Has anyone noticed the poor quality of metal stamping in tailgates of almost every '97--2000 F-150. Mine has several ripples in the sheet metal under the latch. Every truck I have looked at also has these unsightly dents. New Chevy lovers don't laugh, your tailgates also have ripples around the latch. Ford Motor Co. wake up this is a problem on 100% of your trucks. Flareside trucks are not as bad as styleside trucks but are far from perfect. (Stand paralell to the tailgate and look under the latch if the light hits it just right it looks like it'd been wrecked)

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2000 F-150, XLT, SC, 5.4, 4X4, 355 LS, ORP, Black/Silver, class III, single CD, sliding glass, med. gray, keyless, elect. shift, engine date 8-18-99, Superchip. '93 Harley Fatboy Black & tons of chrome




[This message has been edited by Bubbadewsky (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

My early/earlier 97 is fine. Haven't noticed ripples on other trucks, I guess not obviously, but not really looking either. Will have to start watching. It may relate to which stamping plant made the tailgates for which assembly plant.

[This message has been edited by Granpa (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

I just went out to look at mine very closely after reading your post. No ripples at all on mine looking at it from every angle. Perfectly smooth...I also looked at the entire tailgate...nothing...I'm very glad!


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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99




[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

My tailgate is perfect I have a 1998 flareside. Besides a ding that a friend put in it. I think the only problem that plagues 100% of these trucks is the door crack and all doors rusting after 1 year

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1998 F150 XLT extra cab white,4.6 with off-road package
tint,rhino-lining, white face gauges, clear front marker lights, stull billet grille, expy center console
16" lariat 5 stars with dunlop radial rover
285/75/16

 

I looked at my 2000 very closely and the latch area seems perfect.
Regarding what Granpa said, I have noticed that the beds of some extended cabs seem to fit the rear of the cab better than others. Mine, (and others I've seen) is a teensy bit narrower than the cab rear-door width, which is OK but I've noticed some are better fitting. Are the beds made in different stamping plants?
I actually had to loosen the bedbolts and slide mine around a bit when I got it because the bed was off about 1/4 to 3/8 inch at the front and you could definitely notice it when you compared each side, from the rear, especially. Several of the trucks on the lot were worse than mine. I think the Norfolk plant misses checking this.
Oh, and I've noticed Ford is not always too good at lining up the hood for even front gap, nor the bumpers, either sometimes. My truck, except for the bed, was pretty good at all the openings, though.

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

No ripples on my 2000 SC Flairside, just a nice scratch my wife put on it with my utility trailer at 500 miles new

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2000 Lariat Flairside Supercab, 5.4, 3.55LS, towing package, captains chairs,cd changer, Bugflector II (painted Bright Red)and now the Herculiner Bedliner

 

kmmon1..

Not all doors will rust after 1 year...I think it is primarily everyone living in northern states..the "salt belt". My 98 I had was 1.5 years old...no rust at all. I could not imagine moving back to Wisconsin with either of our new vehicles...I remember all to well what that darn salt does to vehicles!

However..YES to the darn door crack problem! Much to my surprise today...out of the 4 97+ F-150s I looked at in various parking lots (for the door crack)...NONE of the 97-98 models had them and the 99 I looked at did not either. Amazing!


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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Ya! Rust and 4x4's that's all we have up here!

 

Any of you homos look at my tailgate ripples, I'll kill ya.