Tailgate load capacity
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 174
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From: Pacific Northwest
Yeah...when it sounds expensive..its too much. No, really, I would think that the tech guys at Ford will know what the rating on the cables are. I'm guessing 4-5 hundred pounds? Maybe more, I dunno. I, and Im sure many others would like to know, what you're planning on doing with the tailgate to add enough weight to it that might make it crumple. Just curious. If you get any tech info please pass it along. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 233
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From: Silverthorne Colorado
How the load is distributed over the tailgate area would make a big difference. (All at one small point at the rear edge vs. evenly distributed over the entire area.)
I've seen three prety good sized guys all sitting on a tailgate at the same time. (700 lbs. maybe?) I think that would be about max, allowing a little bit for saftey.
BobJonesSpecial
I've seen three prety good sized guys all sitting on a tailgate at the same time. (700 lbs. maybe?) I think that would be about max, allowing a little bit for saftey.
BobJonesSpecial
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,328
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From: Medford USA!
Believe it or not Ford rates them for either 100-200 lbs (I can't remember which). Their lawyers definitely got in on the ratings on this one
WE all know that they WILL hold a lot more than that
WE all know that they WILL hold a lot more than that
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 940
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Had a logger come into the shop the other day with a new 2003 F350. I noticed that the tailgate was bent about an inch down in the middle. I asked him how it happened and he said just from stepping on it while carrying a 80# roller from one truck to another, and heard/felt a pop at the same time. He said he weighs about 250#.
So I would say 300# toward the end in the middle might be max. The 200# figure from Ford is probably correct for traveling down the road with that amount of weight on it.
These newer tailgates feel fairly light when you close them compared to the older trucks. Are there any built-in helper springs inside that take some of the weight off?
So I would say 300# toward the end in the middle might be max. The 200# figure from Ford is probably correct for traveling down the road with that amount of weight on it.
These newer tailgates feel fairly light when you close them compared to the older trucks. Are there any built-in helper springs inside that take some of the weight off?
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 93
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From: Eastern Ontario
I have often loaded 7 or 8 hundred pounds on my tailgate.Think about it for a minute, if you and 2 of your buddies sat on the tailgate thats probably in the 5 - 6 hundred pound load right there. If they can't hold that then there is a real problem. I found that my tailgate is actually heavier on my 03 than the 01 that I traded.
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jowilker
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Oct 27, 1999 07:06 AM
