Big White RAM
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- Jan 6, 2020
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I wanted to do a write up regarding the tailgate on Rambox equipped trucks in hopes of helping others avoid possible paint damage, as was occuring with mine. A week or so after purchasing my 2019 Longhorn, I had just closed the tailgate after retrieving something from the bed, and for whatever reason, did a visual of the gaps on either side of the tailgate. They were far from even, as the top left side was wider than the bottom, but what shocked me most was the bottom RIGHT was contacting the bed panel and started to cut into the clear coat. I lowered the tailgate, pushing it to the left (thinking it just needed to be shifted over), but it did not move to the left. I then temporarily put painters tape on the tailgate and bedside edge, then closed the tailgate and did not open it again until I researched how to address the issue. After researching and figuring out the best resolution, I took measurements of the gaps so I would know how much to move the tailgate over to the left, then removed the tailgate and started the modifications.
The Left hinge pivot has raised angled ridges that the tailgate hinge contacts. According to my measurements, the tailgate needed to shift to the left .5mm in order to have the same reveal at the narrowest point on the right side. I filed off .5mm from the angled ridges on the hinge pivot to achieve this so the tailgate would slide closer to the left bedside panel. The next step was to fabricate a "bushing" to prevent the tailgate from sliding to the right once opened, as the rubber stops on either side of the bed prevent this once the tailgate is closed, but not when opened. I figured a rubber bushing inserted in the right side hinge pivot would be in order, and found something that was just perfect (mfg by Dorman), at a local PepBoys. The bushing needed to extend 1/4" to keep pressure on the right tailgate hinge, therefore not allowing the tailgate to shift to the right, preventing any future contact with the bedside panel (the rubber caps were exactly the correct length and needed no trimming). The last step was to use 600 grit paper to remove raised numbers and imperfections inside the plastic OEM tailgate bushing (to prevent damage to the fabricated rubber bushing) when the tailgate was lowered and raised. During the previous steps, I mixed two part clear and applied two coats on the tailgate edge and right side bed panel where the contact occured. I was thankful that only the clear was damaged, and not the color base coat. Once finished, I re-installed the tailgate and stepped back to a perfectly centered (except for the wider gap at the left top)
tailgate. I've attached pictures showing the contact point, modification process, rubber caps, and completed project. I hope this helps others who may have the same issue.
The Left hinge pivot has raised angled ridges that the tailgate hinge contacts. According to my measurements, the tailgate needed to shift to the left .5mm in order to have the same reveal at the narrowest point on the right side. I filed off .5mm from the angled ridges on the hinge pivot to achieve this so the tailgate would slide closer to the left bedside panel. The next step was to fabricate a "bushing" to prevent the tailgate from sliding to the right once opened, as the rubber stops on either side of the bed prevent this once the tailgate is closed, but not when opened. I figured a rubber bushing inserted in the right side hinge pivot would be in order, and found something that was just perfect (mfg by Dorman), at a local PepBoys. The bushing needed to extend 1/4" to keep pressure on the right tailgate hinge, therefore not allowing the tailgate to shift to the right, preventing any future contact with the bedside panel (the rubber caps were exactly the correct length and needed no trimming). The last step was to use 600 grit paper to remove raised numbers and imperfections inside the plastic OEM tailgate bushing (to prevent damage to the fabricated rubber bushing) when the tailgate was lowered and raised. During the previous steps, I mixed two part clear and applied two coats on the tailgate edge and right side bed panel where the contact occured. I was thankful that only the clear was damaged, and not the color base coat. Once finished, I re-installed the tailgate and stepped back to a perfectly centered (except for the wider gap at the left top)
tailgate. I've attached pictures showing the contact point, modification process, rubber caps, and completed project. I hope this helps others who may have the same issue.
