Tailgate Cables of Uneven Length on a 2025 Ranger Raptor

[Boosted6G]

I just think Ford has a tolerance problem, and that mine is at the extreme end of that spectrum.

A tailgate is meant to be supported by both cables simultaneously, not just one.

As someone who spent their career doing 2D, 3D, statistical tolerance analysis, and GD&T of parts/assemblies, this is hard to do, especially on a tailgate assembly that has pretty gross part tolerances and assembly tolerances AND manufacturing tolerances. To get the cable to have the exact same slack and/or tautness on every truck would be nigh impossible. It could be done if the cable assembly had an adjustment mechanism and they did custom adjustments on every truck produced, which adds cost, etc.

Sponsored

 

[purdyd]

As someone who spent their career doing 2D, 3D, statistical tolerance analysis, and GD&T of parts/assemblies, this is hard to do, especially on a tailgate assembly that has pretty gross part tolerances and assembly tolerances AND manufacturing tolerances. To get the cable to have the exact same slack and/or tautness on every truck would be nigh impossible. It could be done if the cable assembly had an adjustment mechanism and they did custom adjustments on every truck produced, which adds cost, etc.

I guess in my case I think it is close enough. With any load both cables are taught.

if you sit in the tailgate and both aren’t taught, I’d think you would have grounds to get new ones.

on my Ranger it is the driver side that is slack.

i wonder if as mentioned, the torsion spring has something to do with that?

it would be an interesting experiment to swap sides with the cables.

i suppose ford could have added a turnbuckle or put an eccentric spacer in the bolts that could rotate to adjust

likely with the right tooling, ford could snug up the tolerances of the cables

i dont think they will ever be perfectly even without adjustment because as you mention there is too much variation in tolerance between the cables, tailgate, and truck bed.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I don't think I've ever owned a truck where one of the cables wasn't a little loose. Especially gas/spring assisted as the full weight isn't there to pull them both tight.

 

[LeeHo]

Don't have length problem. Switched cables and still same problem. Cable folds out as it rolls over the cylinder.

 

[BriSco]

It is the tailgate that is twisted or adjusted to fit the bed lines. My cables are exactly the same length. It is a non-issue.

 

[bigb]

I just noticed this on my new 2025, only it's a lot more slack than I saw mentioned by anyone here. I can get a full 2 inches of lateral movement out of the driver's side cable measured in the center. I can sit on the tailgate and the cable remains loose, it's not doing anything.

Sponsored