45 degree tailgate

[LarryJ]

Or we could use the right tool!

I do like that tool as it does envision one of my uses. I was assuming (based on Jeeps) descriptions that a 45 degree angle would match the wheel well elevation and a piece of timber inserted into the slot in the aid of the box. Doesn’t convert the short bed into a hauling monster but I sure could see some occasional very helpful applications. Thanks Larry

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[THLONE]

There is a saying about RVing and hauling loads. "Get enough truck".

 

[VAMike]

I wonder if dg will make a set for the ranger

 

[Sandman Ranger]

Is the Aluminum tailgate strong enough for this? I know someone mentioned the load capacity before and not being super high, not sure I would be hanging many 15ft 2x12’s off the back.

 

[Lunchbox88]

Is the Aluminum tailgate strong enough for this? I know someone mentioned the load capacity before and not being super high, not sure I would be hanging many 15ft 2x12’s off the back.

The weight capacity is listed in the manual at 485lbs. So its actually fairly capable of carrying some load. I know on my old ranger, that amount of weight would certainly start to taco it.

 

[VAMike]

Is the Aluminum tailgate strong enough for this? I know someone mentioned the load capacity before and not being super high, not sure I would be hanging many 15ft 2x12’s off the back.

the stated load limit is 485 pounds. I definitely wouldn't hang many 15 foot boards off it because that's a heck of a lot of unsupported weight regardless of the tailgate rating; if that's the requirement I'd probably go for a 8 foot bed rather than any midsize, and/or a hitch bed extender.

 

[HenryMac]

Easy peasy. @FULLSCALE @LarryJ

Hmm.. can't imagine the supports or the cables are designed to be loaded in this manner.

 

[t4thfavor]

Hmm.. can't imagine the supports or the cables are designed to be loaded in this manner.

Think about it this way.

The load direction on the cable is the same direction as if it were pulling down (as measured at the connector it's self). And the metal clip that it's going over needs to be able to secure a load and not open in the event of a rear impact (Craploads of instantaneous force). So I'd suspect it's "nearly" as strong as when it's not being abused in such a way, and that the maximum capacity of the tailgate, and supporting structure is WAY more than it's working capacity.


Edit: Crapload def, "A unit of measurement for describing an amount of force exerted during a rear end collision."

 

[HenryMac]

Think about it this way.

The load direction on the cable is the same direction as if it were pulling down (as measured at the connector it's self). And the metal clip that it's going over needs to be able to secure a load and not open in the event of a rear impact (Craploads of instantaneous force). So I'd suspect it's "nearly" as strong as when it's not being abused in such a way, and that the maximum capacity of the tailgate, and supporting structure is WAY more than it's working capacity.


Edit: Crapload def, "A unit of measurement for describing an amount of force exerted during a rear end collision."

Not at the attachment point on the bed itself (see below). The load is is actually in the opposite direction. More importantly, was the cable designed to be wrapped around a post? No.

And will the tailgate pop out since it's designed to be removed at an angle, as Lewis already made note of?

I just keep thinking about when I removed my tailgate to load a pallet from a forklift. The angle to remove the tailgate is ~45 degrees, which i'm picturing as a disaster if you hit a bump just right.

 

[FULLSCALE]

I’d like to hear some input from @P. A. Schilke on this one!

 

[FULLSCALE]

And will the tailgate pop out since it's designed to be removed at an angle, as Lewis already made note of?

I don’t think it’s be an issue because if you have the tailgate in that position, it likely has weight on it holding it in place. My old Colorado tailgate was at a similar angle dozens of times with and without a load on it with no issues.

 

[Msfitoy]

Or we could use the right tool!

I love spending money...it makes me happy...even though I could just hook it on the latch

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I’d like to hear some input from @P. A. Schilke on this one!

I’d like to hear some input from @P. A. Schilke on this one!

Hi Adam,

Okay..a bit more complex so lets break this down. There is a static load...485lbs and a dynamic loading which is governed by Newton's second law. F=MA (Force=Mass times acceleration). So lets deal with the static load. Imagine you have 4 100lb weights and one 85lb weight and you carefully slide these weights onto the tail gate so you have loaded the tailgate to 485lbs. The load just sits there with no cable snapping or tailgate bending. Okay all is well...now a friend brings a 50 lb bag of quick set cement and places it on top of the weights. Likely you will see the tailgate bow as you have overloaded it and with aluminum, unlike steel it will likely stay bowed. Head to the body shop to straighten it out. The cables are much stronger than the tailgate.

Now lets examine the dynamic load. Say you are loading a pallet of bricks that weigh 485lbs and the forklift holds the pallet about a foot high higher than the tailgate and the palled is pushed off...now the load accelerates due to gravity at 32 feet per second per second.. Per Newton's second law the loading that hit the tailgate is way more force than the above static load and the tailgate bends like a U significantly more than the static load. The tailgate cables might snap tool!

So you have to be careful with the tailgate rating which is for a static load...dynamic loading can really damage things.

The forces generated in a rear end crash would depend on the load in the pickup box...Here, Newton's first law applies. An object at rest remains at rest, An object in motion stays in motion depending on the outside forces acting on the object. So you get whacked in the ass...The load stays stationary but the vehicle accelerates forward until the load, remaining at rest hits the forward moving tailgate...again F=MA applies and the tailgate deforms or the latches fail. All depends on the dynamics of the crash...Speed difference, etc. I am not aware of any Federal Standards of rear end crashes, but have been out of the business for so long I may be wrong now...

Okay, Back Story.

I was heading up a Chassis CAE area and Marketing came to us to calculate how far above an F150 pickup box could they drop a 500lb safe for a dramatic commercial using a helicopter . The calculation of this height fell to my people. So we determined what it would take to land a safe in the pickup box with no damage to the truck....guess what...it was determined it would be 2 inches. The commercial was scrapped as a result. Marketing was really pissed at me...Hey...I did not make the law! Newton did. And, yes, My Boston Terrier dog was named after him. His AKC registration was Sir Newton Issac...we just called him Newton. Most people though it was after the fig cookie...sigh!

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

 

[FULLSCALE]

Hi Adam,

Okay..a bit more complex so lets break this down. There is a static load...485lbs and a dynamic loading which is governed by Newton's second law. F=MA (Force=Mass times acceleration). So lets deal with the static load. Imagine you have 4 100lb weights and one 85lb weight and you carefully slide these weights onto the tail gate so you have loaded the tailgate to 485lbs. The load just sits there with no cable snapping or tailgate bending. Okay all is well...now a friend brings a 50 lb bag of quick set cement and places it on top of the weights. Likely you will see the tailgate bow as you have overloaded it and with aluminum, unlike steel it will likely stay bowed. Head to the body shop to straighten it out. The cables are much stronger than the tailgate.

Now lets examine the dynamic load. Say you are loading a pallet of bricks that weigh 485lbs and the forklift holds the pallet about a foot high higher than the tailgate and the palled is pushed off...now the load accelerates due to gravity at 32 feet per second per second.. Per Newton's second law the loading that hit the tailgate is way more force than the above static load and the tailgate bends like a U significantly more than the static load. The tailgate cables might snap tool!

So you have to be careful with the tailgate rating which is for a static load...dynamic loading can really damage things.

The forces generated in a rear end crash would depend on the load in the pickup box...Here, Newton's first law applies. An object at rest remains at rest, An object in motion stays in motion depending on the outside forces acting on the object. So you get whacked in the ass...The load stays stationary but the vehicle accelerates forward until the load, remaining at rest hits the forward moving tailgate...again F=MA applies and the tailgate deforms or the latches fail. All depends on the dynamics of the crash...Speed difference, etc. I am not aware of any Federal Standards of rear end crashes, but have been out of the business for so long I may be wrong now...

Okay, Back Story.

I was heading up a Chassis CAE area and Marketing came to us to calculate how far above an F150 pickup box could they drop a 500lb safe for a dramatic commercial using a helicopter . The calculation of this height fell to my people. So we determined what it would take to land a safe in the pickup box with no damage to the truck....guess what...it was determined it would be 2 inches. The commercial was scrapped as a result. Marketing was really pissed at me...Hey...I did not make the law! Newton did. And, yes, My Boston Terrier dog was named after him. His AKC registration was Sir Newton Issac...we just called him Newton. Most people though it was after the fig cookie...sigh!

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

Thanks Phil, that definitely answers some questions! What do you think about wrapping the cable around the latch/hook like others have shown above?

 

[t4thfavor]

I think it's funny that Jeep uses this as a design feature on the 2019 Scrambler Unlimited. I highly doubt they put any consideration into the engineering of the sub structure to hold the weight in a different direction. Just like I'm doubting that ford engineered the tailgate cables to hold 500# downward, but no # upward. My statement was more that the direction of the cable force at it's weakest point (the clip) is in the same direction. A cable of that diameter if tightened around the truck would be able to cut the entire truck mostly in half, frame included.

Do it or don't, I don't think it will make any difference. You might crack the vinyl on the cables, but "shouldn't" hurt anything beyond that.

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