Slide out tailgate 2026

[udhoop]

I just ordered my 2026 OB with SAS pkg. I went back and forth between this and a Heritage. One of the add-ons available for the Heritage that I wanted was the slide out tailgate. Unfortunately I could not order it on the OB SAS pkg because of the SAS pkg according to Ford. But the Heritage includes the SAS pkg so this makes zero sense to me. Now everything I've read says I likely could add it aftermarket but it costs like $1300 after the fact when it only would have cost me $600 with the build. Why does Ford so this?

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[CitrusBronco]

Some things you can’t make sense from.
It was included with my Everglades along with the roof rack, both are options that you can’t pair on every order for unknown reasons.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

My ‘25 HE 2.7 came with both the pull-out tailgate and the roof rack, as ordered by the dealer. Others have mentioned some total weight factor and federal regs that Ford is considering. Number of skid plates, engine choice, lux package equipment and various things are going to be a factor in their weight equation, apparently.

 

[AlienHunter]

I just ordered my 2026 OB with SAS pkg. I went back and forth between this and a Heritage. One of the add-ons available for the Heritage that I wanted was the slide out tailgate. Unfortunately I could not order it on the OB SAS pkg because of the SAS pkg according to Ford. But the Heritage includes the SAS pkg so this makes zero sense to me. Now everything I've read says I likely could add it aftermarket but it costs like $1300 after the fact when it only would have cost me $600 with the build. Why does Ford so this?

Doesn’t make sense to me either. I Googled for the reason and the answer was sort of like it was a weight and balance issue. I ordered an OBX with the Sasquatch and couldn’t include the slide out tailgate. One thing to mention here I opted for the 2.3 motor. The difference in weight between the engine choice should have mitigated this issue. This assumption is only logic.
I purchased a “mall crawler” not an overlander, mud bogger, or rock climber. I don’t have engineers working for me keeping the lawyers and lawsuits off my back if there were unforeseen issues once it went into the buyers ownership. But, when one comes available I will install one.
Otherwise, maybe Ford sees this as a way to claw back some more profits, economically.

 

[Ninjak]

I never understood this as well. I was able to buy it on sale by using my points and the sale Ford was having. I had put it in the Badlands. Now that I have the BRaptor, I transferred to it: no issues, and no problem with fitment.

 

[CalvinT]

Others have mentioned some total weight factor and federal regs that Ford is considering. Number of skid plates, engine choice, lux package equipment and various things are going to be a factor in their weight equation, apparently.

This. Mostly the skid plates.

 

[ejpaul1]

I got a 2025 badlands with lux, leather, 2.7 etc. and it DIDNT have the slide out tailgate. They Included the door backs, top bags but not the tailgate. As I got it for 59K and it stickered for like 67K I thought Id bite the bullet and get the slide out from the local dealer. they gave me a 15% discount so it wasnt as painful but still painful, like 1280 bucks. Is it worth it? well, it doesn't feel like a 1400 dollar part, it feels more like a 600 dollar part to me but I did pay for it. I really like it but it leaves you feeling a bit taken advantage of.

 

[udhoop]

I just ordered my 2026 OB with SAS pkg. I went back and forth between this and a Heritage. One of the add-ons available for the Heritage that I wanted was the slide out tailgate. Unfortunately I could not order it on the OB SAS pkg because of the SAS pkg according to Ford. But the Heritage includes the SAS pkg so this makes zero sense to me. Now everything I've read says I likely could add it aftermarket but it costs like $1300 after the fact when it only would have cost me $600 with the build. Why does Ford so this?

Yeah I'm not buying the weight issue. Technically the Heritage weighs more but it can still be added to it. An OB with SAS should have no problems with weight.

 

[CalvinT]

Yeah I'm not buying the weight issue. Technically the Heritage weighs more but it can still be added to it. An OB with SAS should have no problems with weight.

Ask your dealer for the full payload specifications for each model. He should be able to give you front and rear axle loading maximums.

Most salesmen are pretty clueless about how to find the information, but it's available to them.

I have the numbers for 2022 and 2023 but can't find them for 2026.

 

[CitrusBronco]

This. Mostly the skid plates.

That seems to make sense but when you factor in that it was part of the Everglades package. Everglades has the full steel skids, SAS, steel bumpers, winch, roof rack, trailer hitch. Basically everything you can add on was part of this package so the weights class just does not stand up. You could not option any other model with all this.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

That seems to make sense but when you factor in that it was part of the Everglades package. Everglades has the full steel skids, SAS, steel bumpers, winch, roof rack, trailer hitch. Basically everything you can add on was part of this package so the weights class just does not stand up. You could not option any other model with all this.

Only available with the 2.3 though. How much lighter is that? Maybe CG factors in too? No idea.

I didn’t realize they came with a factory winch. That’s awesome.

 

[CalvinT]

That seems to make sense but when you factor in that it was part of the Everglades package. Everglades has the full steel skids, SAS, steel bumpers, winch, roof rack, trailer hitch. Basically everything you can add on was part of this package so the weights class just does not stand up. You could not option any other model with all this.

The Everglades was based on the Black Diamond. The Black Diamond also had skid plates. Was the Black Diamond SAS available with the slide out tailgate? The standard Black Diamond was.

The 2023 Black Diamond came with steel bumpers. Capable bumper was standard. I know because I was originally going to get a Black Diamond.

At the time I thought the Badlands was Basically a Black Diamond with the AWD package, bigger tires, Bilstein shocks. sway bar disconnect and more deluxe options.

The 2023 Black Diamond weighed 114 pounds less than the 2023 Badlands.
The 2023 Black Diamond 2.3L, automatic weighed 4842 pounds.
The 2023 Badlands 2.3L, automatic weighed 4957 pounds.

So there's something different assuming they came with the same skid plates.

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