Tailgate repair
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 123
Likes: 14
Tailgate repair
Let's say, hypothetically, that someone stupidly latched their tailgate while unhooking their fifth wheel while distractedly thinking about something annoying them and when said someone pulled forward, the tailgate of course caught the kingpin and did all kinds of not pretty stuff. The passenger side pin that the tailgate locks to was sheared off completely and the driver side one is bent. That side of the tailgate itself now features some ripped out aluminum and the entire tailgate won't close all the way, though it will latch to the bent driver side pin, fortunately. Anywho, would the hypothetical person go to a dealer for repairs, or a body shop?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
Let's say, hypothetically, that someone stupidly latched their tailgate while unhooking their fifth wheel while distractedly thinking about something annoying them and when said someone pulled forward, the tailgate of course caught the kingpin and did all kinds of not pretty stuff. The passenger side pin that the tailgate locks to was sheared off completely and the driver side one is bent. That side of the tailgate itself now features some ripped out aluminum and the entire tailgate won't close all the way, though it will latch to the bent driver side pin, fortunately. Anywho, would the hypothetical person go to a dealer for repairs, or a body shop?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 123
Likes: 14
Thanks. I'll ask my dealer who their body shop is. Hypothetically, a rubber mallet was applied to some of the torn aluminum just to get the tailgate mostly closed. I don't doubt that there is no way to fix that area, but hoping I don't need a whole new tailgate. If I do, I may just get a fifth wheel tailgate to use for now, since that's way, way cheaper. I'm headed to Alaska at the end of May and will be hitching/unhitching almost daily. I can forsee this happening again at some point with the OEM tailgate...
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 123
Likes: 14
Update: went to the dealer's bodyshop for an estimate. This is without insurance involvement, as I have Geico and they don't use that bodyshop. The estimate came in at $3200, not including the step which isn't working but hoping it's pinned inside and will work once they get in there. The lens to my driver's side tail light is cracked, and "because it's an LED" the repair for that alone was hundreds. I don't know much about the LEDS, but I thought it was just the cover that needed to be replaced? The light itself still works, so I'm unclear about that item.
I mentioned perhaps buying a notched tailgate for my trip. The estimator then told me that if the rear camera was unplugged and not plugged back in to something that it would probably never work again. Is this correct? I know people remove their tailgates for various reasons, but he made it sound as if I would be risking a fault code and that the system would have to be reflashed for $100 or something like that. Again, I don't understand this comment. Any help?
I mentioned perhaps buying a notched tailgate for my trip. The estimator then told me that if the rear camera was unplugged and not plugged back in to something that it would probably never work again. Is this correct? I know people remove their tailgates for various reasons, but he made it sound as if I would be risking a fault code and that the system would have to be reflashed for $100 or something like that. Again, I don't understand this comment. Any help?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,938
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
Often the company approved shops will try to cheap out with aftermarket parts and the repairs aren't so great.
Had an incident this fall where a friend was driving my truck and cut the turn into my driveway too short, raking my mailbox down the side of the bed. The fix came in at $1100 in the end so I opted not to involve the insurance company as I had a $500 deductible anyway. Saved myself a probable rate increase and a blemish on CarFax should I sell or trade the truck some day. Of course the day after I dropped the truck at the shop I received a notice from Liberty Mutual that I now had accident forgiveness!
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
The camera line is BS. In your glove box should’ve been a plug in a clear bag. When you remove the tailgate, put that plug on the dead end of the harness from the camera on the truck. It keeps it clean, and may provide some continuity that overwrites the fault. Not sure if it’s “electrical” or a just dust cover. Read your manual.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2018
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Update: went to the dealer's bodyshop for an estimate. This is without insurance involvement, as I have Geico and they don't use that bodyshop. The estimate came in at $3200, not including the step which isn't working but hoping it's pinned inside and will work once they get in there. The lens to my driver's side tail light is cracked, and "because it's an LED" the repair for that alone was hundreds. I don't know much about the LEDS, but I thought it was just the cover that needed to be replaced? The light itself still works, so I'm unclear about that item.
I mentioned perhaps buying a notched tailgate for my trip. The estimator then told me that if the rear camera was unplugged and not plugged back in to something that it would probably never work again. Is this correct? I know people remove their tailgates for various reasons, but he made it sound as if I would be risking a fault code and that the system would have to be reflashed for $100 or something like that. Again, I don't understand this comment. Any help?
I mentioned perhaps buying a notched tailgate for my trip. The estimator then told me that if the rear camera was unplugged and not plugged back in to something that it would probably never work again. Is this correct? I know people remove their tailgates for various reasons, but he made it sound as if I would be risking a fault code and that the system would have to be reflashed for $100 or something like that. Again, I don't understand this comment. Any help?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,150
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
I’d do the 5’er tailgate and sell yours for parts. Or insurance claim... If you plan to sell it one day the buyer will want a tailgate.
I dont know the prices for the new gates but I got a 2016 tailgate shell new for less than $350 shipped as my 2011 gate was damaged. I transferred everything over after getting it painted. I think the plastic cap on top and a new ford emblem was less than $50 and I reused the backing plate after beating it straight.
Ford really should make tailgates/parts as cheap as possible to discourage theft.
I dont know the prices for the new gates but I got a 2016 tailgate shell new for less than $350 shipped as my 2011 gate was damaged. I transferred everything over after getting it painted. I think the plastic cap on top and a new ford emblem was less than $50 and I reused the backing plate after beating it straight.
Ford really should make tailgates/parts as cheap as possible to discourage theft.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,717
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As I was reading the thread I was thinking the same as Joe T: If you can, buy the shell and transfer the guts. If you can buy the shell pre-painted then fine, otherwise, have a body shop just paint the shell then take it home and transfer the guts. Then in May, buy a 5th-wheel tailgate and park your normal pretty tailgate in the garage until you get back.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,717
Likes: 1,495
For extra fun you could buy a replacement camera and harness for your normal tailgate and engineer it onto the 5th-wheel tailgate. Maybe somebody has done this already . . . ?
I agree the [don't disconnect your camera] bit is hogwash, but having a camera there is handy.
I agree the [don't disconnect your camera] bit is hogwash, but having a camera there is handy.
