So today I was washing the truck and noticed this on the tailgate hinge. Recently purchased this truck two weeks ago. It's a 2015 leftover.

Is this the way the hinges are assembled? If not, I'm going back to the dealer and say WTF? LOL

 

This is the passenger side. The driver side is solid.

 

Nope, that looks like a full-on "custom" modification. Looks like maybe the previous owner was having trouble with the gate popping out of the hinge for some reason and decided to throw a hose clamp around it??

 

Definitely not stock. It looks like someone added the clamp to keep the tailgate from coming off when opening it. I've had my tailgate jump out of the hinge while I was opening it and almost dropped it. Was the truck new or used?

 

It looks ok the notch in that side is so you can remove the tailgate. the clamp is installed to detour theft of the tailgate. remove the clamp I bet it works fine.

 

No previous owner. New from the dealer. It's funny. Just a week before I bought her, I ran into a lineman doing contract work in the area. He said the 2nd day he was in Miami he had his tailgate stolen off his truck. I guess I'll leave it. It's a worthy mod. I'll put a nutdriver in the toolbox to remove if I need.

 

A lot of members on the forum add the clamp to deter theft.

 

A lot of people do that to combat tailgate theft. At over $1000 to replace and paint, they are a hot commodity in places. Pop the cables and the tailgate is gone in two seconds. If they have to get tools to un-do a hose clamp, it typically stays put.

 

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/tailg...utting-365304/

 

Ive heard of many getting stolen even when they are locked. If it was sitting on a lot in a large city I can see dealer using the clamps.