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How the heck do I remove the tailgate on my 2016 f150 xlt??? It has the tailgate step and I could not get it off the driver side yesterday! I yanked and pulled and it would not come off for anything.
When I took mine off, I took the passenger side out first, then the driver's side just pulled sideways out of the hinge. It won't pull out if you are pulling up.
You may have to lube the passenger side? Mine didn't want to let go either. I had someone helping me but it took lots of yanking and tugging before it came off.
I have a 2016 also and had to pull pretty hard toward the passenger side to get it to pop off. A second person wouldn’t be a bad idea either as it’s pretty heavy with the tailgate step. I watched a couple YouTube videos too.
There is a registration bracket that may keep you from removing the tailgate by pulling it sideways (toward the passenger side). It's my understanding that the bracket is only on trucks with the tailgate step. I don't know why it's there or why Ford felt it necessary only on trucks with the tailgate step, but it should be there. With the tailgate closed, look between the bottom edge of the tailgate and the bumper/step pad about 8 inches from the right (passenger) end of the tailgate. Two bolts hold the bracket to the rear end of the bed. My truck is white, but the bracket is black, so it's easy to see. You can also see it with the tailgate lowered once you know where to look. The bottom of the tailgate has a notch that mates with this bracket. To remove the tailgate, lift the passenger side out of its hinge and then keep that end lifted enough to clear that registration bracket. Then you can pull the tailgate towards the passenger side to pull the driver's side pin out of its hinge. Two people will definitely make this much easier.
As I remember, you should do this with the tailgate nearly closed so that the torsion spring's tension is lessened.
I didn't fully remove my step tailgate when I installed the tailgate assist, but I had things broken down enough to know this is how it's set up.
Just put the dampner on the 18, when it comes out of the passenger side you have to keep it pretty high and just about even, if its on any angle it wont come out dont forget the wiring for the camera if you have one.
There is a registration bracket that may keep you from removing the tailgate by pulling it sideways (toward the passenger side). It's my understanding that the bracket is only on trucks with the tailgate step. I don't know why it's there or why Ford felt it necessary only on trucks with the tailgate step, but it should be there. With the tailgate closed, look between the bottom edge of the tailgate and the bumper/step pad about 8 inches from the right (passenger) end of the tailgate. Two bolts hold the bracket to the rear end of the bed. My truck is white, but the bracket is black, so it's easy to see. You can also see it with the tailgate lowered once you know where to look. The bottom of the tailgate has a notch that mates with this bracket. To remove the tailgate, lift the passenger side out of its hinge and then keep that end lifted enough to clear that registration bracket. Then you can pull the tailgate towards the passenger side to pull the driver's side pin out of its hinge. Two people will definitely make this much easier.
As I remember, you should do this with the tailgate nearly closed so that the torsion spring's tension is lessened.
I didn't fully remove my step tailgate when I installed the tailgate assist, but I had things broken down enough to know this is how it's set up.
that registration bracket also prevents the use of a LED tail light strip. what does the bracket do exactly?
I have to correct my earlier statement -- I remembered the configuration incorrectly. Although in the attached photo the bracket is partially obscured by a towel I was using for padding, you can see half of the bracket (it's black) under the towel. The bracket attached to the bed has a notch, and the registration bracket is attached to the bottom edge of the tailgate. In the photo, the tailgate is out of the passenger side hinge and the two brackets are unmeshed.
The only purpose I can see for the brackets is to limit side-to-side play, but I'm only speculating.
View from above, tailgate open, passenger side, 2016 XLT.
How to remove tailgate with tailgate step?
