once the pickup box comes off.

 

Ok loosing the BLIS is no problem.


I will talk with our fleet manager about a chassis cab. However, not all of the new trucks will get service bodies, and so far I've noticed a few differences that might make the pickup a better option regardless.


-45gal tank - not available with the reduced payload package.
-Reverse sensors. - (Will need to be installed on the service bodies bumper. Can they be added later?)
-Rear Camera (tailgate or TBL) - same as reverse sensors.
-Fog lights
- Engine de-rated to 330hp/750ftlbs


There's about a $1000 price difference between a chassis cab and a pickup. I think the options available on the pickup and the ability to sale or get credit for the bed, lights, and bumper out weigh the cost savings with a chassis cab.


Also if you delete the bed on a pickup you only get a $500 credit and I'd think the bed is worth at least $1500 if its complete.

 

I often install the factory bumper parking sensors and tailgate camera's into the rear of our service bodies/flatbeds. it's not all that hard but does take some time to get everything set-up correctly. The truck up fitter who does the installs will determine how well this comes out, but is is possible, we've done it on GM/Ford/RAM trucks that we pulled the pickup box off of.

I give a max $500 credit on new take off pickup boxes as does my competition, not sure what they do down in the lower 48 though.

 

I paid $1700 for a brand new 2010 takeoff with T/G and lights about 5 years ago. Good deal for me but sounds like it could have been better, looks like good deal for the body shop. Picked it up 250 miles out in Ohio.

 

We used to charge $1,500 for a complete bed with gate, lights, bumper..ect

I currently have so many beds we dropped the price to $1,150.

 

OP, definitely keep those BLIS-equipped taillight assemblies mint and protected in bubble wrap when you get them, because they're going to be worth a lot when your company sells them!

For the 2015+ F150, the regular taillights are only about $80 MSRP each, while the LED-BLIS taillights run just shy of $400 MSRP per side. Pricing isn't available on the 2017 SD taillights yet, but will probably be similar for obvious reasons.

 

Just out of curiosity seeing as how this happened to me recently. Can some one access the tail light and remove the blis with truck locked?

My back canopy was opened one day and it quicky became apparent some one tried to break in. They failed at getting in the back window. But took the bulbs out of my tail light and in turn cut the wiring harness. They took nothing from the bed of the truck.