Anyone remove a tailgate step?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Anyone remove a tailgate step?
I tried some searching both here and on the web and came up empty. I have a 2019 with the tailgate step. Overall I'm not a big fan of it so I was hoping I could just open up the access panel, remove the step and pole and buy a new 1 piece cover for the tailgate like the ones that don't have the step.
In searching Tasca parts I'm not finding the part for the top cover/cap and it appears as if there are almost 2 tailgate styles, one with the step and one without. For that reason I'm not sure if I even get the 1 piece cover if it would fit and get me to my end desire.
I've tried looking online for someone selling a tailgate without the step but while I find a lot of superdutys I'm finding nothing for an F150 and if I do it's not in the color of my truck. I really don't want to pay to have a tailgate painted. That's why I was just hoping I could remove the step and swap the covers.
In searching Tasca parts I'm not finding the part for the top cover/cap and it appears as if there are almost 2 tailgate styles, one with the step and one without. For that reason I'm not sure if I even get the 1 piece cover if it would fit and get me to my end desire.
I've tried looking online for someone selling a tailgate without the step but while I find a lot of superdutys I'm finding nothing for an F150 and if I do it's not in the color of my truck. I really don't want to pay to have a tailgate painted. That's why I was just hoping I could remove the step and swap the covers.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 1,223
From: San Antonio, TX
The space over the gap left by the removal of the step would have to be bridged. There was a bridge piece on the old Super Duties, don’t know if there is one for this gen of F150.
most used tailgates, and body parts in general, will be scratched up from handling and will need paint anyway. Place an add on your local CL asking if anyone wants to swap for the same color. Or let you salesman know that you want to trade and he’ll probably have a customer in no time that would rather have your step tailgate.
most used tailgates, and body parts in general, will be scratched up from handling and will need paint anyway. Place an add on your local CL asking if anyone wants to swap for the same color. Or let you salesman know that you want to trade and he’ll probably have a customer in no time that would rather have your step tailgate.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,207
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From: San Antonio, TX
The thing is that since 2015, the pole is inside the tailgate along with the step. So there is no cumbersome stowed pole making loading and unloading difficult.
If you don’t like the weight of the tailgate, try adding a damper. It’s a small shock that keeps the tailgate from slamming down and makes it slightly easier to pick up and close.
If you don’t like the weight of the tailgate, try adding a damper. It’s a small shock that keeps the tailgate from slamming down and makes it slightly easier to pick up and close.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
What are we missing? Just leave it alone and don’t open it. What’s the difference. Kind of like a glove box. Does the look of the two joints in the panel and one square push button disturb you?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Burleson, Tx
Or find someone that wants that tailgate and trad them. I see people on the other forums quite often trying to add one.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Some good ideas on swapping out the tailgate with the dealer for someone who wants one but I have already put Line X in the bed so that just makes a swap more messy plus I would have to spray the new tailgate which is $$$. My hope was simply I could pull the step out, swap caps and be done with it. Clearly that's not the case so it will remain unless I can find a new take off in the same color as my truck and do a swap.
Thanks for the help everyone.
Thanks for the help everyone.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Me personally I don't care for the step. Never have and never will. The only reason I have it is I normally order trucks to my specs but this situation had us take a truck off the dealer lot for better pricing and rebates. I got 9k in just rebates going with a left over 2019 vs order out so my simple assumption was remove the step and replace the plastic cover for a hundred bucks or so. Clearly it's not as simple as I thought it would be. No big deal.
You may not agree with my wants, reasons or likes and that's fine to each their own but the question still goes back to why does anyone make a change to a truck and not leave it 100% stock?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Why does anyone make changes to a truck? Why do people swap wheels and tires? Why are people swapping grills and emblems. I can go on with examples but the answer is simple. They don't like it for one reason or another and want to make a change to something they want.
Me personally I don't care for the step. Never have and never will. The only reason I have it is I normally order trucks to my specs but this situation had us take a truck off the dealer lot for better pricing and rebates. I got 9k in just rebates going with a left over 2019 vs order out so my simple assumption was remove the step and replace the plastic cover for a hundred bucks or so. Clearly it's not as simple as I thought it would be. No big deal.
You may not agree with my wants, reasons or likes and that's fine to each their own but the question still goes back to why does anyone make a change to a truck and not leave it 100% stock?
Me personally I don't care for the step. Never have and never will. The only reason I have it is I normally order trucks to my specs but this situation had us take a truck off the dealer lot for better pricing and rebates. I got 9k in just rebates going with a left over 2019 vs order out so my simple assumption was remove the step and replace the plastic cover for a hundred bucks or so. Clearly it's not as simple as I thought it would be. No big deal.
You may not agree with my wants, reasons or likes and that's fine to each their own but the question still goes back to why does anyone make a change to a truck and not leave it 100% stock?
Another source might be Copart or similar company.
Good luck and I hope you find one.
Good luck.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 1,050
From: Florida
Artic,
Why don’t you post your location, F-150 model and color.
You may be surprised someone near you may have a new truck without the step and would be willing to swap with you. If I didn’t already have a tailgate step I would swap and pay you enough to line-x the tailgate.
Why don’t you post your location, F-150 model and color.
You may be surprised someone near you may have a new truck without the step and would be willing to swap with you. If I didn’t already have a tailgate step I would swap and pay you enough to line-x the tailgate.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 1,050
From: Florida
To add on, I installed the Ford OEM damper and it works great when lowering the tailgate. It’s well worth the money spent and it’s only a 20 minute installation. The only additional tool cost was $2.50 to buy a T50 Torx socket at Home Depot.
It unfortunately does nothing to reduce the effort needed to raise the tailgate.
It unfortunately does nothing to reduce the effort needed to raise the tailgate.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 411
Likes: 5
From: Cle Elum WA
Why does anyone make changes to a truck? Why do people swap wheels and tires? Why are people swapping grills and emblems. I can go on with examples but the answer is simple. They don't like it for one reason or another and want to make a change to something they want.
Me personally I don't care for the step. Never have and never will. The only reason I have it is I normally order trucks to my specs but this situation had us take a truck off the dealer lot for better pricing and rebates. I got 9k in just rebates going with a left over 2019 vs order out so my simple assumption was remove the step and replace the plastic cover for a hundred bucks or so. Clearly it's not as simple as I thought it would be. No big deal.
You may not agree with my wants, reasons or likes and that's fine to each their own but the question still goes back to why does anyone make a change to a truck and not leave it 100% stock?
Me personally I don't care for the step. Never have and never will. The only reason I have it is I normally order trucks to my specs but this situation had us take a truck off the dealer lot for better pricing and rebates. I got 9k in just rebates going with a left over 2019 vs order out so my simple assumption was remove the step and replace the plastic cover for a hundred bucks or so. Clearly it's not as simple as I thought it would be. No big deal.
You may not agree with my wants, reasons or likes and that's fine to each their own but the question still goes back to why does anyone make a change to a truck and not leave it 100% stock?
You should be able to trade it out pretty easy.....For resale value, better just leaving it there JMO
Good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 16
From: Arizona/Texas
I was considering removing mine to add some additional payload, but the 40 pound savings is not worth the loss of the step. Although with the trailer hooked up, i just use the trailer as a step up.