Tailgate reinforcement needed?

[jadmt]

I've heard people complain about the Mopar reinforcement? Any validity to that?

I have had no issues with a 108lb wheel/tire combo.

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[kah.mun.rah]

I've heard people complain about the Mopar reinforcement? Any validity to that?

The JK gate has issues with the gate design so Mopar designed the tailgate reinforcement for the JK gate. They greatly improved the material and design of the JL tailgate but for some reason still manufactured Mopar reinforcements for the JL (someone didn't get the memo). IMO with the improved JL gate design the Mopar reinforcement doesn't do much other than add extra weight to the hinges...which on the JL are the weak link of the gate assembly.

 

[Pape]

Gate frame is rectangle shape, the spare is hold by the spiderweb of little ridge.
Does make senses to reinforce that portion of the gate as the gate itself look to be really solid

 

[Stuckinthesand]

Any examples of anyone having one fail?

JL has been out for what 7 years almost 8 now? I have yet to come across any that the hinges failed on when someone is running an oversize tire with no reinforcement. I have been running a 108lb set up for 5 years on my 19. Wheel it a few times a year on the rocks and is my DD. I did exactly three things. Installed a relocation bracket so the tire sat up a bit higher, extended the stops out so they are tight against the tire and finally installed a latch limiter so the tailgate wouldn't sag. All in less than $100 and no issues to this day.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

JL has been out for what 7 years almost 8 now? I have yet to come across any that the hinges failed on when someone is running an oversize tire with no reinforcement. I have been running a 108lb set up for 5 years on my 19. Wheel it a few times a year on the rocks and is my DD. I did exactly three things. Installed a relocation bracket so the tire sat up a bit higher, extended the stops out so they are tight against the tire and finally installed a latch limiter so the tailgate wouldn't sag. All in less than $100 and no issues to this day.

I agree. I started this thread 3 years ago and got a lot of speculation and opinions but not a single real-life example of failure: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ock-jl-tailgate-from-bigger-spare-tire.94382/

 

[flick2614]

Any examples of anyone having one fail?

What is your definition of fail?

Put a little weight such as a larger spare tire, tailgate table rack ect. on it and after a while you'll hear what sounds like automatic gunfire coming from the back of the Jeep going down a dirt road. Or my personal favorite closing the tailgate only to have it bounce off the latch and come back at you because it is bent.

I've never seen a catastrophic failure but plenty of obnoxious as all hell failures.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

What is your definition of fail?

When any of the metal cracks or goes from elastic to plastic deformation. Safe to say that the things you describe after adding "a little weight" is not normal.

 

[rickinAZ]

I agree. I started this thread 3 years ago and got a lot of speculation and opinions but not a single real-life example of failure: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ock-jl-tailgate-from-bigger-spare-tire.94382/

On the JK it depends on how literal you are with the word “failure”. I seem to recall more than a few posts complaining about sag and some with rivet issues, but no one had and out and out failure.

 

[NINTH]

I ran a 35" tire mounted to a heavy wheel with two gas/water cans attached to the spare tire down a lot of bumpy off-road trails with no issues with the stock gate or hinge. Jeep will never say that beyond what they provided as stock is "ok" and the internet (especially tailgate support vendors) will use scare tactics to make you worry about it. One other thing to note is that the JL design is a lot better than the JK design and JK owners have been running heavy tire/wheel setups on their stock gates and hinges for 18 years.

Great to know!

 

[NINTH]

Another thing to keep in mind is that one of the more common reinforcements available out there will only add extra weight to the stock tailgate hinges. Very few on the market have any type of modification to the hinges themselves.

Yeah I've noticed that while looking at possible options

 

[NINTH]

I've followed Jeep forums for almost 20 years and this is, by far, the most commonly asked question. I always play it safe and reinforce.

But...you'll always get some forum member who claims he carried a Sherman tank on his stock setup for "years" without damage.

p.s. I suspect 95lbs will not cause an issue. That said, my current rig has a 103lb spare running on the optional factory reinforcement carrier. Also be careful of calculating weights from the vendor's specs. My spare should have been 5lbs lighter than it's actual weight.

Haha yeah I'm new to all this so it's hard when it seems like there isn't a clear answer on this

 

[c20040215]

Haha yeah I'm new to all this so it's hard when it seems like there isn't a clear answer on this

Just run it as it is and see what happens. Like previously mentioned, it won't be anything catastrophic. If you notice any rattle, noise, or tailgate starts to sag and gives you issue to close, then looking for upgrade solutions.

I tend to take people's words and don't argue with success. But I upgraded mine long time ago and leave any doubt behind. 115 lbs is my wheel and tire combo.

 

[zouch]

my tailgate warped before i could get a stronger setup.
the hinges work fine so it isn't necessarily a "failure", but if you want to keep everything straight get a carrier that includes replacement of the hinges.

aside from hanging our 100+ Spares off these things, some of us have the tailgate open while using the tailgate tables, and that leverage is creating even more stress on the hinges.

 

[KDrag]

Haha yeah I'm new to all this so it's hard when it seems like there isn't a clear answer on this

Well, if you want to go strictly off what Jeep says. Then 85 pounds for the stock tire carrier is max. So, theoretically, the tailgate and hinges should handle that no problem.

I ended up going with a full tire carrier that replaces the hinges and reinforces the interior tub side mounting point. Gives me peace of mind and it can hold a 40" no problem.

 

[cosmokenney]

Getting conflicting reports that the stock JL tailgate hinges can either support a total of 85lbs OR an additional 85lbs + the stock spare?

Can someone clarify for me?

Have a JL Sport and just upgraded wheels/tires to Method 703 17x8.5 with Falken Wildpeak AT3 285/70/17 so the new weight of the wheel and tire combined is about 95lbs.

Do I need to reinforce the tailgate or can the stock hinges support this increase in weight?

When I put 37" tires on mine, I put a heavy steel reinforcement bracket with integrated spare relocation bracket. It had heavy steel hinges and a big metal brace that kept the swing-gate from flexing. But I couldn't keep it adjusted. Every few months the swing-gate would stop closing unless I really rammed it in there. I also put on a heavy steel rear bumper. And with all that weight the rear of the jeep was sagging so much that I decided to replace both the bumper and reinforcement with aluminum counterparts. I got one of the Amazon knockoffs of the (expensive) aluminum Mopar reinforcement bracket and went back to the stock hinges. Still have a 37" tire on there and it has been fine with no need for adjustment in the last six months that it has been installed. The best part, no more sagging rear end - which also means no more rear tires rubbing off-road.

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