Plastic Tailgate Cap

[Deleted member 995608]

I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE PLATIC CAP ON THE TAILGATE!

After two years, I'm about to buy yet another replacement cap for the tailgate. This will be number 3 for me. For those of us that use the truck on a weekly basis, this plastic riveted, plastic cap is a bad idea for a working pickup.

 

[Cummins2014]

Apparently you are beating it up, why are you replacing it ?

 

[MW Gibson]

Does any company make a contoured one out of metal? The plastic cover is wonderful for asphalt warriors but worthless if you actually use the truck around the farm. On my 04 I had an aluminum plate that covered the inside of the tailgate after someone dropped a bale of alfalfa on it and caved it in. The semi balanced tailgate on my 11 is nice but a little actual strength would be welcome.

 

[Cummins2014]

Does any company make a contoured one out of metal? The plastic cover is wonderful for asphalt warriors but worthless if you actually use the truck around the farm. On my 04 I had an aluminum plate that covered the inside of the tailgate after someone dropped a bale of alfalfa on it and caved it in. The semi balanced tailgate on my 11 is nice but a little actual strength would be welcome.

I use my truck, but its not a work truck, but its used for what it was intended for, towing a heavy fifth wheel. I guess you can call it an asphalt warrior. Its used ,but I don't beat it up.

Work trucks take a beating, it a fact. Most I would think deal with it.

 

[JR]

What's even worse is all the holes in the top of the gate and bed rails. You can't even leave the stupid things off...

 

[EZeis]

I don't like the tailgate nor the bed rail plastic caps. They will show damage and get damage easily. My 07 had line-x over those areas. I scuffed my tailgate cap on my 2018 when my shoe hit it and only had 80 miles on it. Fine for a grocery getter, but for a truck being used as one, it's a poor idea. Can't remove them as you're left with all the holes they clip/snap into.


Earl

 

[jhenderson]

The plastic clips that hold the protector to the top of the gate weak to say the least. I hooked the corner of the protector with my shirt and broke the clip. Now the protector is up 1/2 inch on that corner. It annoys me. Just not enough to spring for a new one.

 

[EDankievitch]

Hmmm.. Hey People at Geno's think we've got a need for a better mouse trap here you listening?????

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Does any company make a contoured one out of metal? The plastic cover is wonderful for asphalt warriors but worthless if you actually use the truck around the farm. On my 04 I had an aluminum plate that covered the inside of the tailgate after someone dropped a bale of alfalfa on it and caved it in. The semi balanced tailgate on my 11 is nice but a little actual strength would be welcome.

It would have to be stamped. Already looked into it. My pockets aren't deep enough to hav one made.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

What's even worse is all the holes in the top of the gate and bed rails. You can't even leave the stupid things off...

I've been without it for about two weeks with rain involved.Tailgate hasn't filled up yet, LOL

 

[DonFitzwater]

I’ve broken my fair share. I buy one new one with every truck and just replace it right before I sell it. They are junk and break especially easy in the cold.

 

[Jim W]

I had one on my truck for all of a year. I had the holes filled in and than I had the entire bed sprayed with LINE X and had the rails plus the tail gate covered with Line X material has shown in the picture below. This has worked great for 10 years now and has stood up to dirt, gravel and landscaping materials. Since I have a truck and use my truck I am called on by my friends and kids to haul stuff for them.

 

[Regcabguy]

Good opportunity for an aftermarket replacement made out of aluminum that replaces the weak stock one.

 

[JR]

I had one on my truck for all of a year. I had the holes filled in and than I had the entire bed sprayed with LINE X and had the rails plus the tail gate covered with Line X material has shown in the picture below. This has worked great for 10 years now and has stood up to dirt, gravel and landscaping materials. Since I have a truck and use my truck I am called on by my friends and kids to haul stuff for them. View attachment 110223

What did you fill the holes in with?

I don't know what the gen 3 bed rails and gate top look like but the gen 4 just totally baffles me. Large holes and indented stamped sections on the bed rails. When I had my Line X done my intentions were to remove all the plastic and have them spray over the rails. To say I was disappointed when I removed them the day before my appointment is an understatement.

 

[Cummins12V98]

JR, our tail gates and bed rails look nothing like the previous RAM trucks.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Good opportunity for an aftermarket replacement made out of aluminum that replaces the weak stock one.

Ya it is. I sought a stamping company to make me a prototype but my pockets weren't deep enough.

 

[Too Tall]

I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE PLATIC CAP ON THE TAILGATE!

After two years, I'm about to buy yet another replacement cap for the tailgate. This will be number 3 for me. For those of us that use the truck on a weekly basis, this plastic riveted, plastic cap is a bad idea for a working pickup.

https://www.amazon.com/Dee-Zee-Brit...37&hvtargid=aud-466346205544:pla-624382006687

 

[Cummins2014]

https://www.amazon.com/Dee-Zee-Brit...37&hvtargid=aud-466346205544:pla-624382006687

That may solve the problem for some, sounds like OP beats them up pretty bad. It would probably be a dented up mess in no time .

 

[Jim W]

What did you fill the holes in with?

I don't know what the gen 3 bed rails and gate top look like but the gen 4 just totally baffles me. Large holes and indented stamped sections on the bed rails. When I had my Line X done my intentions were to remove all the plastic and have them spray over the rails. To say I was disappointed when I removed them the day before my appointment is an understatement.

I used BONDO and had the holes sanded smooth. The shop that did this charged about $50 at the time to do the work (2009). The large holes in the top of the side rails (for wooden stakes) are still there just filled in with LINE-X on the sides of the holes. I also have indentations on the inside of the bed side rails and tail gate, but this to is just covered with LINE-X material.

My younger son's 4th gen is done the same way as my truck but a different shop did his, I do not have a pic of his truck. Between me and my two sons we have all of the Dodge/Ram generations trucks covered. From the 1gen through the 4th gen trucks, we have a 1996, 2006, 2008 and a 2013.5 truck.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

That may solve the problem for some, sounds like OP beats them up pretty bad. It would probably be a dented up mess in no time .

I use to use those alum diamond covers and I liked them; one on every truck I owned. However, the version made for the 4th gens doesn't replace the cap, it merely rests on top and is attached via 3M tape .

I have yet to find one that replaces the cap all together or replaces the cap and completely covers the inside of the tailgate in one piece.