Worried about tailgate strength

I take my previous statement back, apparently cummins extended their contract with ram. still though after working as a tech for Chrysler I wouldn't buy a dodge. if I actually needed a diesel work horse it would be a 7.3 ford or a 2nd gen chevy with the updated lbz. these new trucks with def and all the other epa gimmicks are a mess.

 

I did this setup too, with the Relentless aluminum. Keeping the OEM fiberglass cover on too helps with sliding things in and out of the bed without hitting screwheads that the bare plate has. It will make closing the tailgate a little tighter at the bottom, at least it did on mine.

 

Yes, Cummings are in the RAMs while the Duramax is with GM - sucks with the def....

 

Yup, just a tiny smidge of rubbing on the fiberglass at the bottom of the tailgate but its actually nice as it makes everything tight and not loose to where it rattles like stock!

 

What type of shop would you outsource this? Just hand them this spec sheet?

Thanks!

 

The place where I work has a waterjet (40,000 psi) and they cut it for me - but had they not ......... I was going to buy the sheared sheet of aluminum at the overall dimensions (15-3/4 x 55-1/8) and then layout and cut the edge pattern with a sabre saw. I have done this before and it isn't too difficult - and even with the waterjet there was a bit of kerf to dress off with a file. Online metals or one of those outfits will cut the diamond plate rectangle to size and ship it to you - used to be fairly cheap, but perhaps not the bargain it once was.

 

EDIT: Had the wrong selection entered.

On just a few searches, about $128...

 

I have respect for you.

 

I rolled this up onto the the bed using the tailgate, it did ok.

 

Once or twice, a hand full of times sure.... but I wouldn’t load bikes and transport them any distance year after year. Every desert season I have two 450s in my bed every weekend. The stock plastic cover would not be able to keep up. For the random load and move, stock is gonna serve you just fine. It’s the long haul, heavy weight all the time that the plate cover is gonna be worth it.

 

I have actually contemplated the steel reinforcement... its on my list of mods I would like to do.

 

Mine looked "OK" - but there was a considerable amount of bent sheet metal hidden under the plastic. Fortunately none had transferred through to the outer skin. The struts are so flimsy that you can bend them back into place pretty easily. Made me think later on that I should have put even more Rivnuts in there.

 

DUDE, you just saved me so much time in measuring and fitment. Thank you for this.