Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts

[Kmautah]

Weather has been crap lately, so I haven’t been able to install mine. I did check the box and it looks like the exoskeleton is ok. I will try to install next weekend. Already have a gloss black Bronco, so I’m trying to decided if I want to use that one or the one that came with the kit. I guess once removed, it would be a lot of work to get it back on.

I used regular Torx 45, worked fine.

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[bebrown1075]

So everyone used Torx plus 40 bits? Last I checked the fit Torx 45 bits so my thinking would have been to get tp45 to fit the bolts on the hinges

Tp45 on the hinges themselves. Tp40 for the bolts that hold the exoskeleton. You will want to chase the threads on those holes with an m8x1.25 tap. Most likely at least 2 of the holes will be boogered up.

 

[Built2Wild]

I received the kit on Tuesday and have not installed it yet but I did open the box to check the exoskeleton plate for cracks. I have not opened the boxes with the hinges but what purpose does the exoskeleton serve? It seems that the reinforcement comes from the new hinges and the exoskeleton is for accessories or for appearances.

 

[Kmautah]

I installed mine over the weekend, used a chair + jack with a board to stabilize the tailgate while I changed the hinges one by one. Also utilized the spare tire for good measure as another stabilizer. it worked well, I had to make just one adjustment to get it to close properly. I also had to run an M8 x 1.25 tap on two of the threads, as others have noted.

Really happy with the results, gives me some peace of mind with a 37” spare (first time I’d taken that spare off…it’s dang heavy). I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

 

[Dantastic]

I installed mine over the weekend, used a chair + jack with a board to stabilize the tailgate while I changed the hinges one by one. Also utilized the spare tire for good measure as another stabilizer. it worked well, I had to make just one adjustment to get it to close properly. I also had to run an M8 x 1.25 tap on two of the threads, as others have noted.

Really happy with the results, gives me some peace of mind with a 37” spare (first time I’d taken that spare off…it’s dang heavy). I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

This may not help you now but I remember when I removed mine originally to replace with a Bronze horse, it came mostly off using a hair dryer to heat it/soften it and then a fishing line to remove it. Cleaned the remainder off with goo gone.

 

[DaveInSA]

As part of this little adventure, I had to use a regular Torx 40 bit to remove a bolt that previous owner had already screwed up.
While doing so, my dewalt 3/8 drive T40 bit snapped in half.
I contacted dewalt because it had a lifetime warranty.

Short version of their response: Yes it is warrantied, but it's been discontinued, so we can't do anything for you.

Long version: I sent the part number and pictures, the lady kept asking questions about what size it is, what's the part number, is it a shallow or deep well......... Evidently they make no T40 torx bits any more or something. Whatever. I just threw it away and bought a different brand. But now I know dewalt's lifetime warranty is pretty useless it seems.

 

[DaveInSA]

I do have a headless horse residue that I still need to remove, any tips on that??

I clean sticker residue off poly-finished guitars often, and to do so I use Zippo lighter fluid. Which is really just naphtha. I'd test on a inconspicuous location first just to be sure, but I'd expect it to be fine on a car clear coat when it's fine on poly finished guitars.

 

[WildOne23]

I received the kit on Tuesday and have not installed it yet but I did open the box to check the exoskeleton plate for cracks. I have not opened the boxes with the hinges but what purpose does the exoskeleton serve? It seems that the reinforcement comes from the new hinges and the exoskeleton is for accessories or for appearances.

The exoskeleton is intended to transfer the weight of the spare tire / spare tire carrier (or a good portion of it) directly to the hinges, bypassing the sheet metal of the tailgate itself. Coupled with the heavy duty hinges, you have a much stronger installation.

Many have commented on how thin the metal portion of the exoskeleton is, and having just picked mine up today, I agree. That said, it's intended withstand a torsional or rotational stress with the midpoint of the hinges being the "axis" of rotation, so I don't think it needs to be that thick. Definitely better than just the tailgate sheet metal.

 

[Built2Wild]

The exoskeleton is intended to transfer the weight of the spare tire / spare tire carrier (or a good portion of it) directly to the hinges, bypassing the sheet metal of the tailgate itself. Coupled with the heavy duty hinges, you have a much stronger installation.

Many have commented on how thin the metal portion of the exoskeleton is, and having just picked mine up today, I agree. That said, it's intended withstand a torsional or rotational stress with the midpoint of the hinges being the "axis" of rotation, so I don't think it needs to be that thick. Definitely better than just the tailgate sheet metal.

Thank you for the insight, I now understand the importance of its use.

 

[Dipsy30]

I was hesitant as the hinges weren’t color matched but the final products looks great

 

[WildOne23]

I noticed that on the exoskeleton, the middle "hole" of the hinge mounts are noted as accessory ready, and have incons for flags, cameras, or lights. Does anyone know of accessories that fit, such as a flag mount attached to the upper and lower locations?

 

[SWTstarjo]

I was hesitant as the hinges weren’t color matched but the final products looks great

Did you reuse your stock horse?

 

[Dipsy30]

Did you reuse your stock horse?

No, I figured it would get trashed with the removal and I ended up breaking off the tail removing it. I purchased a new one prior as I wanted to stay with silver instead of the black

 

[Built2Wild]

No, I figured it would get trashed with the removal and I ended up breaking off the tail removing it. I purchased a new one prior as I wanted to stay with silver instead of the black

Did you purchase Bronco emblem from the dealer? I want to keep mine as well since the Bronco is Shadow Black.

 

[Dipsy30]

Did you purchase Bronco emblem from the dealer? I want to keep mine as well since the Bronco is Shadow Black.

Picked this up on eBay- https://www.ebay.com/itm/356587725113

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