Tailgate Revelation - Be Very Cautious
#1
Tailgate Revelation - Be Very Cautious
Yesterday I loaded some lumber in the bed of my F150 S'Cab
(w/6.5 ft box). There were several 2x12's that were shorter than
the length of the box but were wedged in with some other lumber
and extended a couple inches past the rear edge of the bed. They
were very heavy and instead of wrenching my back pushing them
forward by hand, I decided to use the tailgate-closing action as
a lever to force them forward (works like a charm on every other
pickup I've owned/used).
DO NOT DO THAT WITH YOUR F150 (with removable tailgate). When the
tailgate got 3/4 of the way closed - it came unhinged from the bottom
and dropped straight down on my knees (yeah it does seem a bit
funny now that my knees have recovered and I'm over the shock
of having my tailgate dangling from the two safety straps).
I guess the thing that really shocked me was how easily the t/g
came unhinged! I have slammed the gates on my Dodge and
Chevy's many times on mildly protruding items at the bottom
of the bed - and achieved my desired goal easily - if you're used
to doing this (and what pickup owner isn't) DO NOT DO IT w/your
new F150 - you'll be in for a big surprise (and perhaps a little
leg pain).
Has this happened to anyone else - and does anyone know
of a way to lock the t/g in place? Who does usability testing
on these new "features"!?!? But above all - BE AWARE!!! this
tailgate comes loose VERY EASILY!!!
(w/6.5 ft box). There were several 2x12's that were shorter than
the length of the box but were wedged in with some other lumber
and extended a couple inches past the rear edge of the bed. They
were very heavy and instead of wrenching my back pushing them
forward by hand, I decided to use the tailgate-closing action as
a lever to force them forward (works like a charm on every other
pickup I've owned/used).
DO NOT DO THAT WITH YOUR F150 (with removable tailgate). When the
tailgate got 3/4 of the way closed - it came unhinged from the bottom
and dropped straight down on my knees (yeah it does seem a bit
funny now that my knees have recovered and I'm over the shock
of having my tailgate dangling from the two safety straps).
I guess the thing that really shocked me was how easily the t/g
came unhinged! I have slammed the gates on my Dodge and
Chevy's many times on mildly protruding items at the bottom
of the bed - and achieved my desired goal easily - if you're used
to doing this (and what pickup owner isn't) DO NOT DO IT w/your
new F150 - you'll be in for a big surprise (and perhaps a little
leg pain).
Has this happened to anyone else - and does anyone know
of a way to lock the t/g in place? Who does usability testing
on these new "features"!?!? But above all - BE AWARE!!! this
tailgate comes loose VERY EASILY!!!
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#9
My tailgate, when in the fully lowered position, bottoms out before the straps take up all the slack. I tried to figure out what the tailgate itself is hitting, but I am not able to find it. I figure it is in the torsion bar setup. I had three of my buddies sit on the tailgate when it was lowered, and still the slack never disappeared from the straps.
MK
MK
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