Power tailgate turns itself back on

[Charlieman22]

Moment of frustration - perhaps of my own making?

About to haul my scooter.
Have a set of ramps and winch (120v) to load one man: avoid Darwin Award/YouTube video clip.

Short bed Requires hauling with tailgate down.
Power tailgate.

Easy enough to disable in vehicle settings.
However: every time I shut off power, it reactivates itself?!
If I wanted it active, I’d… well… activate it.

An activation when going down the road could cause serious damage.
An activation when loading could hurt someone (me!)
I’m miffed.


Is this a glitch with my truck, am I not saving the setting somehow, or is some Ford product manager just that much more knowledgeable about what I want my truck settings to be?

thanks!
CM

.

 

[RickLightning]

Many features, including this one, are active for ONE key cycle only.

 

[Charlieman22]

Thanks Rick.

one man’s opinion: this borders on product management malpractice.

I can understand why they would opt to make SAFETY features automatic.
However, CONVENIENCE features like power tailgates or running boards could create safety or damage risk if reset on their own accord.

Hard to believe such a widely available feature would override users desired setting like this.

Guess I’ll have to be extra cautious about not letting it turn off when I’m loading/ unloading/ recharging/ etc.

Seems extremely shortsighted.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Storm Breaker]

lol. try removing the tailgate. i turned it off, never cycled it and it still activated everytime i tried the angel it to remove it.

 

[farmtruck]

Could the power tailgate be turned off using Forscan? Not all trims of the lightning have a power tailgate.
More of a problem with operating with the tailgate down I've seen is that it is set to take a very light lift to close it which causes it to bounce when moving with it down.

 

[bmwhitetx]

If you turn your front wheel to the side and then pull scooter closer to front, will the scooter fit?

 

[Charlieman22]

If you turn your front wheel to the side and then pull scooter closer to front, will the scooter fit?

I wish that was the case.
Pics give better impression on space than reality - but perhaps some form of ramp or lift, + turn of forks, might get me home.
Worth a second look anyhow.
Tks.

Could the power tailgate be turned off using Forscan? Not all trims of the lightning have a power tailgate.

. Quick search of the internet doesn't show anyone successfully doing that - but also worth a deeper look. Tks.

More of a problem with operating with the tailgate down I've seen is that it is set to take a very light lift to close it which causes it to bounce when moving with it down.

Oh- that is ABSOLUTELY the problem.
I haven't even left town yet, but I've managed to drive off at least once without remembering to go through the 3 clicks deep menu to find and disable the tailgate.
To make extra sure it would frustrate their customers, Ford also made it so the menu is not available if you are driving... Forcing me to stop on the spot to then turn it off - before it tried to close on me from a bounce.

 

[RickLightning]

I haven't even left town yet, but I've managed to drive off at least once without remembering to go through the 3 clicks deep menu to find and disable the tailgate.
To make extra sure it would frustrate their customers, Ford also made it so the menu is not available if you are driving... Forcing me to stop on the spot to then turn it off - before it tried to close on me from a bounce.

I've found that I need to make checklists for things like trailering. Make a small note "CHANGE MENU ON TAILGATE", plasticize it, and put it on your seat every time you get out.

 

[invertedspear]

A seven foot long 2x4 under the scooter wheels will put enough downward force on the tailgate to keep it from bouncing and trying to close. A sheet of plywood under the scooter would do the same. It's a hacky solution, but it'll mean not having to worry about remembering to turn it off all the time.

 

[Charlieman22]

Thanks for the suggestions gents.
would love for the Ford PM to be reading along -

$80k for a work truck that can’t be used with tail down unless hacked with plywood and sticky notes.
LOL. Perhaps they should rethink…

appreciate the inputs.
getting ready to hit the road…

 

[TaxmanHog]

Try a bungee cord / rope to hold the tailgate down, tie off at hitch chain eyelet up to either side where steel cable mounts to the gate.

 

[Charlieman22]

Two things:
1. This crowd has some can do creativity.
2. It’s kinda crazy to be solving this like it’s an F150 forum for trucks built before ‘76.

That said, the product manager over at ford might have the last laugh.

Full disclosure…
Just before leaving - having pulled away from the garage, the car wash, the store - all without remembering to turn off the power gate - so I doubled down.

Turned out BWTex called it - I just had to get extra aggressive with an angle.
Turning the fork didn’t quite do the job - but it was a step in right direction.
lifting up the tail and dragging the scoot to an angle with the front tire in the corner, and the sidecar tire slightly up on the wheel well- allowing it to clear the tailgate by 1/4” when closed.

to avoid damage when driving, I put a block of wood between tail gate and scooter sub frame - pinching it as the tail closed.

shoulda shot a picture of the scooters rear fender spaced off the tailgate .25”.
did a bit of testing. Decided it was secure and unable to impact the tail of justled- and off I drove.

Tailgate up.
sunshade down.
Thanks all for the suggestions & BWTEX for the winning solution.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Two things:
1. This crowd has some can do creativity.
2. It’s kinda crazy to be solving this like it’s an F150 forum for trucks built before ‘76.

That said, the product manager over at ford might have the last laugh.

Full disclosure…
Just before leaving - having pulled away from the garage, the car wash, the store - all without remembering to turn off the power gate - so I doubled down.

Turned out BWTex called it - I just had to get extra aggressive with an angle.
Turning the fork didn’t quite do the job - but it was a step in right direction.
lifting up the tail and dragging the scoot to an angle with the front tire in the corner, and the sidecar tire slightly up on the wheel well- allowing it to clear the tailgate by 1/4” when closed.

to avoid damage when driving, I put a block of wood between tail gate and scooter sub frame - pinching it as the tail closed.

shoulda shot a picture of the scooters rear fender spaced off the tailgate .25”.
did a bit of testing. Decided it was secure and unable to impact the tail of justled- and off I drove.

Tailgate up.
sunshade down.
Thanks all for the suggestions & BWTEX for the winning solution.

Next time slide under the truck and disconnect the harness. Takes less than a minute and no longer a power tailgate for that time.