Alternative To Mopar Tailgate Reinforcement

[3TV]

Well, I think you did well to NOT choose the Mopar tailgate reinforcement. My '22 392 XR came with one, and I was pretty underwhelmed with it. On a 4 wheeling trip when I still had the stock suspension and 35" tires on it, I had to drop off a rather tall ledge. I knew my Jeep was vertically challenged, so I was being super careful, just barely creeping off the ledge. If I had been going any slower, I would have been stopped. My son was spotting for me and filming with his phone. Right at the closest point I stopped, and he said, "you're good, ease it down". As I eased it off the last little bit I felt a very very faint scuff at the back of the Jeep, just barely enough to feel. Just 100' down the trail I noted that I had a tailgate rattle. After looking things over, the Mopar tailgate reinforcement had bent, and the gate wasn't shutting correctly. There was a tiny scuff on the very rear of the bottom of the spare tire. We watched my son's videos over several times trying to see where it hit, and after about the 4th time through with slow motion you could see just the very slightest scuff as the spare tire barely kissed the ledge. If that was all it took to bend the tailgate reinforcement, I sure wouldn't waste my money on one. It has to be one of the flimsiest Jeep products ever made. I knew I was going to upgrade to bigger tires, so I went with the CavFab rear tire carrier, and it has been rock-solid for two years with 37s, and now even still with 40s.

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[Bulletbill]

I like my TF hinge except for the fact that it’s difficult to lube the hinges. Seems the only way to do this is to remove the hinge from the jeep, remove the c-clips to be able to tap out the pins.

How often do you have to lube them? That seems like it would be a massive pain in the butt.

 

[Terpsmandan]

How often do you have to lube them? That seems like it would be a massive pain in the butt.

I went in with a lot of WD40 last summer. Probably going to take it apart next summer.

 

[Bulletbill]

Well, I think you did well to NOT choose the Mopar tailgate reinforcement. My '22 392 XR came with one, and I was pretty underwhelmed with it. On a 4 wheeling trip when I still had the stock suspension and 35" tires on it, I had to drop off a rather tall ledge. I knew my Jeep was vertically challenged, so I was being super careful, just barely creeping off the ledge. If I had been going any slower, I would have been stopped. My son was spotting for me and filming with his phone. Right at the closest point I stopped, and he said, "you're good, ease it down". As I eased it off the last little bit I felt a very very faint scuff at the back of the Jeep, just barely enough to feel. Just 100' down the trail I noted that I had a tailgate rattle. After looking things over, the Mopar tailgate reinforcement had bent, and the gate wasn't shutting correctly. There was a tiny scuff on the very rear of the bottom of the spare tire. We watched my son's videos over several times trying to see where it hit, and after about the 4th time through with slow motion you could see just the very slightest scuff as the spare tire barely kissed the ledge. If that was all it took to bend the tailgate reinforcement, I sure wouldn't waste my money on one. It has to be one of the flimsiest Jeep products ever made. I knew I was going to upgrade to bigger tires, so I went with the CavFab rear tire carrier, and it has been rock-solid for two years with 37s, and now even still with 40s.

Well, other than not spending a fortune on the Mopar that’s not making me feel better about my setup.

Was there any other damage aside from the Mopar reinforcement bending?

 

[3TV]

The tailgate itself was also slightly tweaked. No amount of adjustment on the stock hinges or latches would correct it. But when we installed the CavFab tire carrier, the CavFab part was so beefy that as the bolts were tightened down it pulled the lightweight tailgate straight again. It's better than new now.

 

[shane h.]

I just installed the CavFab tire carrier. I'm only on 35s but I wanted to be able to carry additional gear (Jerry Can, 5 pound propane tank, and M.A.S.S shelf) on the spare for some of our outings. Hinges are maintenance free. Gate closes with one finger. Fit was perfect. No shimming required. If you want bomb-proof, the CavFab carrier is it.

 

[azjl#3]

I personally would not worry about lubing the tf hinge. Unless it squeaks or some other extreme use under water, then maybe just dry lube spray

 

[Terpsmandan]

I personally would not worry about lubing the tf hinge. Unless it squeaks or some other extreme use under water, then maybe just dry lube spray

It doesn't make any noise, just gets harder to open and close when stuff gets into the hinge, especially in a NY winter with all the salt.

 

[Terrymo]

Or Motobilt with greasable hinges

 

[Terpsmandan]

Wish TF had thought of those.

 

[JINO]

I went with the teraflex one.
Install was pretty easy, instructions mentioned something about adjustments after, but it was level on the first try.
I seemed to have installed the rear view camera correctly, but now it beeps everytime I reverse.

 

[Bulletbill]

I went with the teraflex one.
Install was pretty easy, instructions mentioned something about adjustments after, but it was level on the first try.
I seemed to have installed the rear view camera correctly, but now it beeps everytime I reverse.

Very nice! I wonder if your tire is interfering with the backup sensor

 

[JINO]

Very nice! I wonder if your tire is interfering with the backup sensor

That's my guess. They are 38x13.5x17, so on the wide side.
I've tried rotating the camera a bit, but I guess the only way would be to have an extension somehow.

 

[3TV]

I went with the teraflex one.
Install was pretty easy, instructions mentioned something about adjustments after, but it was level on the first try.
I seemed to have installed the rear view camera correctly, but now it beeps everytime I reverse.

Have you tried turning off the proximity sensors to see if that is it? I turned mine off when I bought the Jeep 2 1/2 years ago, and have never turned them back on. I have no beeping with a 40" spare tire mounted on a CavFab carrier. Proximity sensors are in my CavFab rear bumper, but I wouldn't know if they work being as they are turned off.

 

[JINO]

Have you tried turning off the proximity sensors to see if that is it? I turned mine off when I bought the Jeep 2 1/2 years ago, and have never turned them back on. I have no beeping with a 40" spare tire mounted on a CavFab carrier. Proximity sensors are in my CavFab rear bumper, but I wouldn't know if they work being as they are turned off.

How would I turn them off?
Is it in the stereo setting?

I would 100% them off, I was raised to drive in the 80s and 90s and can use common sense when reversing and don't need to doodads to tell me I'm 3 feet from a curb.

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