I finally sold my ‘01 Expedition private party, and I am now ready to order my ‘04 F150 Lariat Screw. One detail that I have not settled on though....the interior overhead rail storage system. My teenage kids never used the video system that I had in my Expedition, so ordering one for my F150 would be a waste. None of the other storage pods really appeal to me. I was considering ordering my truck with a moonroof so I wouldn’t have to look at the exposed rails.

Those of you with the overhead rail system, do you like it? Do you use it?

 

Love the functionality and looks of it - just ordered myself more bins. I am not a huge moonroof guy, but that is definitely a cool feature too.

 

I think the overhead storage is neat, but I'm not really making use of it yet.

Everything I took out of my little regular cab Ranger fit in the center console and driver's door pocket.

Now I have four door pockets, a whole rear seat (thinking about an under seat storage bin), and that really neat storage bin on top of the dash. Bet my "stuff" will grow to fill it up.

I'm leaving the overhead empty untill I figure out the best way to use it.

 

I have a few comment in other threads regarding the rail overhead system. I am part of the development team at Johnson Controls, one of the largest automotive interior suppliers, that invented and developed this product.

it will also soon be on additional vehicles.

there are a few modules available today, like mini snake lights, sunglass and phone storage inserts, first aid kit, cd/dvd cases, power inverter for your laptop, etc. and many more to come.

Some of the potential future modules include satellite radio, potentially a nav unit, music hard drive, walkabout radio sets, bloothtooth enable hands free phone system, etc

these are in development, and not available right away. but the best attribute of the rail system is that if your needs change and/or addional modules become available, you can add or change the configuration of your rail.

i just evaluated a prototype of a navigation module in my personal
F150 Fx4 this weekend. and i have the DVD system installed too. it will play mp3's recorded onto c d's.

let me know if you have any other questions (anyone)


and don't be afraid to criticize if that is the case too

Rambunctious
Rob
Chief Engineer, New Product Strategy and Business Development
Overhead Systems
Johnson Controls Interiors

 

I bought an XLT Supercrew. Is there DVD player assembly that goes on the rail? How about power for such a thing, also where does the inverter get it's power?

 

Rambunctious Rob,

Thanks for the reply. You have me re-thinking my opinion. I especially like the idea of a music hard drive. What exactly is a bloothtooth hands free phone system? I can't find much of a reference on the internet.

Also, how long before some of these pods are actually available? Would you like me to evaluate some more prototypes for you?

Craig

 

My new F-150 is being built next week, but one of the options that I'm pretty pumped about is the overhead rail system. Just having more places to put things like sunglasses is a neat featureto me. Maps / CDs / Tissues will go in the large center console and my sunglasses will go up top on the rail. I'm still debating which other option to add to the rail.

E

 

Its perfect for a small auto. pistol.

 

Don't pissoff JTFORD on the road............hehehe

 

whoznext

there is a DVD system for the rail. it is costly ($1200) because we all have to have our fingers in the cookie jar and recoup all our investment. but it is definitely an integrated solution

anyway

it is the only product that actually uses the Aux input on the ford radio. because it uses their CAN communication BUSS to enable the aux input. aftermarket is presently back enginering the BUSS protocol to enable other products to use this aux/CAN BUSS. but none released to date.

the DVD plays movies, and MP3's saved on a CD. not mp3's converted to CD file, but actual .mp3's. this allows more songs on a cd. The DVD player also allows rear seat headphone (with jacks) or rear seat wireless headphones and remote control (additional cost)
It also allows the rear seat to tune the radio and listen through the headphones while truck speakers are silent. It also lets rear seat listen to a movie or mp3 disk, and front seat the radio.

Unfortunatley. Ford has not release yet the "Prewire" kit which puts the harness up in the headliner, tied to the raidio aux for vehicles ordered without the DVD. the release of this $50 option is delayed until model year 05. this would let anyone, including a dealer with a prewired truck, to add a DVD player in 2.3 minutes!!!!

so if you don't order DVD with your truck. it will be difficult to integrate the DVD after the fact (this is totally opposite of our intent with the rail) So trust that we are doing whatever we can to pull up that option to enable after vehicle build installs of the DVD.

my truck fell into this case. i ordered my truck before the december release of the DVD. I just spent a good 6 hrs installing one from work with an FM modulator and routing all the wires. sound is good, but not like line level in using the Aux and CAN buss integration.

the inverter is actually a self contain inverter in a case logic case that fits into a bin. pull it out of it's case and it has a powerpoint plug chord (cigarette lighter) and a 110V outlet. It is 75 watts and this will power most laptops, but not the newest high end super smokin machines, they take 100 watts.

my kids love the mini snake lights. best part is there is two of them. (kids, and snakelights. Phew!!!!!)
and we had to sit in the garage for 45 minutes and watch charlotte's web II once i finally got the DVD up and running.


Bluetooth is a new standard wireless protocol. it is used in wireless office applications today and there are now cell phones with this technology.

The premise: you throw your B T enabled phone into the car (on the seat, in your breifcase, whatever) it automatically links to the module on the rail which has a speaker and microphone. you use your own phone for outgoing/incoming, but it channels through the hands free and voice activated dialing and address book features of the bluetooth rail module.


most of these are in development and realistically they wont be in production for at least 12 months. but at the price of these ford trucks i don't expect anyone selling their truck that soon, and the ease of upgrading is what the rail is all about.

there was a public anouncement this week that another vehicle manufacturer has our rail in thier minivan too. and we have sold another vehicle manufacturer as well. these rails are all compatible with each other (for the msot part) so that modules will be interchangeable between your truck and minivan. Ford is the only truck with this rail system presently.

thanks for the interest


JT, we thought about a shotgun rack ( for about a minute) but we did show a fishingpole holder last year to some OEM execs.


Ramb:

 

craigtaz,

i was looking forward to the overhead rail but when i bought my truck it already had a moonroof. living in SoCal I don't regret it at all. in fact, i think i am glad i got the moonroof instead of the reail system. the storage bin in the flow through console is huge and there is more than enough space for me without the rails. just my experiences.

 

rambunctious You don't have alot of posts but they are all the same...me thinks you are selling something.

 

Rambunctious,

I appreciate your insight, replies and your info greatly. Please keep it up.

I am waiting for the AUX input CANBus adapters and would like any info you get on these as they emerge from the aftermarket (Blitzsafe and Soundgate are working on them I believe).

I for one hope that the overhead rail standard takes off. It would be nice to have a standard Automotive interface for accessory power, sound input and mounting in one.

AN idea would be that the rail could also be shortened to smaller lengths and used in smaller areas as a docking "port" and not necessarilly in a long "rail" section.

Thanks for the info.

 

Can the dvd player be bought and the dealer install it properly through the aux button? I know this means taking out the headliner among other things. I don't want to use the FM modulation.

 

Hi playdeep

i just found this sight recently, and have posted similar info on another site (ford truck enthusiest, etc ) and other threads and I appologize because i am jumping from one to another, and i guess starting to repeat myself. alot of people have similar Q's under different posts.

I guess I am selling something. a project me and my team poured our soul into for the last 4 years and it has finally made it into production. I am even on the patents As an engineer, my kick out of life and my career is seeing my work effect people(hopefully in a positive way)

but i don't work for a small company. our company (Johnson controls) is a $20 billion annual sales company. I don't gain anything monitarily from rail product sales (other than i own some JCI stock in my 401k )

I like the rail product., I bought an F150 ( my second supercrew) and like the usefulness of the rail. I have a DVD, and will be evaluating some other electronics stuff soon.
i guess i have quite a vested interest in the success of the rail and am trying to inform people (fellow f150 owners/ gear heads like me) about the rail and answer any question I can. I am also taking these responses back to our team and execs to inform them of your impressions of the rail system, what we did right, what we need to improve.


fx4triton, I don't know for a fact if you can order the DVD right now today from the dealer. That was suppose to be the plan. The problem is the prewire kit. without it, you have to do what i did with FM modulation and that is no different than the rest of the aftermarket products out there

our electronic guys do not have the wire harness, it is (will be ) made by Ford's wire harness supplier, although i have drawings and part numbers, ford just has not released the part yet. I will do some checking so i know the latest facts for sure. It keeps changing