The tailgate straps on my truck are different length. Tonight, when I asked the dealer about it I got what I perceive as a very funny answer. According to the parts department the straps are made that way to keep from loading the tailgate funny. How in the hell is that supposed to make sense?

Completely Baffled

Jansen

 

My left was slightly longer than my right. Brought this to the attention of my dealer and they replaced them, no questions asked.

 

jansen_l

I had read about this in another thread and meant to check it out but I always forget. So, I went outside tonight to inspect my tailgate straps. At first, I would have bet $1 that the right strap was longer than the left as it appeared looser, but I measured them and they are both just a tad over 24".

So, I measure the distance between the tailgate and the bumper and that was the same (~1.5") on both sides.

I don't buy what the dealer told you about "loading the tailgate". Why in the hell would they design/modify the tailgate or straps for the low percentage of people that really ever put it under a load?

My guess (and I am not an engineer or anything) is that this is an optical illusion created by the torsion bar. I think that the torsion bar is putting a little (almost immeasurable) amount of extra downward pressure on the left side, making the right side APPEAR looser than the left.


"That's my story and I'm sticking to it..."

 

wattman1

I think you found the problem. That theory makes alot of sense to me. My right side is also loose. I'm willing to bet if you sit in the bed of the truck it will level out on both sides.

zman

 

Mine is so far off, you can sit next to the right one (the one that has a few inches of play) and it is tight on the other side, not the long side... What will this do to the tailgate in the long run???

 

Did you ever try swapping the cables?

 

I'd like to know why everyone is freaking out about their tailgate straps? Ford owners are the most pickest people ever, next your going to hear how we complain about our tailgate straps over on the nissan and dodge boards!

man 1: "My tailgate straps are off"
man 2: "really? so what did you do"
man 1: "i went to the dealership and complained"
man 2: "what do you hual"
man 1: "nothing"

ford owners!

 

mjninke,

I am not sure I understand. I think you said that the passenger side cable has a few inches of play (looser) AND that when you sit on the right side (looser), it is tight on the left? Mine doesn't have all that extra play, but it does APPEAR to me that it is tighter on the left than on the right. I think we are actually describing similar situations.


asinatra,
That would suck if this stuff gets on those "Other" boards!

 

hey, hello everyone! my first time posting on here. I just wanted to let u guys all know that my 2003, my uncles 2002 and my dads 1998 all have 1 strap shorter than the other. or they arent both tight anyway- i havent measured them. So apparently just about all Fords are this way. But we have had no trouble with the tailgates. We do alot of hauling here on the farm.

Just thought i'd get involved- great and informative site!



Dan

 

tailgate straps? we have tailgate straps... I bet there is a medication for that now

 

i have a loose right side aswell. I havent had a truck yet with even sides lol oh well i always get them fixed sooner or later.

 

I would hardly say anyone is "freaking out". You are absolutely right....I am picky, very picky. If I spend $30K on something, is it wrong for me to be "picky" and expect things to be right? I think not. I frequently haul my quad in the back of my truck, which is 850lbs.+ with me on it. That's a decent amount of weight rolling on and off my tailgate so I think my concern about my straps is justified. Evidently my dealer thought there was something wrong with my straps since they replaced them with no questions asked. Lastly....I really don't give a rat's as* what someone in another forum thinks!!!

 

ive known for a while that my strap things were off, but i was used to it cause the sold ranger had the same thing, but what you can do is get one of your friends, perf. +150 to sit on the right side, and viola! there even!

edit: think about this, ford has sold over +400,000 new f-150's thats about +800,000 tailgate straps, do you think ford has the time to match them?

 

I am just one nit-picking kind of guy. Plus I like to give the dealers hell to keep them on their toes.

Jansen

 

My tailgate straps are different lengths. Maybe 1/8" difference between them, enough to notice by eyeballing it. Unless the tailgate falls off the truck, I'm not gonna worry about it.