Hi, I have a 09 F-150 XLT. Yesterday I was closing the tailgate and for some reason it came loose and the tailgate straps caught it before it hit the ground but now I noticed the tailgate strap on the passenger side has play in it. I don't remember if it was that way before or not? Thanks.

 

On all 3 trucks I have owned one side was always a little loose. It is usually the passenger side too.

 

Mine is that way too...

 

Mine too, passenger side. Don't remember my 04 being that way though.

 

It's supposed to be that way - makes it easier to remove the tailgate.

 

All of mine as well.

 

I'd never noticed the difference, but as soon as I read the thread, this was my second thought... My first thought being somone put a SD cable on there at the factory...

 

Sounds fishy...the point of them is to hold of the tailgate, correct? So all the strain is put one strap since the other is longer? Doesn't sound like a great idea.

 

I noticed the same on the 2010 XLT I had, but not on my Lariat. Hmm.

 

So all nine mentioned in this thread were wrong from the factory?

The concept is it takes strain off one side to make the tailgate easier to remove.

Check yours. I'd be surprised if it wasn't the same as everyone elses.

 

Ha, all you new truck owners..... worried about your tailgates. Well if it was a Toyota, I could understand....

But yes, even my 02' is like that. As soon as I stand on it, or put any weight on it, the cable tightens up and supports the weight evenly.

 

I noticed this last week when I installed my EZ Down. Didn't really think much of it.

 

Thanks for the help

 

Not sure but pre 2003 did not have the torsion assist tail gate. All of my pre 03 seemed to have even straps. My 08 seemed even too but now I can't remember. The 2010 today does have some play on RH side. Could be the torsion bar mechanism that presents the difference. No big deal, once you load her up they even out.

BTW Super duty is not made in the same assembly plants as F-150

 

i would say no... but if mine were uneven i know i'd be at a junkyard findin a new cable that is exactly the same length. mine are dead even on my truck