Tailgate issue

[Mike McFarlin]

I use my bed quite often. I haul a bike which only weighs 220 lbs and other light cargo. My tailgate is trashed. Just from where I step into it and I only weigh 180lbs. Is this common? The truck was less than 2 months old when this started to happen.



It is an '05 that I bought new in Sept of '06.



Is there a fix for this? I have noticed that the '07's are different. Can I maybe get the cover for an '07 and it be stronger?

 

[Todd Z]

07 will not fit, The support in the gate is not meant for pressure points...

Take the black plastic off and bend the bar back... IF you want you could install a small plate under the plastic for more support...

Todd Z

 

[Chops]

There isn't much underneath that plastic.

Bikes that "bounce" on the tailgate during transit can fold it in half. When you haul stuff, cut out a 4 x 8 x 5/8 sheet of plywood to lay in the bed and on the tailgate to redistribute the weight.



How about a picture of it?

 

[Richard L]

You might want to get a piece of heavy gauge diamond plate to cover the inside of the tailgate to replace the plastic panel and used the same screw holes. You could buy a new plastic cover piece and istall that whenever you decide to sell it.



...Rich

 

[Mike McFarlin]

Thanks for your help guys! Has anyone put something underneath to reinforce it??



BTW, I am looking for a trailer for the bike!