is tailgate reinforcement an immediate must have?

[Squirrel13]

2024 Wildtrak SAS - I will be running the factory wheels and tires until they wear out. This could take me 3 years or more. This is my daily and I have no plans to to go past 35's. I am wondering if I need to do the Turn Offroad tailgate reinforcement now or can I wait? I don't wheel that often, no rotopax or anything else.

Thanks in advance

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[contented]

Short answer is no for your situation. If memory serves me, owner’s manual says allowable added weight on the tailgate can be up to 132 lbs or so. Your spare tire and wheel are 87 lbs or so. Even if you stay with 35” tires that are heavier than stock like I did, your still good to go.

I bought the Rough Country one, used it a while because I carried rotopax occasionally. Took it off because it didn’t allow side to side adjustment of the tailgate for gaps. Tailgate reinforcement is just one of a $1,000 worth of stuff I thought I just had to have that is either stored in the attic or on my Bronco and never used.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mlarv]

I have a 23 2 door badlands SAS package. I have it off-road a few times in the 12K miles I have on it. The spare tire is just fine. The only thing I will say is check the lugs holding the spare on once in awhile. I have no plans on any extra reinforcement until?

 

[Ninjak]

If you are picking up the SAS Wildtrack, I would say you are ok for now with the OEM setup. I went to a tailgate reinforment because I run 37's. I was running a rear tire delete, then I decided to put the tire back on.

On the market, there are quite a few good options, you just need to pick what works for you. If your goal is to wear the OEM out and then upgrade, that is just a future mod for down the road.

 

[Squirrel13]

Appreciate the response. I think that $ can be better utilized for immediate necessities things like transmission skid, communications, interior storage. I'll back burner the tailgate for now.

 

[Brian_B]

Definitely not needed for stock setups unless you want to carry lots of stuff back there

 

[superdude12]

Not needed. I have gone fast over bumpy dirt roads and never noticed any issues.

 

[GPPBronco]

Appreciate the response. I think that $ can be better utilized for immediate necessities things like transmission skid, communications, interior storage. I'll back burner the tailgate for now.

I have the base steelies with 33” Falken MTs. I think the weight of that wheel/tire combo is similar to the stock Sasquatch setup, around 80 lbs. No issues with flex or strange noises without a tailgate reinforcement. I’ve driven off road at ORV parks, at decent speeds on dunes, down washboard roads, up mountain pass service roads…still as solid as the first day.

Of all the upgrades I’ve made, skids get used the most. Not the flashiest investment but critical when needed. And you’re right about the transmission skid. Mine took a HIT a couple weeks ago on a break over test at the ORV park. The plastic transmission pan would’ve been a total loss in that scenario.

 

[Robb]

2021 Base squatch with 9000 miles, at about 3000 mine got the the rattle/tick from inside the tailgate somewhere (tons of posts on here about the tick/rattle). its an extra vehicle (first ever Ford I bought) and the ticking/rattling was driving me insane the times I did drive it. Dealer eventually ended replacing the entire tailgate and I had THE RCI support put on. Been perfect ever since, so hopefully you have one of the non ticking/rattling tailgates since it’s much newer.

just my 0.02

 

[NaMinesClarence]

I put on an IAG tailgate brace. It eliminated all the rattles and creaks I had with a Sasquatch wheel and 35" Yokohama G018. I thought it looked pretty trick too.

 

[mjp2]

Appreciate the response. I think that $ can be better utilized for immediate necessities things like transmission skid, communications, interior storage. I'll back burner the tailgate for now.

That's the right approach. Being on this forum a few years after others have dealt with the growing pains of a new model has saved me a ton of money.

The @Turn Offroad tailgate reinforcement is on my list as well but that'll be after the stock 33s wear out on my Badlands. I'm going with the relatively heavy 35" Falken A/T4W's when the time comes.

Best peace-of-mind mod for me was the surprisingly cheap/light/strong @Mabett aluminum transmission skid. Fits perfectly over the sway bar disconnect unit.

Interior storage was high on the list for me as well, as my previous ride was an Expedition EL. The @Mountains2Metal tilting attic shelf is worth every penny. It freed up ALL the space in the rear. Seriously, if it's not currently on your to-buy list then you need to add it. I got the big speaker version to future-proof against myself, which turned out to be the smart move because Black Friday happened.

I'm also running @BROADDICT 's rear window molle panels, tailgate table, and dash mount system and they're all excellent. You mentioned communication, and their dash mount system worked great with my GMRS handheld radio. There are also options for running more powerful radios with separate power unit and microphones.

If you're considering on-board air I also recommend @JcrOffroad 's under-hood ARB mount. I'm running it with a dual compressor. High quality, well designed piece that ties solely into the body rather than the body and frame, which are designed to move independently.

These are just from my personal experiences but I've been really happy with the products and support from the vendors I tagged above.

There are some amazing vendors that have come up with truly clever solutions to the issues you'll find with your Bronco. You're going to love the process of making it uniquely yours.

 

[NaMinesClarence]

That's the right approach. Being on this forum a few years after others have dealt with the growing pains of a new model has saved me a ton of money.

The @Turn Offroad tailgate reinforcement is on my list as well but that'll be after the stock 33s wear out on my Badlands. I'm going with the relatively heavy 35" Falken A/T4W's when the time comes.

Hope you don't get too much snow where you live.

 

[Tricky Mike]

One additional perk of a brace beyond oversized tires is some insurance against impact. I've landed hard on my spare dropping down into a hole and the brace has saved the tailgate. If you don't plan on wheeling that hard that may not be a big consideration for you.

 

[mjp2]

Hope you don't get too much snow where you live.

Used to but not anymore.

FWIW I dislike snow wheeling. Lack of traction gets expensive fast.

 

[NaMinesClarence]

Used to but not anymore.

FWIW I dislike snow wheeling. Lack of traction gets expensive fast.

Its the day to day driving and stopping from 30mph that would scare me the most.

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