Tailgate sealing recommendations

[Fastfitzy]

Hey Rangers, I am looking for some product and method recommendations to seal up my tailgate. I have a great hardfold from RDJTrucks.com, very similar to the extang solid fold. I’ve added some silicone grease to the first fold out hinge point to prevent catching/pinching of the fold gap seal, and used excess bulkhead foam seal to shore up the bulkhead corners, but I’m not sure how to go about sealing up the tailgate gaps without trial and error, and buying a bunch of different seals to try. I know there are a lot of you out there with covers. What type of weather seals and adhesives did you use? And where’s the proper placement?

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[FoD]

Try here Link @Fastfitzy

 

[Fastfitzy]

Try here Link @Fastfitzy

Thanks. I saw that post and some older ones on the topic. I’m at crunch time for my road trip. So ordering kits is out of the question. I’m going to need a DIY Lowe’s/HD solution

 

[FoD]

Thanks. I saw that post and some older ones on the topic. I’m at crunch time for my road trip. So ordering kits is out of the question. I’m going to need a DIY Lowe’s/HD solution

Something like this and use directions from my post on tailgate seal? Seal. Needs to be flexible though

 

[GWJ5603]

I bought foam 1" pipe insulation at Lowes - cut to length and trimmed around hinges - cut slot for wires to camera. Closing the tailgate is tight for a couple of days but foam forms snug fit and kept out the water and dust for 10 day trip in Northern Ontario. Cost $2.99 (CAN$)

 

[Fastfitzy]

I bought foam 1" pipe insulation at Lowes - cut to length and trimmed around hinges - cut slot for wires to camera. Closing the tailgate is tight for a couple of days but foam forms snug fit and kept out the water and dust for 10 day trip in Northern Ontario. Cost $2.99 (CAN$)

That’s what I’m looking for. What did you do for the vertical sides? Did you have to use any adhesive to keep the foam in place or did it just settle in?

 

[GWJ5603]

For the sides I just used some peel and stick tailgate sealer from truck accessory store. Space at bottom of tailgate so wide that normal stuff wouldn't work. Pipe insulation just formed to the space (because it's hollow) so no adhesive needed.

 

[Tcarter]

That’s what I’m looking for. What did you do for the vertical sides? Did you have to use any adhesive to keep the foam in place or did it just settle in?

My 95 Ranger had a great fitting tailgate. The engineers at Ford totally failed on the 5g Ranger. You can fit a shoe sole, maybe two between the tailgate sides and the bed. Where are their heads? UTA?

 

[Tom_C]

I struggled with getting a solution. I posted some info about what I had tried (see my thread history) and got some stuff from another member here, but then life got in the way and I never got it installed.

Some people have had some luck with stuff like pool noodles, or other things. The long and short, IMO, is there is no bullet proof solution with any commercially available product and you should get creative and try to solve your particular problem.

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