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I have a non-Raptor Bronco and shortly after I got it (about a year ago) I wanted to increase my range by adding a gas can carrier to the tailgate area. Unfortunately, at the time there were no options out there for a kit that was bolt on. Now there are several options out there that can be finagled with to make work, but none of them offered exactly what I was hoping to find. After purchasing a bracket from BAMF, and another from RC, I decided to go a different route and start with replacing the OEM hinges. While reading about the Raptor on this forum, it became evident that in order to accommodate the 37 inch spare and all the intended bouncing around that the Raptor is going to experience, Ford needed to increase the robustness of the tailgate hinges. They also must have noticed the benefit of adding a tailgate bracket to strengthen the overall assembly because they added one of those as well. As soon as I realized that the more robust hinges are direct bolt-ons for non-raptor Broncos like mine, I ordered a set. Ford wanted nearly $300 for each hinge, but there is an online vendor from which you can buy them for about $190 each. I went to Home Depot and bought a sheet metal plate, and then I made a template to make sure that after I installed the new hinges that they would be in correct alignment.
Fortunately I found Hammer built fabrication from this forum, and Tyson kindly posted his cell phone number and I had the opportunity to speak with him about my intended goal of finding a tailgate bracket that would not only work with raptor hinges but also to which I could bolt a fuel can carrier. Hammer Built already makes plates that bolt on to the OEM Ford Bronco hinges, but because the Raptor hinges are about a half inch taller and because the Raptor hinges have separate bolts that attach the hinge to the tailgate and then threaded holes to mount accessories, a new plate had to be configured to accommodate those changes. Lucky for me Tyson was willing to take my measurements and then have a plate made to suit my needs.
I received the plate today, and below I attached some pictures of the finished product. Note that Tyson also has a Scepter MFC carrier in development and that will bolt directly to the tailgate bracket. If you're not a scepter fan, a jerry can is slightly smaller dimensionally then the scepter can so most carriers that will fit a scepter can will also fit a jerry can. I prefer the MFC can because it weighs only 6 lb unlike the 15 lb Jerry cans and the entire goal I was shooting for was less weight on my tailgate and more strength. Even the one-off plate that I received today bolted right up and fits well. Note the threaded PEMs on the bracket to which things can be mounted including various accessories. Finally a simple, clean solution to decrease tailgate rattling or flexing and to be able to mount a fuel carrier and increase your range.
Fortunately I found Hammer built fabrication from this forum, and Tyson kindly posted his cell phone number and I had the opportunity to speak with him about my intended goal of finding a tailgate bracket that would not only work with raptor hinges but also to which I could bolt a fuel can carrier. Hammer Built already makes plates that bolt on to the OEM Ford Bronco hinges, but because the Raptor hinges are about a half inch taller and because the Raptor hinges have separate bolts that attach the hinge to the tailgate and then threaded holes to mount accessories, a new plate had to be configured to accommodate those changes. Lucky for me Tyson was willing to take my measurements and then have a plate made to suit my needs.
I received the plate today, and below I attached some pictures of the finished product. Note that Tyson also has a Scepter MFC carrier in development and that will bolt directly to the tailgate bracket. If you're not a scepter fan, a jerry can is slightly smaller dimensionally then the scepter can so most carriers that will fit a scepter can will also fit a jerry can. I prefer the MFC can because it weighs only 6 lb unlike the 15 lb Jerry cans and the entire goal I was shooting for was less weight on my tailgate and more strength. Even the one-off plate that I received today bolted right up and fits well. Note the threaded PEMs on the bracket to which things can be mounted including various accessories. Finally a simple, clean solution to decrease tailgate rattling or flexing and to be able to mount a fuel carrier and increase your range.
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