whoa, hope this is viewable, this is the passenger side of the tailgate. it is where the tailgate is attached to the pin that it swivels on, this side is missing like 1/4th of the ring on the bottom and thus the tailgate wants to fall off when it is opened. this looks like a factory part/fit not something that can be removed and a replacement part bolted back on..... any tips for repair... i am sure it is 100% aluminum so welding would be a pain THANKS

 

Wrecking yard is in your future

It will be steel not aluminum, so weld away

Ford started using aluminum body parts in 2015 Trucks

 

thanks, weld away!!! what you mean by wrecking yard?? a new gate?? how would you get a new gate onto the existing pins? looks like a factory job, not bolt on at all?? wait i just you tubed replacement. is that notch supposed to be there so you can lift the gate off the pins to replace??? why does mine want to fall off when i open it?? notch was there, mine just eroded away to too big of a gap??

 

One side of the tail gate should have the slotted opening, the other side won't

And the slotted opening should only allow you to pull off that side when tail gate is at a specific angle.

So to remove tailgate, normally, you need to put tailgate at that specific angle lift out that side then move tailgate sideways pulling other side off its "PIN"

Yes, your slotted opening may be too big, allowing tailgate to slide off at any angle, so narrow the opening so it only slides onto the "PIN" when lined up with the flat sides of that "PIN", as seen in picture

 

Also do you have the support cables on the tailgate? One of mine was broken so I had to replace it. They also kind of help keep the tailgate in place. not completely, but it does help.

 

RESOLVED..............CANT DELELTE

 

No need to delete the thread, because this info could be useful to someone else.

 

What was the resolution? Someone else may have the same issue and need advice/direction.

 

Just to add some extra info that wasn't mentioned, there's supposed to be a little rubber bushing insert in that slotted opening. If that's missing, that will also make it easier for your tailgate to "fall" out when you open it.

https://www.carid.com/2003-ford-rang...-31698380.html