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Tailgate sag with 37” spare

FunWagon

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Murph-NH

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You can 100% make a 37 close well with a little bit of time. Like a few others have said you have to raise the striker side up more. I did this by putting shims on the hinge side and opening up the gate a few inches so it was not touching the striker at all. Put 1-2 more shims on the striker side and snug up the bolts and check. Best to have a friend since unless lucky it will take a few times lifting and testing with the spare on the tailgate. Mine shuts better now then when I got it and you can’t budge the tailgate or shake the spare.
 

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FasEddy

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You can 100% make a 37 close well with a little bit of time. Like a few others have said you have to raise the striker side up more. I did this by putting shims on the hinge side and opening up the gate a few inches so it was not touching the striker at all. Put 1-2 more shims on the striker side and snug up the bolts and check. Best to have a friend since unless lucky it will take a few times lifting and testing with the spare on the tailgate. Mine shuts better now then when I got it and you can’t budge the tailgate or shake the spare.
Thank you!
 

wibornz

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So I grazed over the responses. You guys are aware that the tailgate is adjustable so it can be lined up correctly.... right?
 

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Suffolklou

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I have a 114 lb spare tire. I installed the Rugged Ridge replacement hinges and coupled it with the TeraFlex Alpha HD tire carrier. I used the shims to get everything lined up and I still get the sag. I don’t worry about it though. I make sure to not slam the tailgate - always have my hand on the tailgate handle as Inclose until it fully latches.
I have this same setup, except the ridiculously heavy spare, although I offset that with a tailgate table and molle bags. I lifted the tailgate as high as I could without the spare on it and tightened the bolts. No more sag.
 

BCalvin

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This is very helpful. It seems like the main adjustment can be done by loosening the 4 tailgate side hinge bolts and raising the gate height by an appropriate amount (without the help of the body side latch), which should result in the gate being the correct height once the bolts are tightened and the weight of the spare is added back.

Please let me know if I am missing anything.

Thank you!
Yes you can adjust the tail gate left,right,up and down by just loosening the 4 bolts you took out for the reinforcement. Its also likely they moved when you installed it and isn't just sag from the extra weight.

If you place your hand on the latch of the tailgate you will feel plastic guide ramps, i was sure to adjust everything to align with out the latch bar attached to the body hitting those or needing them.

One thing to take special care not to over tighten the bolts as it feels like they are going into aluminum. The mopar instructions have a torque spec that I followed.
 

Bluebear

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I just did this adjustment for my 37" tires with the Mopar reinforcement. Took the tire off, loosened all 4 bolts on the tailgate just slightly then used some boards to prop up the tailgate on both hinge and latch side. Then I pushed the wood under the door latch side to lift it a little higher than normal. Tightened all 4 bolts and saw the tailgate would close a little higher than the latch. Adding the tire lined it up pretty perfect.

Winning on not having to lift the tire a little to close the tailgate... Only issue is I didn't pay attention on the left/right alignment. It doesn't rub or anything but I'm sure I'll adjust it just to be a little more center.
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