Rear Swing Gate Sag (?)

[SamG]

Alright yall - looking for opinions or educated assumptions here.

In my early college days I owned a 99 Wrangler that was running 33" mud tires. Having a 33" tire on the back over a long period of time caused the rear gate to sag slightly under load. It got to the point that when going to close the swing gate, I had to literally lift up on it about 1/2 inch in order for it to latch closed properly.

Essentially those little hinges didn't want to support all that weight through driving and opening/closing of the gate.

Has this problem been rectified with newer jeeps - and as such, do you think it will be an issue with the bronco using the extremely heavy sasquatch 35's?

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[Throwback]

Alright yall - looking for opinions or educated assumptions here.

In my early college days I owned a 99 Wrangler that was running 33" mud tires. Having a 33" tire on the back over a long period of time caused the rear gate to sag slightly under load. It got to the point that when going to close the swing gate, I had to literally lift up on it about 1/2 inch in order for it to latch closed properly.

Essentially those little hinges didn't want to support all that weight through driving and opening/closing of the gate.

Has this problem been rectified with newer jeeps - and as such, do you think it will be an issue with the bronco using the extremely heavy sasquatch 35's?

Those new Jeeps come pre-dented near the door hinge so you don't have to worry about getting that first one in!

Joking aside, the Bronco hinges look pretty beefy, and it can open a full what? Like 150-160 degrees?
We're comparing FCA quality assurance vs. the team that builds trucks for a living.

[Edit] I'm sure the team did strength tests with the stock 35s, and it'll be a-ok.

 

[Hey19]

I think its a valid concern. Who knows until they have some time and miles on them.

 

[BigFootie]

You can bet that the engineering simulations have been done with 35’s and even 37 ‘s loaded on the hinges. That being said, we’ve already seen some that have sagged. Anyone that had a mid seventies Camaro knows what it’s like to have a saggy door!

 

[Rough Rider]

Your old jeep was never sold with 33"s, they were never tested to withstand it.

We know that the Bronco is built expecting 35's and if it happens it is a warranty issue. SO I think you should be okay.

Now, 37's....might want to buy the Warthog rear tire holder....if its different.

 

[Hoofnmouth]

Of cpurse its going to sag its physics ,those frog poppin 35s weigh plenty trust me bouncing around on the back all that leverage is going to sag.
The only way around it i found was to make a seperate swing away carrier out of 2x4 steel and a 1in trailer axle with bearings ,ive made plenty of these never fail pics to follow.

 

[AcesandEights]

Jeep sells an optional hinge reinforcement kit. You can include it on the build & price, so it's still an issue. It's also an issue depending on how you use the vehicle. If you're off road, or on a lot of washboard, expect it to wear much faster than a city-rig.

The Bronco won't be any different. It'll be designed for the 90%, which is probably how many people will only drive pavement. For those that go off road, you'll see sagging over time. All metal fatigues.

 

[JonChicago]

Someone will bend their door, probably from abuse, and the thread title will be, "Bronco tail gate fail." It will soon get to 1000 posts and an aftermarket supplier will come up with some kind of reinforcement kit.

 

[Gamecock]

Jeep sells an optional hinge reinforcement kit. You can include it on the build & price, so it's still an issue. It's also an issue depending on how you use the vehicle. If you're off road, or on a lot of washboard, expect it to wear much faster than a city-rig.

The Bronco won't be any different. It'll be designed for the 90%, which is probably how many people will only drive pavement. For those that go off road, you'll see sagging over time. All metal fatigues.

It's designed for the 10% actually, to be very capable off road...the 90% buy it because they want the image of what it can do and will never use it....and to your point, Bronco is very different in that hinge design element compared to Jeep, as it is designed to hold that big 35...Jeep's aren't, but they know lots of people go 35s, so they sell the kit. Bronco has the kit from the factory effectively.

As to off road wearing the hinges, that's not relly what does it, as it locks closed with the weight not on them and no movement. Stress comes when it swings open with a giant weight and lever pulling down on the hinges.

The bottom line: No problem should come from a stock 35" tire on the stock hinges, unless Ford really messed up.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Hang a 100lb wheel/tire on the back and hit the trails. My bet, over time it will have issues. Really will depend on offroad use.

 

[Toccoa]

Your old jeep was never sold with 33"s, they were never tested to withstand it.

We know that the Bronco is built expecting 35's and if it happens it is a warranty issue. SO I think you should be okay.

Now, 37's....might want to buy the Warthog rear tire holder....if its different.

This! Jeep came with 28ish size tires back then. Jumping to 33s was bound to stress those hinges.

 

[KindaOrange]

saggy

I thought saggyness didn't really occur until your '40's?

 

[Dave2ID]

I just spent my whole day working on the swing gate hinge load fixture and I can tell you without a doubt that the hinge is very sturdy. The way it attaches to the body and the gate itself, if it "sags" you did something you should not have done.

 

[mneblett]

I just spent my whole day working on the swing gate hinge load fixture and I can tell you without a doubt that the hinge is very sturdy. The way it attaches to the body and the gate itself, if it "sags" you did something you should not have done.

NOTHING like "word" straight from the horse's (Bronco's?) mouth. Thanks!

 

[Fonz54]

I know that MORryde has solved this problem for Jeep Wranglers. I have reached out to them asking if they plan on offering a possible Hinge upgrade for the Bronco.

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