Tailgate "Reinforcement"

[swamp2]

Physics has entered the post…

Paging @swamp2

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.

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[ElDuderino]

Ford sells the Raptor hinges which are an upgrade from the regular hinges. I plan to do that + get the hammerbuilt. I carry a 10 pound propane tank on my spare tire, and have a fold out table that hangs from the tailgate.

 

[indio22]

This is my understanding as well. The weight is still there. It may be distributed more evenly, but nothing has been reinforced.

The hinge and whatever the hinge attaches to is what really requires reinforcing.

Not necessarily. It's not clear the stock hinges can't adequately support most situations. Have we seen a significant number of failed stock hinges? It might be the case that door frame reinforcement is more worthy than uprated hinges.

I know Ford offers thicker Braptor hinges. I'm curious do those hinges have thicker swing pins than regular stock hinges? And do they include more robust attachment/support to the body and door?

 

[Dantastic]

Can I ask who legitimately has had tailgate issues to the point where it makes it unable to close your tailgate?

I’m not doubting some heftier wheel/tire combos haven’t caused some sag or warping but to the point where you cannot close your tailgate.

 

[Oldhippie]

I am not aware of any hinge failures but tailgate failures are pretty common…the Hammer type plates do take some load off the aluminum tailgate…I hope enough that I won’t have trouble hauling rotopax cans on my tailgate…

 

[swamp2]

…the Hammer type plates do take some load off the aluminum tailgate…

Hopefully not to pedantic, but such reinforcement plates do not lower loads, they actually increase them. What they do accomplish is to increase stiffness and decrease stress in some areas.

The load is the input and the stress (and deflection) are the response.

 

[Oldhippie]

Hopefully not to pedantic, but such reinforcement plates do not lower loads, they actually increase them. What they do accomplish is to increase stiffness and decrease stress in some areas.

The load is the input and the stress (and deflection) are the response.

yeah, ok, whatever…so less “stress” on the aluminum tailgate…

 

[swamp2]

yeah, ok, whatever…

Like I said, didn't want to come across as pedantic or nitpicking, but since you seem dismissive, please hear me out...

Language matters.

It's the difference between a 100% false statement and a 100% true one (as was the case with your statement). It matters even more so in technical topics, even if it's more of a casual discussion (such as ours).

So often misused, many here, often:

Force vs. Pressure
Heat vs. Temperature
Load vs. Stress
Strength vs. Stiffness
Mass vs. Weight
Power vs. Energy vs. Work
Force vs. Torque
Hardness vs. Toughness
Fatigue failure vs. Overload failure
Elasticity vs. Plasticity

The possible ensuing claim of, "you know what I meant" may or may not be the case.

 

[Oldhippie]

Like I said, didn't want to come across as pedantic or nitpicking, but since you seem dismissive, please hear me out...

Language matters.

It's the difference between a 100% false statement and a 100% true one (as was the case with your statement). It matters even more so in technical topics, even if it's more of a casual discussion (such as ours).

So often misused, many here, often:

Force vs. Pressure
Heat vs. Temperature
Load vs. Stress
Strength vs. Stiffness
Mass vs. Weight
Power vs. Energy vs. Work
Force vs. Torque
Hardness vs. Toughness
Fatigue failure vs. Overload failure
Elasticity vs. Plasticity

The possible ensuing claim of, "you know what I meant" may or may not be the case.

I may seem dismissive (have dealt with many “engineers“) because you stated the plate creates more load/weight on the tailgate which it does not (at least to any great amount) and I didn’t want to get into it… but…it creates more weight on the hinges that I am not concerned with…the plate actually carries some tire/wheel weight to the hinges, removing weight from the tailgate…removing the load/weight removes “stress” from the tailgate…at least that is how I see it…and why I have a plate. But you can keep up the word play if ya want…

 

[sjudas]

Curious as to what people think of these tailgate reinforcement kits that are being sold. Unless I'm misunderstanding them, most of the offerings just help distribute the weight more evenly? But all of the weight is still on the latch and hinges.

So if they're being installed to prevent tailgate issues in the future, wouldn't the hinge and whatever the hinge attaches to be what would need to be reinforced? If they're being installed for more cosmetic purposes, I can get that, and that's totally fine. But to add a metal plate (which adds weight) to my tailgate and not reinforce the hinges seems counterproductive as a reinforcement.

Am I crazy? I'm like a slight nudge away from purchasing a Hammerbuilt unit but it would be because it looks sweet and can attach a Rotopax to it.

The steel reinforcement plates transfer weight from the tailgate to the hinges. That' the idea. The hinges are strong and can handle the weight while the tailgate can flex when the truck is bouncing.

 

[Valhalla]

So, the failure we know of comes from our HEEP brethren. Lots of failure to be found there. Ford COPIED the HEEP design. Hopefully there reverse engineering (as in so many other things) took the gripes of the YJ forward community and took them into consideration. I know of zero gate failures so far on the bronco. That being said, if you use it as a ladder, rotopax, table, and carry a 38x15 17 on it you might consider some of this before the gate tears off.

 

[Dantastic]

I am not aware of any hinge failures but tailgate failures are pretty common…the Hammer type plates do take some load off the aluminum tailgate…I hope enough that I won’t have trouble hauling rotopax cans on my tailgate…

I have the Raptor hinges/reinforcement on my Bronco and put one of those tire attached carriers with my recovery gear and rotopax. It’s pretty heavy.

I wheeled with it in Colorado over the summer and was in and out of my tailgate multiple times. When closing it, I’d have to lift slightly for it to close properly. But with it off, I haven’t seen any issues.

I guess time will tell if it’ll cause long term issues. I plan on going to 37s when my stock Sas tires wear out.

 

[Beggsie]

The hinges were never the weakest link.

TOR does replace the hinge, but only by virtue that it's installing a new hinge built as part of a full steel frame to carry all the weight of the spare tire and any additional mounted equipment. Nothing mounted externally is carried by the aluminum tailgate any longer. The tailgate itself bolts to the backside of that frame - the frame carries all the weight of the spare (and anything you mount externally)

This entire piece is one solid chunk of welded steel, which bolts directly up to the frame brackets. The spare hangs from the back side, and the tailgate hangs from the front side.

Who's in the middle?

 

[Beggsie]

I have the Raptor hinges/reinforcement on my Bronco and put one of those tire attached carriers with my recovery gear and rotopax. It’s pretty heavy.

I wheeled with it in Colorado over the summer and was in and out of my tailgate multiple times. When closing it, I’d have to lift slightly for it to close properly. But with it off, I haven’t seen any issues.

I guess time will tell if it’ll cause long term issues. I plan on going to 37s when my stock Sas tires wear out.

Those poor hinges

 

[crenca]

I have the Raptor hinges/reinforcement on my Bronco and put one of those tire attached carriers with my recovery gear and rotopax. It’s pretty heavy.

I wheeled with it in Colorado over the summer and was in and out of my tailgate multiple times. When closing it, I’d have to lift slightly for it to close properly. But with it off, I haven’t seen any issues.

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

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