Any update on tail gate hinges??

[Screamin Lizard Customs]

Moderator: I've stickied this thread that Screamin Lizard initially brought up. We've added a solution a little later in this thread. Its recommended that the hinges are reinforced before paint.


We took one of our Brutes wheel'n at the Super Lift park in Arkansas, and came back with a severally bent up tail gate. Every hard bump we encountered, the tail gate would slam down and bent the hinges. Dave mentioned welding small gussets to the hinge, maybe some updates to the instructions would help.

[AEV Matt]

They'll be updating the instructions soon. I'll try to get some shots up of the modded hinges and reinforcements.

Matt

[Screamin Lizard Customs]

Finally updated our bent up hinges.


http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s50/screemin-lizard/IMG_0081.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s50/screemin-lizard/IMG_0082.jpg

[AEV Dave]

Yep, thats going to be the fix to the hinges recommended in the new instructions. There will also be a cross member support behind the sill to further strengthen it.

dh

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76

[Screamin Lizard Customs]

We just went wheel'n over the New Years, and the tail gate is all out of whack again! Turns out that the hinge gussets worked, but the sheet metal they bolt to bent in. I'm just going to weld tabs next to the latches and bolt the tailgate to the bed. I'm sorry, but those latches need some work.

[Totenkopf]

That sucks...hope there's a good fix before my Brute gets built.

[AEV Matt]

Yep, thats going to be the fix to the hinges recommended in the new instructions. There will also be a cross member support behind the sill to further strengthen it.

dh

The rear cross member support is just a piece of angle. I'll try to get some pictures of it up next week. This change has already been introduced in the newer kits. We should have parts in stock to update older kits sometime next month.

Matt

[NYCBrute]

How would one go about getting the updated hinges and the cross member reinforcement. I have been driving the brute here in Manhattan for a little over a week and everyday I park the car the tailgate catch has rattled open on one side and can see that the hinge is starting to bend.

Forget extreme rock crawling...try driving the the Urban Jungle for two weeks, if the Yellow taxis don't take out your car...the potholed, rippling concrete is sure to take its toll.

[Cannonball]

Has anyone else found a solution to the hinge and latch flaws? I sure would hate to have to use a bungee to tie it in place. While the bed and gate are stout the latch is a little whimpy and seems to not have enough travel to securely hold the gate is there is any flex at all.
I sure would appreciate any ideas, I just got my kit today and it isnt very promising in this department.
CB

[Cannonball]

I radiused the Latch holes in the gate 1/8" out towards the sides. then used a ball peen hammer to gently bend/shape the side of the gate outward allowing the latch to be positioned further out on each side. I now have a good 3/8"-5/16" latch over lap on the striker now. Unfortunately this still is not enough a drive through town and the gate still drops down after a few turns and pot holes.

I pulled the latch out tonight and looked at the internal springs. They are very soft. I think whats happening is when driving around the latch works its way open some till it pops and the spring does not have enough tension to keep it pushed out, I am looking into heavier springs. Not valve springs mind you but some that will increase the tension a little. too much and it will be too hard to close too and slaming too hard may bend stuff too.

Going to check McMaster-Carr. I found one spring that I thought would work (off my wire stripper) but the coils bottomed out before you could open it up. So the thickness of the spring compressed is critical too.

If anyone else has any ideas on how to keep the gate latched and closed without bungees I would sure appreciate the insight.

Thanks

Cannonball