RATTLING TAILGATE TABLE NUMBER TWO

[Ride Em Bronco]

When I purchased my new 2024 Big Bend that someone had ordered but later changed his mind, it came with a Dealer Installed Tailgate table. I really did not need or want it but rather than have it taken off and leaving holes I just kept it on. But I did experience occasional rattling when going over a rough area in the road, etc. I told my Service Advisor about that so we examined it carefully. The top piece and sides appeared to be somewhat bent - and when we pressed on them there would be a little movement - which we thought could be the reason for the rattling. So the Service Advisor suggested that I take photos to provide her so that she could talk to the Regional Ford Rep and then contact the Manufacturer about a Warranty Claim. She did and the Claim was approved for a new Tailgate Table - which the Dealer received and then installed. The new table looked perfect when installed by the Service Dept - no movement on the top or edges - and the only movement was in the middle grid area which appeared to be normal. Then I drove it home - and much to my surprise there was almost a constant very loud rattling -whether driving on main roads going over a small road patch, over a manhole cover, a dip in the road, even worse when on a secondary road, and just shifting gears would create a rattle. So I took the Shop Foreman on a ride and he agreed that there is a rattling problem and he would contact the Manufacturer about it. But he did say that if the Manufacturer did not have a satisfactory solution then Service could remove it and plug the holes. I don't yet know what the Manufacturer will suggest, but this is not making sense to me. These Tailgate tables are a common accessory and some on here have reported that they have no or very little rattling with theirs. And it makes no sense why the initial one rattled just slightly and the new one rattled so much that it has become a distraction just driving.

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[PWillette]

I installed mine and no rattle issues. Did they install the rubber bumper isolators?

 

[Bigred86]

Do you use or plan on using the table? If not you should just take it off and plug the holes. Maybe try finding some rubber bumper Isolators to help with the noise as the previous person said. I'm sure you can find a solution quicker then your local Ford garage trying to deal with an aftermarket supplier!

 

[Ride Em Bronco]

Thank you for the suggestions of checking for the rubber bumper isolators. I checked all four corners and they are all there and all secure. I made another trip to Service and the Service foreman thinks that the reason for the rattling is due to the sliding of the Table from side to side - and maybe the small two white plastic circular spacers on the bottom should be wider to prevent that. In any event, Service is waiting to hear back from the Manufacturer.

 

[Ride Em Bronco]

Well Service was wrong about the cause and source of the rattling Tailgate Table. It was not due to any sideways movement from the bottom of the Table as they believed. I told them that I thought that the the Table was secure everywhere except for the right side - which had a lot of movement. So I just stuck a couple of pieces of the Scotch Super Hold tape on the upper right corner of the Table and the rattling is now gone. It will be interesting to see how Service and the Manufacturer responds to this. Maybe they will send me a big container of Scotch tape. Again, this is the second Tailgate Gate Table that the Dealer has installed on my Bronco because of the severe amount of rattling.

 

[wjtinfwb]

When I purchased my new 2024 Big Bend that someone had ordered but later changed his mind, it came with a Dealer Installed Tailgate table. I really did not need or want it but rather than have it taken off and leaving holes I just kept it on. But I did experience occasional rattling when going over a rough area in the road, etc. I told my Service Advisor about that so we examined it carefully. The top piece and sides appeared to be somewhat bent - and when we pressed on them there would be a little movement - which we thought could be the reason for the rattling. So the Service Advisor suggested that I take photos to provide her so that she could talk to the Regional Ford Rep and then contact the Manufacturer about a Warranty Claim. She did and the Claim was approved for a new Tailgate Table - which the Dealer received and then installed. The new table looked perfect when installed by the Service Dept - no movement on the top or edges - and the only movement was in the middle grid area which appeared to be normal. Then I drove it home - and much to my surprise there was almost a constant very loud rattling -whether driving on main roads going over a small road patch, over a manhole cover, a dip in the road, even worse when on a secondary road, and just shifting gears would create a rattle. So I took the Shop Foreman on a ride and he agreed that there is a rattling problem and he would contact the Manufacturer about it. But he did say that if the Manufacturer did not have a satisfactory solution then Service could remove it and plug the holes. I don't yet know what the Manufacturer will suggest, but this is not making sense to me. These Tailgate tables are a common accessory and some on here have reported that they have no or very little rattling with theirs. And it makes no sense why the initial one rattled just slightly and the new one rattled so much that it has become a distraction just driving.

I installed the Ford Tailgate table on my Big Bend Sas myself. It's not a great piece, a bit flimsy and cheap feeling. But, it's the Ford supplied fasteners that are real garbage. After stripping out the heads on the Torx screws I went to Lowe's and bought all stainless steel hardware with a large Philips head and additional rubber washers to insulate the table from the tailgate and the screwhead from the table frame. No rattles in two years and 16k miles. Frankly, I almost didn't install it at all when I saw I had to drill 4 holes in the tailgate of my brand new car but drank a beer and did so anyway. I never use the table but now I have holes in my tailgate so I just leave it there. If it ever starts rattling its going in the trash and I'll plug the holes with rubber grommets.

 

[swamp2]

My nice RSE tailgate table developed a significant rattle after 1 or 2 off road trips. I carefully tapped and shook it to find the source of the rattle and found that the were not enough bumpers installed on the new table. Adding 4 more (different) bumpers got it silent. Some design/engineering/testing shortcoming here for sure.

 

[Ride Em Bronco]

My nice RSE tailgate table developed a significant rattle after 1 or 2 off road trips. I carefully tapped and shook it to find the source of the rattle and found that the were not enough bumpers installed on the new table. Adding 4 more (different) bumpers got it silent. Some design/engineering/testing shortcoming here for sure.

Looks like there are 4 factory bumpers behind my table - one on each corner. Where did you add the 4 additional ones (on top of or behind the four factory ones or someplace else behind the table) and are the additional ones similar to the factory ones? And where were you able to buy the bumpers? Thanks for the input.

 

[swamp2]

Looks like there are 4 factory bumpers behind my table - one on each corner. Where did you add the 4 additional ones (on top of or behind the four factory ones or someplace else behind the table) and are the additional ones similar to the factory ones? And where were you able to buy the bumpers? Thanks for the input.

The bumpers in my unit were small, black and shaped like cylinders. The ones I added were very different and are just from Home Depot. if home Depot doesn't have the size and thickness that you need, check out McMaster-Carr.

That thread here.

All that said, since I'm pretty sure we have completely different tables, the spots and bumpers that worked for me may very well not for you.

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