Flimsy Tailgate Cable Attachments

[flatlander]

The upper tailgate attachments on my 03 bent and in looking further the bending occured because they were built too flimsy. Don't get me wrong, I am a Chevy fan and have owned 6 of them but this is not good. GM is cutting it's own throat by not building some quality into these trucks and this would have been a simple, inexpensive place to do it. The upper cable bolt is attached to body metal with no bracket or stiffener for strength. It is not only my problem as the Service Manager said he has seen others, and no I don't load 2 tons of cement on the tailgate. The most wight I have had on the tailgate would have been a 500 lb. Honda ATV when loading (the tailgate is closed once it is loaded). My 95 was built differently and had some beef to this attachment point.

 

This is an area that needs an aftermarket kit to beef up the strength of the attachment point. I put an oversize washer under the existing bolt and washer but if a steel strap where bolted to the pickup box in this area it would really add the needed strength.

 

Believe me, the Ford sales people have picked up on this weakness already and I suppose the others have too. It makes me disappointed in GM.

[guitronics]

Ford has their own problems,mostly trucks catching on fire due to faulty Cruise Control switches.GM did recall some late-model trucks for cable failure,but I think that was due to corrosion of the cables themselves,not the attachment points.I agree,the cost cutting stinks.

 

I have a '93 2500HD ext.cab,I ordered (J.C.Whitney) new cables.These were much thicker,had heavier swaged-on ends.They cost me $15 each.I remember when GM used a steel strap with a hinge,much better than a cable.

 

I'd contact GM about this.

[ripcard]

Been there done that too! Unloading my toolbox from my '04, in my case. Not sure of the weight but it's as heavy or heavier than my Sportsman 500. They can be straightened but I agree that this area should have a stiffener at the very least.