Removing tailgate
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 275
From: South Central Indiana
Had mine off in about 10 minutes by myself and set it on 2 saw horses with towels on them. The aluminum tailgates are a lot lighter. Just lower the right side until you see where the gate "unlatches" from the post and pull it out. Be leery of the camera wiring.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
Removing was easy, but I found some help to put it back on - mine is a Platinum with the step - a bit awkward to get lined-up by myself. I didn't want to damage it. Removal was very easy though.
Jim
Jim
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
Depends. Are you used to removing a pre-2017 tailgate? If not, it isn’t too bad. An extra pair of hands are important the first time. If you think it’s just like your 2003 tailgate (Like I was the first time) you may poop yourself the first time you pull it off by yourself.
Just sayin. It’s kinda heavy. And expensive.
Just sayin. It’s kinda heavy. And expensive.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 299
Likes: 7
Two Electrical connections on mine, (Drivers side under the bumper area) The 2 Dummy plugs for the open circuits were in the glove box if your leaving it off for a extended time...
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
Easy to take off. Do yourself a favor, get someone to help you. I took mine off by myself and almost dropped it. I couldn't have put it back on by myself.
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Brett Foote
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 174
Likes: 18
hmmmmmmmmmm......
looking to sneakily add a few tailgates to a collection......?
Hmmmmmmm.....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 84
From: Rainier OR
I remove mine often for a truck camper.
I bought a hydraulic table from Harbor Freight. That, with a 3"x4' piece of plywood and some blankets I can set the plywood and blankets just above the bumper. I could do it myself, but easier with two people.
This allows you to have a place to set the tailgate, and help support it., and not have to carry it. The table has wheels so easy to move around the tailgate to storage or back to the truck.
I have done my 2011 truck myself a few times witout the table, and dropped it once. With the step in the tailgate, it can be heavy.
If you have the powered tailgate you must open it before you remove the wires.
I bought a hydraulic table from Harbor Freight. That, with a 3"x4' piece of plywood and some blankets I can set the plywood and blankets just above the bumper. I could do it myself, but easier with two people.
This allows you to have a place to set the tailgate, and help support it., and not have to carry it. The table has wheels so easy to move around the tailgate to storage or back to the truck.
I have done my 2011 truck myself a few times witout the table, and dropped it once. With the step in the tailgate, it can be heavy.
If you have the powered tailgate you must open it before you remove the wires.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
Yup, I got the factory tailgate step and that's part of the reason I almost dropped my tailgate when I took it off.
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Dan S.
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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May 5, 2004 09:28 AM