Quote:
Originally Posted by ksfisk
So far, it's been a little difficult to find rail kits that are listed as compatible with the 2021 F150. The Reese website indicates there is a universal rail kit from husky and one from tow right that would be compatible. They also show a Reese rail kit that is supposed to be a custom fit for the F150 with no drilling necessary in the frame. (56034-53)
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If it mentions Husky, I don't think you're looking at the Reese website. "Reese-hitches" is not the real Reese website;
reeseprod.com is the real Reese site. But yes,
Reese 50087 is a custom-fit bracket kit for an F-150 including 2021 (and from 2015-2020 as well),
Reese 56034 is another bracket set for the same years of F-150, and
56034-53 is a kit of the 56034 brackets plus a pair of rails. These two Reese bracket kits are similar but not identical, and place the rails in the same location (centred about one inch ahead of the axle). The differences in detail can be seen in the installation instructions linked to the product pages; they use different holes in the rails, placing the bolts through the bed floor in different locations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksfisk
Does it matter whether I go with the custom fit rail kit vs a universal rail kit?
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Either can work, but universal kits may require drilling holes in the frame and may not allow placement in the desired location, while "custom fit" kits are normally designed to use existing holes and result in rail placement in the typical (at or just ahead of the axle) location. As David explained, the results with a universal kit depend on the installer's skill and effort.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksfisk
If all rails go in a standard location, which is centered over the axle, does the only real difference in the kits come down to the mounts for the rails?
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While most truck-specific kits result in similar positions for the rails, they're not necessarily exactly the same, as there is no single "correct" position; normally it is centred just ahead of the axle, not directly over it. But yes, the difference in kits is the mounts.