I was recently hauling a very large load of copper wire in my F-150 SCrew. While accelerating a bit too much, the load shifted causing the pallet of wire to slam into the tailgate. Anyone that has the factory bedliner can attest to the fact that loads don't stay put very well. Here's my problem, the tailgate now protrudes from the body about 1/4" on the top. The hinge area seems unaffected. If I were to guess, I would say that the latches in the tailgate have moved, since when I close the tailgate, it doesn't seem to connect well, altough it does still lock.

Is there any advice on how I might go about adjusting the latches myself? Or is this a job best suited for the dealership?


First post!

 

I know, I know...
I saw the answer on a pizza commercial.

Put a large load of copper wire in a trailer that has no front wall.
Tow it at high speed and slam on the brakes.

 

ok, I'll give it a shot. I'll report back with my results.

But seriously..........

 

The access panel on the tailgate comes off easy enough and is wide and large enough to perhaps straighten out something that was bent.

I would certainly look there first before going to the dealer because this doesn't sound like warranty work.

The supercrews do have an access panel don't they?
I have a 1999 styleside and the opening is substantial.

 

Before I go tearing into my tailgate, can I assume that this access panel is behind the bed cover on the gate? I'll need to purchase a torx tool to remove it if this is the case.

Thanks in advance!

 

I hope a supercrew owner will verify before you take a bedliner cover off.

My access cover is about 8 inches tall and about 3 and half feet wide. Atached with 6 or 8 bolts that have Allen heads.

When my truckbed was Line-Xed, they removed this cover, sprayed it seperately and replaced it. The bolts were not sprayed and nothing would need to be 'cut thru' the first time it would have to be removed.

What year is your truck?

 

2001

Thanks for the prompt replies, it's nice to find a forum where a complete novice like myself can ask the dumb questions.

 

3 things....


1) I hope you learned your lesson on securing the load in your truck. It could have very well shifted the other way and found its way to the back of your head.

2) All tailgates have the access panels. Regardless of size (styleside, flareside, supercrew).


3) This may actually be worth a trip to a body shop. They may be able to straighten it for minimal $$$

 

It's been a couple years so I can just vaguely remember...

On the bed, the taligate latches to a post on each side when closed. These posts are adjustable so that you can align the tailgate with the body of the truck. If you loosen the torx bolt, these posts move in and out. You don't have to remove the access panel.

 

Thanksfor the suggestions gentlemen. I'll try Aj's idea first, then proceed from there.

And J-150, the load was wrapped and low profile, otherwise I would certainly have secured it better. But hindsight is always 20/20 I suppose.

 

"I'll try Aj's idea first,...I'll try Aj's idea first..."

It's not your fault Vonderbach, you're new here but, I've been listening to that in every thread I've posted in for over three years!

 

Just wait, Raoul... At some point, he'll have problems with the IAC and you'll know exactly what to do

 

I've been artifically fouling every unattended IAC I can get my hands on but, it seems no more than 1% of those owners post on this site.

I'm beginning to wonder if the IAC would even foul through normal use.

Ford engineers have been scratching their heads over the phenomenon and I'll probably get caught eventually.

 

No worries, I wasn't so much that Aj's method seemed any better, it just seemed simpler to rule that out before proceeding to remove the bed cover. If it makes you feel better, I think your idea is most likely the solution.

 

YES!
Un-huh...un-huh...I'm bad...I'm bad..Swish...Nothing but net!

Whoop dare it is!
Whoop dare it is!