Bushmechanic
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2025
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 77
- Location
- South East United States
- Vehicle(s)
- 2025 Ranger Raptor, 1996 XJS, 2001 Discovery, 2008 Dakota
- Thread starter
- #1
I believe I've used the correct forum, here. Let me know if I haven't.
I'm going to triple-explain this, because clearly I failed at the dealership
:
To put it as simply as I possibly can, the passenger side tailgate cable is under tension when the tailgate is open, but the driver side cable is not. It'll wiggle loosely about half an inch with the tailgate down. This leads the tailgate to twist when under load.
I don't care about the strut on the passenger side. That's not the issue.
To reiterate: The passenger side cable itself is under tension, meaning either the strut isn't in play, or it's the same length as the cable. In neither event is the strut relevant.
That being the case, either the driver side cable is too long, or the passenger side cable is too short.
The dealership techs seem to think the strut is the issue, which is what they've written down even after checking another Ranger, but I've given up on that conversation before it starts.
I'm going to politely speak with the service manager but, if that doesn't work out within three sentences I'll have to order one to prove my point. I'm not sure if the red/orange cables are Raptor-specific, but I'll take black or silver or whatever if that's all that's on the market.
Mind you, I'm not annoyed with the dealership at this time, I'm only relaying events.
Now, purely for good measure, because I don't see why else I should ask, does anyone else have this issue? Did Ford deliberately design the tailgate to twist, or is one cable simply longer than another on mine?
So, there's the longest tailgate cable post you'll probably ever see.
I'm going to triple-explain this, because clearly I failed at the dealership
To put it as simply as I possibly can, the passenger side tailgate cable is under tension when the tailgate is open, but the driver side cable is not. It'll wiggle loosely about half an inch with the tailgate down. This leads the tailgate to twist when under load.
I don't care about the strut on the passenger side. That's not the issue.
To reiterate: The passenger side cable itself is under tension, meaning either the strut isn't in play, or it's the same length as the cable. In neither event is the strut relevant.
That being the case, either the driver side cable is too long, or the passenger side cable is too short.
The dealership techs seem to think the strut is the issue, which is what they've written down even after checking another Ranger, but I've given up on that conversation before it starts.
I'm going to politely speak with the service manager but, if that doesn't work out within three sentences I'll have to order one to prove my point. I'm not sure if the red/orange cables are Raptor-specific, but I'll take black or silver or whatever if that's all that's on the market.
Mind you, I'm not annoyed with the dealership at this time, I'm only relaying events.
Now, purely for good measure, because I don't see why else I should ask, does anyone else have this issue? Did Ford deliberately design the tailgate to twist, or is one cable simply longer than another on mine?

So, there's the longest tailgate cable post you'll probably ever see.
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