I did this even before the recall came out. No way I want the tailgate to contact our 5th wheel! about $8 in materials from HD.

!

 

I have a "BedRug" also. The back is tough as hell to cut around stuff on huh ????

 

Yes it is but way better on the knees!! I cut around the puck holes so I can put 5th hitch in with bedrug in place.

 

I got super **** fitting mine then got to the back where it's tough, there's a lot of things going on and the contours are tough. I said what am I doing it's a work truck bed not a show truck bed that 1/8" over cut is nothing. I did the same thing on one side of one light.
I like "BedRug" because of the friction it provides, not to much and not to little. Plastic bed liners need a rubber mat. When I was 19 or so I found out why. I had a plate compactor (heavy duty, real one) in the back of my brand new 89 F-150 special order (blue) someone stopped or pulled out in front of me and I had to brake. I was smart enough to know what was coming and went as easy as I could (the wacker was all the way back) I watched that sucker in the rear view come and stove in the front bed sheetmetal and dent in the back of the cab under the window that didn't break.
Lesson I learned use a mat those plastic bed liners are like ice. I discovered BedRug after that (always take the time to secure your load was also learned).

 

I cannot imagine why anybody would want this "feature" on their truck.

 

I agree that a self-opening tailgate is the most ridiculous thing that any moderately capable person would want on a pickup.

I've owned many trucks in my lifetime, the oldest ones being antiques dating to the 50s. Absent major body damage, the tailgates on all of them would open and close (and stay closed) easily.

But now, mother Ford has given us an expensive, trouble prone piece of junk that depends on switches, sensors, servos, etc - and the @#$%^ things do not work reliably WHEN NEW. What are the odds that these friggin things will work when they are 20, 30, 50 years old like the old trucks I've owned???

What is wrong with American men that they accept this level of unnecessary cost and complexity for such a small (perceived) gain???

Oh, I know, I can (for now) buy a truck without this feature. But over time, more of these things will become standard, and eventually, you will not be able to opt out of them.

For example:

1. I am willing and able to drive a pickup with a stick shift. No longer available.
2. I am willing and able to pull a lever on the floor to engage 4WD. No longer available.
3. I am willing and able to apply moderate brake pressure as needed to prevent wheel lockup without "assistance". No longer available.

I've read many posts on this site advocating that various "safety" features become standard equipment. I'm confident that it is just a matter of time until this is the case, and we will not be able to purchase a pickup that lacks adaptive cruise, adaptive steering, blind spot detection, etc, etc.

It is my opinion that if more of today's vehicle owners did their own vehicle maintenance and repair, they would recognize the unnecessary complexity and cost of these items and opt for vehicles without them.

 

Amen brotha. I'm with you (except for the manual transmission). My trucks had a manual tranny, no ac, no power anything, working mans rubber floor and I think vinyl seats. My attitude back then was more stuff that can go wrong, don't need it. No one ever worked on any of my vehicles to that point. Then my 2001 F-150 I became a sissy and had an auto tranny, a/c and power. I was 42 @ that point and maybe age was it, maybe I was less ambitious. I started not doing involved work under the hood, everywhere else yes. Now I still do brakes, front end, and fluid changes, most everything else it goes to Ford dealer......ohh I have been buying 10 year 100K extended too.

 

Seems to me that this option wasn't wanted or asked for by consumers. More like a Ford idea whether you want it or not. Can't remember a time you wouldn't be out of the truck while some one loads items in the back, plus you are still outside to close the tailgate. If they wanted to make extra money with the tailgate put a power closing feature on it.

 

I've had the recall done twice and tailgate still comes down.

 

I think GM or Ram has the power closing feature.

Dumb features.

Stupid hipster millennials always want "cool" stuff and tech features now...but never think a few years down the road about wear and tear, weather, abuse, neglect, repair costs, etc... They were brought up in the "throw away" era....everything is made to be one time use...throw it away and buy a new one if it wears out/breaks. No fixing things anymore...

 

If you don't have a tonneau cover of any kind that might be an answer. Fortunately I don't have the tailgate with the issue. But it would suck if I did because the truck always has a closed tonneau on it.

 

That's a great idea in theory..... Someone would get their hand caught in it, sue Ford, win the law suit and Ford would put sensors like your garage door on it, some idiot would get their fingers caught, sue Ford, win the law suit, Ford would put rubber guards on all sides, someone would get their hand caught, sue F................................................. ....................... Society is limited by the stupidity within it.

 

^^They've added that function on the 2021 F-150, so how much longer until it shows up on the Super Duty? Check out the video at about the 3:00 minute mark.

 

I watched that clip several days ago. The self closing went right over my head or I didn't watch the whole clip. I like it, on the realist side, one more complicated system added to a complicated electronics system.