Who Else’s Tailgate Soft Open has Blown Up?

Some people are 3D printing the bushing and selling them online for cheap. I have like 3 spares cause they seem to get fubar'd in winter when everything feezes mostly.

 

The new parts were the redesign from the 2016's the bushing you get now is the same one that broke. I sprayed my most current one down with a good bit of fluid film to maybe help it turn easier in the dampener time will tell. Would love to get with someone on this site to make a cast aluminum one. This is my thread i posted sadly i think i will need to purchase a box of these as my truck is 14 months old with 15k on the clock and im on my 3rd bushing

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tailgate-bushing.768217/#post-27423460

 

Never

 

Regardless of the bushing, that tailgate hinge looks extremely thin and weak. I noticed that the day after I purchased my truck and both sides seem under-designed. I don't know why they put a bevel to the outside edge of attachment point, but that doesn't help either in trying to secure the tailgate.

 

Super.

Any thought on why they hold up better?

 

Robust design I guess, I've sold hundreds and I've never heard of one failing, and if one does, I'll give a full refund plus a new one.

 

I believe there's forums that add a clamp to that hinge for anti theft deterrent. I believe it would also hold the tailgate in place in the event the bushing goes south. I add the clamp to mine as it is way to easy to steal them. Clamp can be spun in a position where it is harder to access the head if wanted.

 

It won’t really make a difference with the clamp once the bushing cracks the tailgate will bind going up and down. It’s not so much that the tailgate will fall out of its position

 

I called the dealer yesterday… I’m Canada the part is $9.00CAD.

I asked the time needed to change out; they told me 15 minutes.

So I asked; why does your service dept need it for 3-4 hours.

…… crickets.

 

That hasn't been my experience. My 2018 still operates like it was new.

Then again, admittedly I keep a hand on mine out of habit. The bushing allows me to put less muscle into it, but it's a rare day if I let go and let it drop on it's own. Some things I'm old fashioned about; not letting gates slam is just ingrained for me.

Hopefully the new bushing lasts you a while.

 

Oh, sorry. I thought the OP said that his separated and buggered up the paint. Regards

 

Because it will be lunch time and they need to test drive it to ensure quality control,..

 

He did. But it's unclear when.

 

when? Or where?

When…

When the bushing completely came apart, the tailgate literally just fell off into my hands.

when you go to close it up (and you don’t know that the hinge has come undone (ie: the TG is no longer seated in the hinge-cup) you then try to close it.
But it doesn’t close properly; and that is when it made contact as noted in the “where”. Below.

Where.

The top left corner of the tailgate dinged up the inside of the bed corner. As the black plastic stops about 1/4 of an inch from the end where it meets the tailgate. I don’t have a picture…

 

Maybe I'm missing something here. I would think with the clamp in place - even if the bushing is gone - the gate would stay in place and just have very noticeable play till a new bushing can be had.

 

@TacoPacific There ^^^^^

 

Yes only thing is that they refused to come and look. So… they don’t know I do…yet.

this place doesn’t strike me as they… “we alotted more time, in case we needed it”.

they are of the ilk of “sorry sir, we need to keep your truck for a few days…. That would be ok right? I know you said you need it every day for children and work, but it’s just a few days”.

alas. I’ll be positive and agree that is the reason.

 

Bought mine in October of 2015; I have the original bushing.
Mine gets used at least several times a day, 5 days a week, dragging tools in and out of my tool box.

However, I've never let the tailgate drop under it's own weight; I ease it down. Never occurred to me to use it like that; if anything, I might consider it a down assist.

 

yah…. Hindsight for me… is your 20/20.

I just had no idea that 25 year after an F-150; Toyota would used some plastic for that roll.

now that I know. I know to treat it less like a tank.

 

Is this part not covered under warranty?