Tailgate dents from dropping too hard?

[Mr.Goat]

Everytime you get on this site you can learn something new. I was always puzzled as to how that little dipple got on the left side of the tail gate. I thought it had been done at the factory during assembly of the gate.



You guys are fortunate you can order all the neat stuff from Geno's. We can of course order stuff from there here in Canada. But by the time Canadian customs, shipping, currency exchange, and the custom brokerage fees. The original cost of the item has at least trippled. I ordered a TDR badge a few years back. It was $72. Canadian by the time it got to my door. !!



Pete

 

[CStraface]

The 2G trucks had between 1-2" of clearance between the bumper and gate when it was lowered. I remember a few times on my '98 I got lucky when I forgot to take my keys off the plastic step, and dropped the gate to load fishin poles, no damage. I would not be so lucky with my '04, there is actually less than 1/8th" of clearance when the gate is down. In fact, when I stand on the gate when down, "HEAVY DUTY" touches the plastic, and does show a little bit of wear.



3G owners beware- Do not leave wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, ect. on your bumper unless you want dimples in your gate!!

Yeah... I left a ballpin hammer on the bumper. WHOOPS! I was mad, luckily, the hammer's rubber handle was the highest point, so the contact wasn't all that bad.

 

[JFlagg]

My tailgate touches the bumper when I lower it. No way there's 1-2" of clearance!! Good thing there's that plastic piece or it would be dented.

I know I have an inch, maybe an inch and a half on mine. Though, I didn't have any when those cables broke! My advice, any 2nd gen owners with the original cables on would do good to replace theirs, even if they look fine. Mine looked just fine, then bam! Plywood and shingles all over the service road#@$%! Ratchet straps don't help much then.

 

[Nate]

Yeah I need to do that. I have one that's pretty rusty. Where do you get knew ones; the dealer?

 

[JFlagg]

I just got mine from OReillys, about 7-8 bucks each if i remember right.

 

[nickleinonen]

You guys are fortunate you can order all the neat stuff from Geno's. We can of course order stuff from there here in Canada. But by the time Canadian customs, shipping, currency exchange, and the custom brokerage fees. The original cost of the item has at least trippled. I ordered a TDR badge a few years back. It was $72. Canadian by the time it got to my door. !!



Pete

yep. . us up north get burned often

 

[Grizzly]

I just got mine from OReillys, about 7-8 bucks each if i remember right.

Are they any stronger then the original equipped?

 

[steved]

I was always puzzled as to how that little dipple got on the left side of the tail gate. I thought it had been done at the factory during assembly of the gate.



Pete

I just took a picture of the left side... I've got them on both sides of the gate. The one's bad enough it has cracked the paint and started rusting...



I'm considering a "flow through" gate for a replacement... the only downfall to that is we use the tailgate as a "porch" when the slide in is in use...



steved

 

[JFlagg]

Are they any stronger then the original equipped?

I don't think its that the OEM aren't strong, it just that they seem to rust out inside the black rubber sheath so quickly. GM actually had a recall for this on their pickups, replaced the galvanized cables with stainless. So far my new ones work great, course they are only a few months old and the originals lasted 4 years. Kinda miss the old two piece strap steel links I guess you would call them that trucks used to have. They folded in half and were the predaccessor to these cables. I think you all know what I'm talking about, right?

 

[steved]

I think you all know what I'm talking about, right?

I called them "hinge'd tailgate supports" for lack of a better term.



One thing about those, they never rusted out.



steved

 

[MA2LA]

Mopar has a system for the tailgate aswell, just don't remember where i saw it

 

[Sean Flanagan]

I had a 2nd gen that had the black plastic trm across the bottom of the tailgate which, I assume, is to prevent damage when opening against snow, rocks, mud or crud. The 3rd gen tailgates are naked and vulnerable. Anybody know if the 2nd gen tailgate trim will fit on a 3rd gen?

 

[steved]

I had a 2nd gen that had the black plastic trm across the bottom of the tailgate which, I assume, is to prevent damage when opening against snow, rocks, mud or crud. The 3rd gen tailgates are naked and vulnerable. Anybody know if the 2nd gen tailgate trim will fit on a 3rd gen?

The black strip was an option... some had it, others didn't. My 99 ST didn't, but my dad's 99 SLT did...



I doubt it would work, seems to me they had a larger "crease" or "groove" in the tailgate than these newer trucks. I wonder if that black plastic "diamond plate" geno's sells would work???



steved

 

[AGissel]

Hey Steved, I have the same exact dents on my '05. I first noticed it after unloading a bed full of gravel. I thought it might of been caused by me shutting the gate on a couple rocks and binding but its the same sharp dent as yours but on both left and right sides. I guess its not good to stand on the tailgate when its down... ... ...

 

[steved]

I never had a problem until I "dropped" a box full of paper on it several times... didn't think anything of it at the time.

Like I said, the entire gate is spongy now... IMO, the best dodge built was the 2nd gen (as far as sheet metal strength)...

steved

 

[twmcneilly]

Thanks for this onfo on this device?



http://www.truckcustomizers.com/products/K5HOPTB.1.html

I like the idea of a torison spring that is out of the way all of the time. The cable systems just look like a kluge and the gas strut does nothing for lift assist.



I installed it Saturday and I too think it should be standard equipment. It's slicker than a teflon banana peel.



Definately not a one-person job or you'll scratch the tailgate for sure, but it sure works nice and it's invisible when closed.

 

[RRees]

I have an EZ-DOWN and I still got the dent/dimple.



Its on the driver side of the tailgate, midway between the top and bottom, right next to the tail-light assembly.



I was wondering how it was caused. Seems like it's not that unusual.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

so if this happened while the truck was under warranty would it be fixed?? just noticed my dads 04 has the tailgate dents, my truck has it, and a buddy that bought a used mint 07 has it, none of the trucks have seen any use that is above and beyond what I consider normal pickup use, once again dodge should be ashamed. its a joke that you can't just drop the tail gate without bending something, maybe we should all take a trip to the dealer and open and close all the tailgates on the lot