Forum Discussion

suprz's avatar
suprz
Explorer
Feb 05, 2019

Ford cup holder

Is it true that the cup holder portion of the engine cover will just lift up and come off? (2006 E450)
  • The center console part will, yes. There are one or two latch lever spring things that must be pulled out away from the doghouse and then it slides up and off. Look for a little black metal tab thing sticking out (I think the bottom of the console unit, but it might be the top).

    The storage console units are interchangeable across quite a few years, so if you find one in a junkyard with holes and compartments that you like better than yours it's a very simple job to upgrade. I should see about doing that sometime; the '98 that I have uses about the least handy arrangement they managed to come up with.
  • Yep, just feel below for the spring steel clip. Pull it away from the engine shroud while lifting and the cup holder comes right up and off.

    And like has been shared, it seems to be "universal" being able to change styles of cup holders. I know my 2007 4 cup holder design is interchangeable with the current-day 2-cup / two lower compartment version.
  • I put a 2009 center console in my 2000. Completely interchangeable, except the 2009 console had slightly thicker mounting tabs, so I had to back out the retaining screws in the doghouse a half turn.
  • I just changed mine out to the smaller unit that affords lots more room for your feet as you move from the front seats to the back. I bought mine on Ebay for $140, in great condition, and will now turn around and sell my larger one. There were at least two or three more on Ebay. One of the best upgrades I have made to keep the wife happy! (Just as Home Skillet showed in his photo)
  • Is the smaller one installed missing the 4th cupholder? I like the large/small choices in my 2003 unit, but don't like the difficulty with moving to the back.
  • VA-Apraisr wrote:
    Is the smaller one installed missing the 4th cupholder? I like the large/small choices in my 2003 unit, but don't like the difficulty with moving to the back.
    We have this cup holder that Ford used through 2008. The 4 cups are the same size. As you can see, it does not get near the floor allowing for driver and passenger foot room to swing inward to get into the house. The top-middle triangular hole holds the removable ash tray cup-thingy that we use to hold change.


    Here is the design from 2009 to today. It has two cup holders, but has nice top trays and also a second lower right-side cubbie. What looks like a smaller 3rd cup holder on the far left, I believe holds the removable ash tray.


    As far as which design is better. I always thought the latest design would be ideal, but when on trips we use all 4 cup holders for two types of drinks for each of us. So maybe our older 4-cup holder is better for us.
  • Yeah, good to know but like having the 4-cup holder option and the closing door storage at the bottom. Thanks for the above photos for comparison!
  • We have a 2005 version that had two useless shallow cup holders guaranteed not to hold anything other than a ceramic coffee mug without spilling on a turn, and I only drink iced tea. I've wanted to replace it for the past 10 years but never quite got around to doing it.



    Yesterday, I took a trip thru a nearby junk yard, and saw quite a few Econoline vans so I took a look. One of them had the four cup holder version (not quite as nicely wood trimmed as Ron's) and I picked it up for $19.



    After 10 minutes with the power washer, it now looks new, and we'll be road testing it tomorrow.