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I am on the fence if it's a bad thing or a good thing that my tail gate does not automatically drop. It just sits there and can be dropped with a finger when released. As if the pop mechanism is weak.
Follow up on my earlier post and picture of my tailgate dropping and tearing out my 5th wheel compartment door. The new RV compartment door and painting cost over $800 with me installing it. After 21000 miles I had only had the three releases on sharp uneven turns with 5th wheel loaded. Since being home I have had three surprise releases without my trailer attached. One I noticed after returning to the truck from a restaurant and twice it released in my garage and was leaning on the garage door. Luckily my son heard the unusual noise when opening the garage and stopped the door and closed the tailgate. The other time my wife saw it against the garage door and closed it. I have made a safety chain to keep my tailgate from dropping while towing my 5th wheel (see attached photo). Still need Ford to make a warning on instrument display.
Follow up on my earlier post and picture of my tailgate dropping and tearing out my 5th wheel compartment door. The new RV compartment door and painting cost over $800 with me installing it. After 21000 miles I had only had the three releases on sharp uneven turns with 5th wheel loaded. Since being home I have had three surprise releases without my trailer attached. One I noticed after returning to the truck from a restaurant and twice it released in my garage and was leaning on the garage door. Luckily my son heard the unusual noise when opening the garage and stopped the door and closed the tailgate. The other time my wife saw it against the garage door and closed it. I have made a safety chain to keep my tailgate from dropping while towing my 5th wheel (see attached photo). Still need Ford to make a warning on instrument display.
Tailgate safety chain.
I like the mod. I may look at adding it to mine. I had my tailgate drop on my trailer tongue jack about a month ago. I'm not sure how or why it dropped. Fortunately a passerby warned me before I had any serious damage. I could live without this feature.
I had my remote tailgate drop on two occasions. Both times the plastic on the tailgate was damaged when it hit the adjustable hitch plate on the trailer. The second time I'm pretty sure how it happened. I keep the fob in my pocket...was bent over working the ratchet binder on my chains, and I think the pressure pushed the button twice in my pocket.
can a standard handle replace the push button handle?
anyone delve into this?
My tailgate froze closed a couple times last winter and would not open, a real bummer when I couldn't load my sled. "sorry guys, I couldn't get my tailgate down."
I know it is a matter of time before it opens on its own like you guys unfortunately have experienced
I'm liking my new KR, but I would much rather have a manual release latch for the tailgate. Is an electronic release REALLY a major convenience? Am I going to approach my truck with a humongous load and need the tailgate opened before I reach it? And if so, how the heck would I operate the keyfob? I now wonder if there is a single wire in the tailgate harness which could have an inline on/off switch added so I can disable the release until I want it. Of course, the dadburn computer will probably warn me continuously of an electrical failure when I do turn off (disable) the tailgate. Help me turn off my tailgate without unplugging it. Hmmm ... there are some temporary tailgate plugs in the glovebox, aren't there?
I'm liking my new KR, but I would much rather have a manual release latch for the tailgate. Is an electronic release REALLY a major convenience? Am I going to approach my truck with a humongous load and need the tailgate opened before I reach it? And if so, how the heck would I operate the keyfob? I now wonder if there is a single wire in the tailgate harness which could have an inline on/off switch added so I can disable the release until I want it. Of course, the dadburn computer will probably warn me continuously of an electrical failure when I do turn off (disable) the tailgate. Help me turn off my tailgate without unplugging it. Hmmm ... there are some temporary tailgate plugs in the glovebox, aren't there?
It's kinda like lifting one foot off the ground to wave it under the bumper of your SUV to open the tailgate while your hands are full. Not the brightest idea anyone ever came up with.
