I just finished the latch handle replacement. And it works.
It was a two hour job that should have been 45 minutes!
First tip. make sure you are in the garage OR have all the tools needed first. 35 Torx bit and everything you need to drive it. Some thread oil. The new handle. A set of sockets, namely a 15/32" (odd size!) socket and small extension to reach inside. A magnetic grabber to get things you cant reach.
Second tip. If you are looking to replace the plastic one with something made of metal, check out the offerings. I found that all the offerings on line, or most of them, are liars to sell their product. They mention "metal" as though it is better than the Ford supplied plastic one. The metal is in places that don't help with strength. Just go with the cheapest one and fix the old one for backup. ($7.50 + tax and shipping) No sense it paying $32 for one that says "metal" in the description when the handle and release arms (the parts that fail) are still plastic.
Third tip, Make sure you have a magnetic retrieval tool to get the nuts back that you will drop inside the tailgate.(see first tip).
Fourth tip, Put some thread oil on the panel screws when you put them back in. They get rusty.
Fifth tip, make sure you look at the alignment of the handle from the outside before you put the metal cover on the back if you are OCD like me. It will still work crooked, but looks like hell....LOL

And finally I would like some comment. Its all together so I am not taking it apart again till it stops working. Already did that twice...LOL But it is a "fiddly" job that takes some dexterity to get everything within an RCH to make it fit together and go thru the hole before you tighten it up the two mounting screws.. So there was a plastic piece on the back, under the handle, that I cant figure has any function but to cover the bolt heads. I could not get it into place after several tries and it kept falling out, so I left it out. Does it have a purpose?
Why are 6 of the eight panel screws plastic heads that look like they are for tiedowns with machine threads and the two middle lower screws are plain galvanized sheet metal screws? Must be a reason?