Tailgate Reinforcement?

[Wood Doctor]

Well, I think I finally bent the tailgate on my '97 Ford Ranger this past week hauling in some big billets. It's cupped on the inside about 1/2" down at the center. Luckily, the bend only shows on the inside, not on the outside panel.

I wonder if (1) anyone else has bent their pickup tailgate in like fashion and (2) reinforced it some way for future use? I talked to a body shop mechanic who said to forget replacing it because the new ones are just as weak.

My idea was to use a 3' length of 1-1/2" angle iron and just bolt it underneath the bed liner along the inside edge. WDYT?

 

[cjcocn]

Over time all of my trucks have ended up with a bent tailgate like you described.

Most of them I have just left alone. The only one that received any attention from me did so only because I backed too close to my quad/snowmobile loading ramp and busted up the lock-release handle. I built a new tailgate out of 1" square tubing and some expanded metal.

That angle iron might work. I considered doing the same to some of mine, but after building the new one I will just go that route again once my current tailgate gets bent too much.

HTH

 

[Peacock]

My wood truck is so beat up I wouldn't have any idea where to start!

Those panels are pretty thin. I'd think a bedliner may help to cushion and displace the energy a bit.

 

[Wood Doctor]

My wood truck is so beat up I wouldn't have any idea where to start!

Those panels are pretty thin. I'd think a bedliner may help to cushion and displace the energy a bit.

The tailgate already has a bedliner covering it, similar to the bed cover. That does help, but I'm afraid I loaded on a monster and the tailgate burped. I'll post a pic of the monster and how I got it there on another post.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Custom built is the only way to go for bullit proof. The guy that delivers our cutting edges and bucket teeth at work (heavy) just screws a piece of decent quality 1/2 ply wood to the factory 'gate with about 20 screws around the peremeter and it realy stiffens things up and doesnt look too bad for a cheap fix.

 

[woodbooga]

A number of years ago, I built a stone fence on my property to give my landscaping a bit more definition. One hunk of granite - probably 300lbs, big sucker - was too big to toss off.

So I backed the Ranger up to where I was going to place it in my wall and rolled it inch by inch off the tailgate - but put one awful dent in it akin to what you describe.

Haven't fixed it. Since then, additional dings and scratches from gathering firewood, scrap metal, etc.

My motto is "Let a truck be a truck." If I wanted a trophy vehicle, I'd have gotten an Escalade or some such other thing.

 

[stihl sawing]

My old fords tailgate has been caved in for many years. I even took it off and straightened it a little one time, But it's back to being caved in. I don't even worry about it anymore. Just throw the rounds up on it and keep going. It's gonna get scratched up and beat up if you get it in the woods after trees.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Here's a shot of the bent tailgate and the culprit that may have caused it all:

That's a 350 to 400-lb gingko log that was cut green after one of the entire main limbs crashed to the ground last week. The 6' diameter trunk is intact. It took 110 mph hurricane force winds to detach the limb.

This log is the second largest of the batch that I cut up with my Stihl MS 361. In all, at least 12 tons of biomass from this tree hit the ground. Heckuva storm.

 

[stihl sawing]

Here's a shot of the bent tailgate and the culprit that may have caused it all:

That's a 350 to 400-lb gingko log that was cut green after one of the entire main limbs crashed to the ground last week. The 6' diameter trunk is intact. It took 110 mph hurricane force winds to detach the limb.

This log is the second largest of the batch that I cut up with my Stihl MS 361. In all, at least 12 tons of biomass from this tree hit the ground. Heckuva storm.

Yep, That big boy would bend one. I'll take a pic of mine and you will see a trashed tailgate. TreeCo has the best idea, but it's too late for mine.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I remove the tailgate on my 96 Dodge 4x4 instead of subjecting it to forces that would damage it. It only takes a minute and no tools required.

Good grief, TreeCo, I never thought about removing the tailgate while loading. Guess I'm still brain dead. :censored:

I could still use my winch assembly by sliding it toward the cab about a foot or so. Gasp!

 

[husky455rancher]

my tailgate on my 2500 dosent have a flot spot of metal on it lol. inside or outside i have contributed to the damage in the inside i will admit. the outside was from the prevoius owner. i think the truck was too big for him beds all banged up. but hey i got a deal on it i couldnt pass up. after all i use a truck as a truck

 

[Basso]

Bent tailgate

Hello,
I did the same thing to my 1990 Ranger 4x4 tailgate....just not quite as bad. I did it when we loaded my log splitter into the bed and first let it rest on the tailgate. My log splitter has some weight to it !!!!!

Basso

 

[stihl sawing]

Here is a couple of pics of mine, You really can't see a lot in the pics.

 

[Peacock]

Here's a couple shots of my '81 3/4 ton Chevy tailgate and bed.

 

[stihl sawing]

LOL, You win the worst tailgate award.

 

[TJ-Bill]

nothing wrong with that tailgate at all!! I like it!!

 

[cjcocn]

LOL, You win the worst tailgate award.

LOL ... yep, that tail gate is definitely on a truck that is used!

 

[jdboy9]

It only takes the first dent and before you know it you'll be telling people to just throw it in there you don't care!!!

 

[turnkey4099]

LOL, You win the worst tailgate award.

I thought I was in the running until that picture!

Harry K

 

[woodbooga]

It only takes the first dent and before you know it you'll be telling people to just throw it in there you don't care!!!

I think there's some merit to the idea that new vehicles should come from the factory with one dent, ding, or scratch. After I got my first scratch I felt so liberated.