Tailgate Step Owners, Heads Up. Support Bracket Spot Welded / Breakage

[BigJ]

I saw this on another forum. I went out and checked, and sure enough I have it too. Although mine is in good nick... still something to keep an eye on; especially for those of us who have it hidden under a bed rug.

So I'm outside moving some stuff around, and throwing out a bunch of stuff; bringing some boxes to the end of the driveway for the trash collectors to pick up. It's about a 30ft driveway, and I really don't feel like walking up and down it 10 times to carry a couple large boxes to the end, so I figure I'll grab my keys, back the truck up, load the stuff in the back, and just make one trip down there with the truck, unload, and be done with it.

I back the truck up, get out and lower the tailgate, and then take two steps towards the boxes, and I hear "SNAP!!!"

Here's mine (easier to see)






This would seem to only be present on those tailgates that also have the step.

 

[bstoner59]

I just checked to see if mine had that bracket and it doesn't...seem odd that Ford would make them different. Either way the tailgate should be built to support weight regardless of how someone gets on it??? Anyways....

 

[BigJ]

Agreed B. But in looking at this bit, there's no way it's meant to hold weight. Its barely spot welded on... maybe its for torsional stability? Or its almost like it was used a locator during fabrication on the assembly line? Dunno. It will be interesting to see what Ford does for the guy. I'll keep this updated.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

You and I are larger than the average Raptor owner. And like me, I'm sure you've spent some time on the tailgate (loading, unloading, reaching in, etc.). Plus I've been on it while it had weight on it (camping gear). If those hinges are tiny-spot welded to the tailgate I don't see them lasting long at all.

Please do keep us posted. I'm not worried but I am concerned.


Jason, please find a "happy place" to visit on occasion :mrgreen: (first "boat anchor" then "horrible wheels" and now "broken hinges")

 

[BIRDMAN]

wouldn't the tailgate push UP on the bracket? the cables hold the back side weight, the hinge pins hold the front side weight and the tailgate would want to push up that's why it's even there it's not supporting the whole tailgate.

 

[SLB8SNK]

wow glad I did not get that option.... I would be pissed

 

[MarkT]

I took a look at mine and my opinion is that there's something more going on there than we know. The part that broke away looks like a supplemental brace of some (minor) kind.

Maybe Ford left out the bolts holding the bracket on? (You can see the bolts in J's pics... but there is no shot of the end of the tailgate in the other pics)

But my guess? Something was in the gap between the tailgate and the bed... or heavy cargo was hanging slighty over the edge of the bed... and someone tried to slam the tailgate.

The forces placed on the hinges of a tailgate by that mistake are astronomical (don't ask me how I know)