Tail gate comes open with load

Doc

Doc

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It only falls open when I have a heavy load in the bed. I can't figure out why it's fails to stay shut. Tolerence for the little spring loaded thing-a-ma-do's seems to be enough. All parts appear to be in place, nothing looks bent out of shape. Still the tail gate pops open when going over bumps when I have a heavy load.
Anyone else experienced this issue? If so did you find a fix?
 
Sounds like the side walls on the bed are flexing. That lets the latches release. Are your tabs still bent down at 90 degrees? They are supposed to hold them from spreading.
 
I agree with muleman. See if the sides flex much when you push outward on the empty inner sides at the same time. may be time for an insert 0r maybe rig up a binder of sorts for those heavy loads.
 
I'm not sure of the tabs. I'll look for them and take a pic or two tonight. The bed on this puppy was well used before I got it, so I'd bet you two are right on the money.

What kind of inserts can you get for these beds?
 
Hey Doc, Sorry about the late reply but I was out with a real bad doosey of a headache, then had to catch up on some work. I was just thinking of some type of box you could put in to take the strain off of the oem. -built of steel or even 3/4"exteriior plywood well braced. I would be concerned that much flexing would cause the sides of the bed's body to crack where they are bolted onto the base. I think Zoom has a good set up for heavy hauling. Keep us informed. collie
 
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bordercollie said:
I think Zoom has a good set up for heavy hauling. Keep us informed. collie
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I took the OEM bed sides and tailgate off. I then built a box out of wood with storage down the sides. Tailgate is a 2x12". Going on 9 years of use and still no flexing or bending.
 
Last night did not go as planned. No pics. Sorry.
The loads I was carrying were unusual for me. I was building 64ft of docks. I hauled the lumber down, a big generator, compressor, ladders, saws (skill saw and 12" angle saw, work-,mate, horses, hammers, nails, nail gun, etc etc. Lots of stuff needed for the job. That job is done. The gate came down with lumber loaded hanging out over the gate (it was one of the bigger loads) and when I had all the tools in bringing them back home. I probably over did it as the trails were extra muddy from all the back and forth and I wanted to save a trip,...so I over loaded and tied the load in to secure it. The tail gate coming down did not cause me to lose any of the load but I had to drive slower so the stuff did not slide right out of the box. That would have been one muddy mess. :yum:
The RTV performed awesome!!!!!!
 
The tabs at each end of the tailgate are meant to prevent what you experienced...
 

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Yep, those tabs sure look like they'd work. My used 06 looks different. I'll try to get a pic tonight.
 
Here are a couple pics of my tailgate
I tried to push out on the sides and yep, you guys nailed it. Easy peezy to spread.
 

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Doc , those are good pictures. Do you think the pieces that are bent are strong enough to be put back to original shape so that they hook sorta over the side latch and keep things like kanook's picture? If so, that may be all you need.. bordercollie
 
Good pics of my dirty dirty girl. :hide:
I was thinking the same BC. Maybe heat em up a little and see if I can bend them into place. In the pic Kanook posted they sure look a tad more heavy duty than mine. I suppose that is why mine are bent out of shape.
 
Wonder why they got bent out of shape in the 1st place...looks deliberate...was going to suggest a little heat application amd basic blacksmithing to get them back in shape.
 
Doc said:
Good pics of my dirty dirty girl. :hide:
I was thinking the same BC. Maybe heat em up a little and see if I can bend them into place. In the pic Kanook posted they sure look a tad more heavy duty than mine. I suppose that is why mine are bent out of shape.
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I remember hooking mine on an open gate that I cut too close. (had the tail gate down) I took a shop hammer and fortunately it didn't crack at the bend as I coaxed it back to the old position... although the paint did pop off.
 
Once you get them back into shape, maybe you could fabricate a reinforcement, something in the form of a strap, formed to fit the size and shape of the tabs - double metal = double strength. I had to do that one time to build a muffler support for my old IH pickup when the original part was NLA. I bent the metal in a vise, to achieve an "L" shape with a tab formed on the short end of the "L". My fix lasted the rest of the life of the truck, more than 20 years.

Fred
 
yuppers someone did a nice job on the custom bending of the tabs.JUst grab them with a big cresant wrench and straighten them back to the origional position.They bend very easy.
 
I have bent mine back into position twice with a crescent wrench. They bend easy. comes from too much pressure on the side walls and hooking them on the skid steer bucket etc.
 
Thanks guys. Good to know. I will try to bend them back into shape later today if time permits. I'm supposed to be mowing tonight but mother nature didn't care much for that plan. Been raining all morning here.
 
I think the problem is clear. Kubota Camo isn't as strong as Kubota Orange! So bend, re-enforce and paint everything orange. :)
 
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