PSA if your tail gate is down and you have a light strapped load

[dww]

I bought a single sheet of foam board for a project today and I strapped it down using the tail gate straps. I was extremely lucky I did not cause thousands of dollars in damage. I noticed the tail gate flapped when I left the parking lot but did not think much of it other than it might break the foam board. I took the side streets instead. When I got home I realized just how close I came. The strap hooks protruded beyond the tie down enough to hit the tail light if the gate had decided to close. The gate also has a feature where if you lift it partially and let go it will close fully. I tested it in drive and it closed. I’m both relived and livid that a slight oversight could have been so costly.

 

[RickLightning]

Simply turn off the tailgate autoclose before loading...

 

[bmwhitetx]

There is a setting to turn the power tailgate off. It might come back next drive cycle though. Others have disconnected the harness.

There have been other posts on a bouncing tailgate but no one mentioned it actually closing while driving. Not saying it couldn't happen but Ford has other things that stop working while in motion.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-way-to-lock-tailgate-in-down-position.21972/

 

[dww]

Simply turn off the tailgate autoclose before loading...

Yeah, user error. I don’t think it’s that obvious unless you learned the hard way.

 

[dww]

There is a setting to turn the power tailgate off. It might come back next drive cycle though. Others have disconnected the harness.

There have been other posts on this but no one mentioned it actually closing while driving. Not saying it couldn't happen but Ford has other things that stop working while in motion.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-way-to-lock-tailgate-in-down-position.21972/

I did not go drive to see if it could flop closed on an actual bump. I had my wife put it in drive and I tested it. Maybe there is a lockout at speed, but you can’t open it when the truck is in drive but it will close while in drive. Maybe I’m just sensitive about it after finding out the tail light replacement cost and how casually they could be damaged.

 

[RickLightning]

Yeah, user error. I don’t think it’s that obvious unless you learned the hard way.

It is in the manual.

It also will stop if it detects an obstruction.

And, if you are going to do this a lot, buy these: https://amzn.to/3E3HFiD

 

[Henry Ford]

My tailgate struggles to go up under ideal conditions. My guess is the gate would give up and open back up before any damage is done. However, I'm not willing to test this hypothesis.

 

[dww]

It is in the manual.

It also will stop if it detects an obstruction.

And, if you are going to do this a lot, buy these: https://amzn.to/3E3HFiD

Thank you! i just ordered it.

 

[dww]

My tailgate struggles to go up under ideal conditions. My guess is the gate would give up and open back up before any damage is done. However, I'm not willing to test this hypothesis.

The foam weighs nothing, the tail light and the strap hook would have been a fine point, maybe it would have backed off. I would not test it either. Just do the stuff Rick is saying. My post is for people unfamiliar with the power gate, like me.

 

[Henry Ford]

BTW, those things you attached your straps to are actually bottle openers.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I don't think it would have caused that much damage. I've stopped the tailgate from going up by just slightly stopping with my hand. It was almost on accident as this is the first truck I've had that has this feature and it was going up when I didn't want it to. It would have probably just slightly scratched or chipped the plastic.

 

[dww]

BTW, those things you attached your straps to are actually bottle openers.

Both sides? How much drinking do I need?

 

[Slick68]

BTW, those things you attached your straps to are actually bottle openers.

You took the words right outta’ my mouth. I use those to open a bottle (or two) of beer!!

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Both sides? How much drinking do I need?

It only takes two people to form a line, aint nobody got time for that.

 

[Adventureboy]

I strap the tailgate down to the hitch when needed. It keeps it from bouncing/banging which it does even with the switch off.

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