Anyone know the weight of the tailgate?

[RainbowStix]

What the thread title says. Long story short, I messed up the install of a tailgate reinforcement where my tailgate basically fell out of alignment once I undid the hinge bolts (thanks Texas Complete Bronco for zero instructions). I had shimmed it just in case but it fell ever so slightly out of alignment anyways. I’ve been trying to lift it up to get it back but I think I’m just going to have to unlatch it from the striker, and completely remove it to hold it in place at an opened angle now.

so I unlatched it from the striker, but…

However, when I try to lift it back into place now, it almost feels and looks like it’s not moving at all and I’m not exactly a weak guy. So either something else is holding it (like the back soft top window) where I’m not supposed to bruteforce it out or this thing is deceivingly heavy at >200lbs and I’m gonna need to have a friend over

truck tailgates weigh almost nothing which makes me wonder if somethings up here!

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[Lifeliberty]

You need to unhook the strut. It puts pressure on the tailgate, makes it hard to put the gate back.

I'd say the tailgate is maybe 30/40 lbs, VERY light.

When installing the reinforcement bracket on mine, let's just say at one point i was holding the tailgate with my left arm and screwing in the bolts with my right hand, all messed up, lol. I had it shimmed too, but the bolts wouldn't line up the way it was sitting. I had it unlatched from the striker too. But i really couldn't get the tailgate right until i removed the strut. One you remove the strut the tailgate becomes airlight

 

[RainbowStix]

You need to unhook the strut. It puts pressure on the tailgate, makes it hard to put the gate back.

I'd say the tailgate is maybe 30/40 lbs, VERY light.

When installing the reinforcement bracket on mine, let's just say at one point i was holding the tailgate with my left arm and screwing in the bolts with my right hand, all messed up, lol. I had it shimmed too, but the bolts wouldn't line up the way it was sitting. I had it unlatched from the striker too. But i really couldn't get the tailgate right until i removed the strut. One you remove the strut the tailgate becomes airlight

Thank you! And how would I go about unhooking it? Would I have to open up the tailgate? It’s unlatched from the striker and hinges but still toward the closed position. Can I open it up without fear of it falling off or?

 

[Lifeliberty]

I thought you said it was unlatched at the striker(handle end)

 

[RainbowStix]

I thought you said it was unlatched at the striker(handle end)

It is unlatched at the striker (handle) end and unbolted at the hinges. I know it doesn’t look that way, but it is. Think it’s the angle, and the tailgate on the striker end is basically overlapping the rear fender. It’s open though which is why it isn’t touching

 

[Lifeliberty]

Can you not get bolts back in the hinge? One thing i noticed with the hinge, the nuts inside the gate are floating. If the hinge lines up to the gate holes, you can move the bolts over with a pick

 

[RainbowStix]

Can you not get bolts back in the hinge? One thing i noticed with the hinge, the nuts inside the gate are floating. If the hinge lines up to the gate holes, you can move the bolts over with a pick

Unfortunately, that’s my issue. The gate is so grossly off now that it doesn’t line up with the hinges lol. I noticed they’re floating, but are you saying to get it up with a pick to and try to get a bolt in same time?

 

[Lifeliberty]

Get a himge bolt in before you swing the door open, trust me, and have other bolts within reach, and if you're holding the door in one arm, be careful of the wiring

 

[RainbowStix]

Get a himge bolt in before you swing the door open, trust me, and have other bolts within reach, and if you're holding the door in one arm, be careful of the wiring

I don’t know if that’ll be an option, here’s an idea of what I’m working with… even if I get a pick back there and move it up and to the right, it won’t be enough before hitting the square metal hole…

 

[Lifeliberty]

Unfortunately, that’s my issue. The gate is so grossly off now that it doesn’t line up with the hinges lol. I noticed they’re floating, but are you saying to get it up with a pick to and try to get a bolt in same time?

I was thinking now right left, not up and down. It would be impossible to use a pick and install a bolt.

So, the right side is sagging? And hinge don't line up? Grab under right side bottom and lift until holes line up.

It still looks like stricker is closed good to me, but I'm not there. If it is not latched then alignment will be your issue and may be making it difficult to align.

The only correction i can see is to remove the tailgate and start again. Much easier with another person, but i did it. alone. Definitely have everything within reach if you go that route, there is no going back.

I wish i had it on video, it was hilarious

 

[Lifeliberty]

Try ANY of the 4 bolt options, trust me, any is better than none if you are doing this alone

 

[RainbowStix]

To show how off it is, I can fit a whole finger in on one side while the other not even a fingernail

 

[Lifeliberty]

The strut is pushing the door out.

 

[RainbowStix]

Then here’s a pic to show it unlatched since it’d be even with the rest of the body

 

[Lifeliberty]

So, yeah. That's where i was. Then genius decision, i decide, hey, let's open it up.... lol. Well, once you do the strut goes to work again ands pushes the door more lol, at that point you aren't getting the door closed again until that strut is removed

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