Tailgate support/brace real life question -- actually beneficial?

[Santos]

For those that have installed a brace; is it actually beneficial to have one? My personal plan is to use a spare tire shelf to haul more. Are the hinges the new weak spot after install? Has anyone had an adverse affect?

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[RUZ]

I just installed the Hammer Built support last night. Driving today I noticed fewer rattles coming from the back, and the tailgate feels more solid.

 

[Graham1911]

Really had planned to use one of these. Looked at Hammer Built, Rough Country and a couple others. I read somewhere that the hinges were rated for 300lbs. Not sure aluminum tailgate can handle it even with bracket. I am putting 37s with a high lift jack. No plans for anything else but what if I change my mind. I might want to add a Jerry Can or who knows what else in the future. Money is always a concern when it comes to adding options. When you add the cost of reinforcement plate, jack mount, tail light riser, etc. your in for several hundred bucks. I am replacing rear bumper anyway so I went ahead, bit the bullet and ordered the Expedition One rear bumper with tire carrier and horizontal jack mount. They have 25% off until end of month with code BLACK22. The whole set up is less than $2000 and comes with camera relocate, tail light riser and license plate bracket. I am going to use the DV8 license plate mount for left side tailgate so I won't be using the included bracket. If I was keeping stock bumper it might not have made sense. With that not being the case, I think this will be a great option. As a side note, the bumper and tire carrier weigh about 130lbs. Much lighter than some of the others I looked at. I am adding three inch lift and adding bumper and winch to front. This should balance everything out. I I have Badlands SAS on order. Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

For those that have installed a brace; is it actually beneficial to have one? My personal plan is to use a spare tire shelf to haul more. Are the hinges the new weak spot after install? Has anyone had an adverse affect?

It definitely wouldn't hurt to get one, and all I've heard is good reviews.

 

[CptSamFalcon]

It stiffened up my tailgate for sure. I loaded up my rear tire with a bike rack, two hardtails and couple traction boards and it was much better "feeling" with the Hammerbuilt reinforcement. I was also able to add a couple rotopax.

 

[Yeti-X]

i ran a 37 inch tire with a relocate bracket with out the reinforcement on my jeep jk and it physically bent my tailgate. I then went ahead and bent everything back installed the reinforcement and upgrade structural hinges on the jk never another problem. So when I put 37's o n my Bronco I automatically added the reinforcement RC to my tailgate being that the tailgate is aluminum and not a steel unit like the JK

 

[Gene Dios]

Go for a real reinforcement hinge upgrade like the RTR tailgate mount. There's another brand out there as well.

 

[U13Roadster]

Anyone know the other brand? RTR is twice as expensive.

 

[Graham1911]

Anyone know the other brand? RTR is twice as expensive.

Before I decided to go with Expedition One bumper and tire carrier, I was thinking this one.
https://www.bayareametalfab.com/2021-22-FORD-Bronco-Rear-tail-gate-reinforcement-_p_180.html

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

I go back and forth on my plan. Rear bumper with a tire carrier or reinforcement bracket. High level this is how I see it.

Rear bump + tire carrier
Pros:
- removes weight front rear gate
- potential for Jerry can mount
- long term durability
Cons:
- weight
- cost
- limited options

Reinforcement brackets
Pros:
- Reduced weight
- cost
Cons:
- limited options
- weight still on tailgate hinges

I’m curious to see Hammer Built’s coming offering with their HD option designed around the Baptor hinges or their TBD own hinges. I’m also very interested in JCR’s bracket.

To date, I’ve yet to see a rear bumper with a tire carrier that checks all my boxes. However I look forward to seeing HeftyFab’s TBD option.

My 2Door has yet to arrive but it’s blend date is tomorrow. I plan to run Kenda KR601 37’s so the tail carrier must be addressed.

At the moment weight management remains a priority so I’m hopeful that a reinforcement bracket proves worthy.

 

[Cysquatch]

Anyone know the other brand? RTR is twice as expensive.

I went with @JcrOffroad reinforcement/relocation bracket. It’s on sale for $279 during the month of November. 10-20 business day lead time though.

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

I went with @JcrOffroad reinforcement/relocation bracket. It’s on sale for $279 during the month of November. 10-20 business day lead time though.

I look forward to your thoughts when it arrives.

 

[zyglyrox]

I went with @BAMF and their bracket and I’m happy with it. Definitely less noise from the rear

 

[Graham1911]

I go back and forth on my plan. Rear bumper with a tire carrier or reinforcement bracket. High level this is how I see it.

Rear bump + tire carrier
Pros:
- removes weight front rear gate
- potential for Jerry can mount
- long term durability
Cons:
- weight
- cost
- limited options

Reinforcement brackets
Pros:
- Reduced weight
- cost
Cons:
- limited options
- weight still on tailgate hinges

I’m curious to see Hammer Built’s coming offering with their HD option designed around the Baptor hinges or their TBD own hinges. I’m also very interested in JCR’s bracket.

To date, I’ve yet to see a rear bumper with a tire carrier that checks all my boxes. However I look forward to seeing HeftyFab’s TBD option.

My 2Door has yet to arrive but it’s blend date is tomorrow. I plan to run Kenda KR601 37’s so the tail carrier must be addressed.

At the moment weight management remains a priority so I’m hopeful that a reinforcement bracket proves worthy.

Just ordered my Expedition One rear bumper and tire carrier. They are having 20% off for Black Friday using code BLACK22. I hated spending money but I was getting rear bumper anyway. Came in at less than $2K with shipping. When you add the cost for reinforcement bracket, mounts for accessories and still being limited for future things I might want to add, I decided on tire carrier. All I am adding on now is horizontal jack mount. I don't know what I might add later and tire carrier option gives me that freedom. A jerry Can full of gas is not light. I am also putting Zone 3" lift which adds 2" in front and 3" in back. This should account for some of weight.

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

Just ordered my Expedition One rear bumper and tire carrier. They are having 20% off for Black Friday using code BLACK22. I hated spending money but I was getting rear bumper anyway. Came in at less than $2K with shipping. When you add the cost for reinforcement bracket, mounts for accessories and still being limited for future things I might want to add, I decided on tire carrier. All I am adding on now is horizontal jack mount. I don't know what I might add later and tire carrier option gives me that freedom. A jerry Can full of gas is not light. I am also putting Zone 3" lift which adds 2" in front and 3" in back. This should account for some of weight.

Nice! Expo1 makes great stuff. I wish they had more photography of how their accessories mount to the tire carrier arm. Looks like a really nice option.

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