tailgate popped out

[B Ray]

Hi- I was loading some brush into my '07 Sport trac this afternoon and perhaps was trying to close the tailgate with too much in it...... the right side of the tailgate popped out and I can't get it to just pop right back in...any suggestions/anyone ever have this happen? Really don't want to take it in anywhere. Thanks!

 

[Bob McDonald]

My question is: What do you mean by 'Popped out'? If you mean it came off of one of the hinges, the gate is meant to be able to come off the hinges, but not by closing the gate. If you meant something else, please explain, I can't imagine what it is you are talking about. It would be helpful if you included a picture of what it looks like.

 

[Todd Z]

The right side is where you take it off from if you wish to remove the tailgate...



you have to hold it in on the left hinge and hold the tailgate about 45 degrees or less ( about 1/2 open) and push to wards the truck on the right side... there is a slot in the tailgate that will pop back on the truck...



Hope that helps.......



Todd Z

 

[Richard L]

It could have been pushed off the right pivot by something trapped between the bed and the tailgate.



The tailgate pivots on to two circular (donut shaped) pivots mounted on the sides of the tailgate opening just below the taillights. The left pivot completely encloses the left side tailgate pivot pin, but the pivot on the right has an opening near the top to allow the tailgate to be lifted up and out of the pivot when the tailgate is partially opened. Once you lift the partially opened tailgate out of the right side pivot, you can pull the right side of the gate back and to the right and it will slip out of the left pivot and the tailgate can be removed.



It also important to keep the taillgate locked because thieves can steal the tailgate if they can open it. As an added measure of security, you can tighten a stainless steel hose clamp around the right side pivot donut and tighten the clamp screw. Be sure to position the clamp screw so that it cannot be accessed when the tailgate is closed. This blocks the opening in the pivot donut and will prevent the tailgate from lifting up out of the pivot, and most thieves will not hang around long enough to figure out why the tailgate will not pop out, or bother trying to unscrew or cut the hose clamp.



...Rich

 

[David Roll]

You must live in a rough neighborhood Richard.

 

[Richard L]

Droll,

Not really, but trucks are very popular in Texas and unlocked tailgates are just an open invitation to a thief. I had a tonneau cover and an electric tailgate lock wired to my door lock controls, but I installed the hose clamp before I got my tailgate lock just in case I forgot to lock the tailgate.



...Rich

 

[zaffo oxnard]

We call a car with the spare tire carrier hanging a "Mexican dangler". More than once I have come out of a building to find my spare 1/2 way to the ground, except I have a cable and a padlock on it that discourages the thief. Rangers, Explorers and full size trucks are the usual targets for the thieves because all you need is the jack entension handle and the lug nut wrench and you can drop any Ford spare tire in about 15 seconds, yank the spare from the carrier, and throw it in the getaway truck and be gone in 60 seconds. Drive on to the next Ford and you can get a new set of tires in 20 minutes at a mall. Terrible.

 

[Richard L]

Tony,

They actually make spare tire locks to prevent thieves from cranking down the spare and stealing it. I bought one years ago for my fist Sport Trac and it only cost about $17 on the internet...worked like a charm.



..Rich