Tailgate "Reinforcement"

[crenca]

So are Raptor hinges just a matter of ordering hinges from Ford, or is there a kit available? Is any modification required or are the Raptor hinges a simple bolt on? I'm surprised Ford doesn't just put the stronger hinges on all the tailgates.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...or-broncos-here-at-lethal-performance.108707/

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[Motovita]

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...or-broncos-here-at-lethal-performance.108707/

Thanks, I'd think that should be mandatory for anyone mounting a 37" wheel back there.
I think I'd like to have the stronger hinges even though I run smaller wheels, so can I just order the Raptor hinges from Ford?

 

[Brian_B]

so can I just order the Raptor hinges from Ford?

Yup. Ford Performance p/n M-19007-BRS gets you the whole kit

 

[SophiaAndMe]

I think you guys have it well covered.

And no, reinforcing the gate itself certainly doesn't take load off of the hinges. Due to changing the stiffness of the gate it may slightly alter the load distribution between the top and bottom hinges but that would be a small/secondary effect.

The most significant loading case is heavy off-roading with your gate closed (hopefully ). Loads here go into the gate itself and then into the hinges and latch (lateral torques and fore-aft forces). With the gate open the latch is obviously unloaded and the hinges are more heavily loaded (relatively) but there are no large dynamic driving loads (g forces on the spare from driving).

Ford obviously felt that one needed to upgrade both the gate itself and the hinges for the larger/heavier 37" wheel.

I think, simply from a few videos I've seen, that for non Raptors the gate itself is more of the weak link during severe driving load cases.

If I were upgrading I would follow Fords lead.

I'm glad you pointed-out the two, completely different instances in the "life of a gate"... Open v/s closed. The first half of the thread seemed to only be addressing the open scenario which, is the least critical, static portion of it's existence. Now... to see how this story ends!

 

[Motovita]

Does anyone have a photo showing both standard and Raptor hinges? Part #s for Raptor hinges would be cool too.

 

[crenca]

I'm glad you pointed-out the two, completely different instances in the "life of a gate"... Open v/s closed. The first half of the thread seemed to only be addressing the open scenario which, is the least critical, static portion of it's existence. Now... to see how this story ends!

Now that I have 33k of hard on and off road miles (I'm off-road 5 days a week, I drive like batman on road ), my tailgate is not closing as smooth as it once did - a bit of sag I assume causing the meetup between the gate and the latch to be rougher then it used to be. I don't have any mods on my gate, though my Mickey Thomson's(spare) is at least 10lbs more then OEM Goodyear's.

Question is would the Raptor OEM reinforcement from Ford Performance (cheaper elsewhere) be an improvement? Some of the thoughts here about the design and physics of the structure has me wondering. I have no plans for a bumper mounted swing gate system as I don't want the weight, etc.

 

[NORCALGXP]

Thanks, I'd think that should be mandatory for anyone mounting a 37" wheel back there.
I think I'd like to have the stronger hinges even though I run smaller wheels, so can I just order the Raptor hinges from Ford?

Excellent Price.

https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7826800a

https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7842900a

 

[NORCALGXP]

Does anyone have a photo showing both standard and Raptor hinges? Part #s for Raptor hinges would be cool too.

 

[NORCALGXP]

I have a Hammerbuilt Tailgate Reinforcement System and Raptor hinges my wheel and 37" wheel is a 100 lbs been running this set for three years.

Hammer Built Bronco HD Tailgate Reinforcement System (Bronco Raptor Hinges Only)
Brand: Hammerbuilt SKU: HB-03-00020 availability: In stock

https://hpbuilt.shop/products/hamme...nforcement-system?_pos=2&_sid=a82e8e9f2&_ss=r

Raptor Hinges. The forged pin is the strongest part of the hinge...I don't think that would ever fail even on the OEM ones. The cross section surrounding the Raptors hinge pins is much thicker...but the main reason I went with them is because of the flat mounting surfaces (instead of relying on spacers and sharing the hinge to tailgate bolts on the OEM setup).

https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7842900a


https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7826800a

 

[Dantastic]

Those poor hinges

Oh well.

 

[Dantastic]

Just to be clear, you’re getting this sag with the Raptor reinforcement already installed (and your recovery shelf on)?

After. But I think it was more to do with not properly tightening them.

 

[Brian_B]

Now that I have 33k of hard on and off road miles (I'm off-road 5 days a week, I drive like batman on road ), my tailgate is not closing as smooth as it once did - a bit of sag I assume causing the meetup between the gate and the latch to be rougher then it used to be. I don't have any mods on my gate, though my Mickey Thomson's(spare) is at least 10lbs more then OEM Goodyear's.

Question is would the Raptor OEM reinforcement from Ford Performance (cheaper elsewhere) be an improvement? Some of the thoughts here about the design and physics of the structure has me wondering. I have no plans for a bumper mounted swing gate system as I don't want the weight, etc.

You can just realign the striker plate and probably be ok to be honest.

Some sag is normal - just putting your spare tire on and off will be like 1/4" difference in height at the latch, and no reinforcement (short of the bumper arms) will get rid of all of that. And if the alignment bolts shift a bit over time that's not ~too~ hard to readjust -- there are tricks to it, it can be one of those finicky things, but it's not overly hard to get at, just takes patience.

The damage that gets done is the tailgate itself, being just a wide aluminum panel acting as a giant lever arm, gets twisted out of shape. Once that happens it's just never gonna be the same.

 

[manes_finale]

Is there any upgrade to the stock tailgate hinges if you have the Sasquatch package?

 

[NORCALGXP]

Is there any upgrade to the stock tailgate hinges if you have the Sasquatch package?

I have these on my SAS. See my post above #40
Raptor Hinges. The forged pin is the strongest part of the hinge...I don't think that would ever fail even on the OEM ones. The cross section surrounding the Raptors hinge pins is much thicker...but the main reason I went with them is because of the flat mounting surfaces (instead of relying on spacers and sharing the hinge to tailgate bolts on the OEM setup).

https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7842900a


https://www.oemfordpartsdirect.com/oem-parts/ford-hinge-assembly-rear-door-n2dz7826800a

 

[ssls6]

There are two main load issues when you put weight on the tailgate. The first is direct shear that translates to the hinges wanting to bend them and/or their mounting points. The second is the buckling that can occur on the face of the tailgate itself. The tailgate skin can easily buckle when the weight of the spare tire flexes up and down and when it does, the ability of the panel to carry the shear loads to the hinges drops significantly. Plates like the rough country or hammer built primarily help or counteract the buckling which is important. The plate is 10+ lbs so the actual shear the hinges must carry is higher but they are steel and much stronger than the panel they are bolted too. It really is a 3D load problem, not just a 2D shear problem. Most of the bent tailgates you see are buckling failures.

The best solution is both a better hinge and a stiffener plate against buckling. Above that, is a separate bumper mounting solution.

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