Gap when Tailgate is Closed

[P. A. Schilke]

Agreeeeed. This was a massive fail on Ford's part.

Keep me posted on how that seal goes, at this point I'm leaning towards that than hacking up my own solution if it works.

Hi Gizmo.

Nothing new here....Older Ranger tailgate fit was pretty much the same but we had these felt strips called Gap hiders, which were thin strips of felt like material. They were used to stop the complaint of seeing the taillamp brake lights when backing up at night. The cost reduction folks tried to get rid of them but I stood firm until 2004 where they bit the dust as I recall. As for the pattern of the tailgate, this was not done in a vacuum...there were analyses to ensure the tailgate has the load caring rating the program required. Just like the head board of the box....the old Ranger headboard was an NVH nightmare and we had to install mastic patches on the box headboard outer to dampen the vibratory response of the headboard. When asked by the body people what I wanted for the headboard, I told them to make it look like a waffle. The 5G Ranger is much better for the headboard.

What I do not know but suspect is that there is fore and aft adjustment in the tailgate striker to help resolve some of the gap issue. I too bought the Extang kit and discarded it as too piecemeal.

Hopefully someone will come up with a molded seal, but it is my opinion that 6G will not solve this until Marketing feeds them that this is a big negative, so complain to Ford Customer Care and if enough cases are logged the new 6G just might incorporate a seal.

I was with Ford for 30 years and the pickup box was never considered to be water or dust tight as it was a Truck, not an SUV/CUV. I believe that philosophy is still in place. Anyway....that is JMO...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

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[Stevo56]

Went through the car wash. It seems to do the job. Only water leakage was due to the tonneau cover.

 

[DocE3Gun]

Went through the car wash. It seems to do the job. Only water leakage was due to the tonneau cover.

I’ve been able to use both automated and manual car washes without issue.
The bigger benefit for me, was the fact that dust isn’t rolling into my bed anymore. Everything under my bed cover stays pretty dust free.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Hi Gizmo.

Nothing new here....Older Ranger tailgate fit was pretty much the same but we had these felt strips called Gap hiders, which were thin strips of felt like material. They were used to stop the complaint of seeing the taillamp brake lights when backing up at night. The cost reduction folks tried to get rid of them but I stood firm until 2004 where they bit the dust as I recall. As for the pattern of the tailgate, this was not done in a vacuum...there were analyses to ensure the tailgate has the load caring rating the program required. Just like the head board of the box....the old Ranger headboard was an NVH nightmare and we had to install mastic patches on the box headboard outer to dampen the vibratory response of the headboard. When asked by the body people what I wanted for the headboard, I told them to make it look like a waffle. The 5G Ranger is much better for the headboard.

What I do not know but suspect is that there is fore and aft adjustment in the tailgate striker to help resolve some of the gap issue. I too bought the Extang kit and discarded it as too piecemeal.

Hopefully someone will come up with a molded seal, but it is my opinion that 6G will not solve this until Marketing feeds them that this is a big negative, so complain to Ford Customer Care and if enough cases are logged the new 6G just might incorporate a seal.

I was with Ford for 30 years and the pickup box was never considered to be water or dust tight as it was a Truck, not an SUV/CUV. I believe that philosophy is still in place. Anyway....that is JMO...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Yeah, this is my 4th truck ('89 Dakota, '99 Ranger, '04 F-150 before), but the first time the tailgate has had such large gaps. None of the others were really waterproof, but they actually kept snow/dust out from under the tonneau cover (F-150) and toppers (Ranger) that I had, so I'm a little upset that this still doesn't hold true. I'm definitely not expecting a cabin-like seal, but a bit of effort.

Went through the car wash. It seems to do the job. Only water leakage was due to the tonneau cover.

Awesome, thanks!!

I’ve been able to use both automated and manual car washes without issue.
The bigger benefit for me, was the fact that dust isn’t rolling into my bed anymore. Everything under my bed cover stays pretty dust free.

That's my biggest thing too, I have a tonneau cover for a reason, one of which is to keep the bed clean when I'm driving.

 

[tfisher15]

Yeah, this is my 4th truck ('89 Dakota, '99 Ranger, '04 F-150 before), but the first time the tailgate has had such large gaps. None of the others were really waterproof, but they actually kept snow/dust out from under the tonneau cover (F-150) and toppers (Ranger) that I had, so I'm a little upset that this still doesn't hold true. I'm definitely not expecting a cabin-like seal, but a bit of effort.

Awesome, thanks!!

That's my biggest thing too, I have a tonneau cover for a reason, one of which is to keep the bed clean when I'm driving.

I’m currently trying peel and stick edge trim from Steele Rubber Products, Pt. No. 70-4104-344. It looks like it should help keep dust and water out. It cost $3.79/ft.

 

[y2krtaf]

I ordered this from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/ESI-Ultimate-Tailgate-Taper-Ranger/dp/B07YF5BL8M/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2EJ5KRXU2QJI8&dchild=1&keywords=esi+tailgate+seal&qid=1603549271&sprefix=Esi+t,aps,202&sr=8-8

Unfortunately, it has been too cold here in Siberian Minnesota to install. If it warms up I'll give it a try.

Edit: detailed install instructions.

https://tailgateseal.com/FordRanger2019.html

Also used this in conjunction with my Truxedo pro cover,have had zero issues with water or anything else getting into the bed area.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Also used this in conjunction with my Truxedo pro cover,have had zero issues with water or anything else getting into the bed area.

I've got a Truxedo Truxport, so I think I'm going to have to go with this and try it all again.

 

[micl9]

I’m currently trying peel and stick edge trim from Steele Rubber Products, Pt. No. 70-4104-344. It looks like it should help keep dust and water out. It cost $3.79/ft.

This looks like a great solution!
Did you use this on just the sides or across the bottom as well?
More pics!

And where did you find for $3.79/ft? Steel website and Amazon are at $4.19

 

[tfisher15]

Nice! Did the width of one piece fill the large lower corner gaps ?

The bottom seal is the ESI ROK Block 4.25 inch wide piece, ordered from Amazon (picture below). It has been on since August and is working well.

Also included a picture of the invoice from Steele for the edge trim. I remember having trouble finding it and I may have gotten it from their Marine catalog.

I have not driven it in the rain yet, so not sure how much it will leak. Can't comment on dust since I don't off-road. The lower corners may need something more, just don't know yet.

 

[micl9]

The bottom seal is the ESI ROK Block 4.25 inch wide piece, ordered from Amazon (picture below). It has been on since August and is working well.

Also included a picture of the invoice from Steele for the edge trim. I remember having trouble finding it and I may have gotten it from their Marine catalog.

I have not driven it in the rain yet, so not sure how much it will leak. Can't comment on dust since I don't off-road. The lower corners may need something more, just don't know yet.

That seal actually looks like a designed solution! I will definitely go that route.
The 4.25" rock block works on our truck? I thought I measure the gap and it was than that.

 

[tfisher15]

That seal actually looks like a designed solution! I will definitely go that route.
The 4.25" rock block works on our truck? I thought I measure the gap and it was than that.

I took the garden hose and sprayed the tailgate with water. I set the sprayer to “Shower” so, while it was not set to the highest pressure “Jet” setting, it got a good soaking. The inside of the bed remained dry while the outside of the seal that filled the gap was wet (expected that).

I tried to take a couple of more pictures of the install of the Rok Bloc. I have the Ford spray-in bedliner so the inside edge was mounted on the small gap that butted up to the bedliner and the other edge to the tailgate bottom edge that did not have bedliner. I can see that sliding stuff out of the bed could cause the bloc to come loose eventually. If that happens I may get some 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive and bend the edge over and glue it to the vertical surface.

Anyway, here are some more pictures. Hope they help.

 

[Ravenwood]

There’s quite a big gap in the tailgate. Has anyone tried one of the seals available?

Thanks for the info

 

[micl9]

I took the garden hose and sprayed the tailgate with water. I set the sprayer to “Shower” so, while it was not set to the highest pressure “Jet” setting, it got a good soaking. The inside of the bed remained dry while the outside of the seal that filled the gap was wet (expected that).

I tried to take a couple of more pictures of the install of the Rok Bloc. I have the Ford spray-in bedliner so the inside edge was mounted on the small gap that butted up to the bedliner and the other edge to the tailgate bottom edge that did not have bedliner. I can see that sliding stuff out of the bed could cause the bloc to come loose eventually. If that happens I may get some 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive and bend the edge over and glue it to the vertical surface.

Anyway, here are some more pictures. Hope they help.

@tfisher15
So after a few months how is this solution holding up?

 

[Gizmokid2005]

@tfisher15
So after a few months how is this solution holding up?

I installed mine a few weeks ago, and either I *seriously* messed up the install, which is entirely possible but I was pretty vigilant because I wanted it to work, or it just doesn't work as well as I'd hoped in regards to dust, because it made almost no discernible difference in my use case

 

[micl9]

I installed mine a few weeks ago, and either I *seriously* messed up the install, which is entirely possible but I was pretty vigilant because I wanted it to work, or it just doesn't work as well as I'd hoped in regards to dust, because it made almost no discernible difference in my use case

Bummer!
How does it do for water? Dust, while not ideal I can blow out periodically.

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