Tailgate Making Noise Even With Reinforcement

[guyparker]

My tailgate starting making a "creaking" noise about a month ago. I installed a Hammerbuilt tailgate reinforcement bracket about a year ago. I'm running 37" Nitto tires, so they are heavier than stock. I've had the Nittos for over 2 years and no issues or sounds. During deer season I run it pretty hard on rough rocky roads in the back country. Last week I was able to get access to the interior hinge bolts and snugged them all up. That eliminated the "creaking" almost 100%. I got down to the deer lease yesterday and hit the back country and the "creaking" came back. Yes, I've checked all of the exterior bolts. All tight.

Question: Should I pull the interior hinge bolts and put LockTite on them? Hoping someone has dealt with this and has a permanent solution for this.

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[Brian_B]

My tailgate won't stop making various noises. I get one fixed, three more pop up to take it's place.

I've gone as far as to pull the entire thing off looking for the various rattles, squeaks and creeks.

I have the TOR carrier, and I have literally pulled every bolt out, re-loctited and torqued every single bolt in the entire thing.

Some have been in entirely different areas, but just sound like they are coming from the tailgate. Others have been the tailgate, just random weird spots. And all the usual tailgate ones that are pretty well documented.

My favorite so far was a broken welded nut for the engine skid plate... that somehow sounded like the rattle was coming from the tailgate.

An honorable mention to the wiring harness for the windshield camera behind that plastic shroud, which - yup... sounded like it was coming from the tailgate.

Had my passenger side taillight assembly rattling for a bit, one of the clips didn't get in all the way.

New spare tire bump stops helped with some. Adjusting the tailgate latch bump stop helped with some.

Silicon/lube around the weatherstripping helps with squeaking, particularly with the soft top. The "add another piece of weatherstripping along the top" helped with the hard top a good bit.

TSB trim panel clips on the rear cargo trim pieces helped with some (although now they are a pain in the butt to get back out and love to break the trim panel). Loctite/torqueing the sub enclosure and doing that entire back end with Kilamat helped with some.

Just found one last week on the rear bumper where the tailgate strut was rubbing against the plastic and squeaking. I think one of my current ones is the strut where it connects to the tailgate is just a bit loose on the ball joint and rattles a bit - have a new strut on order since I've blown mine out and will see if that helps.

My weekend project is to re-do my gear loadout with some new bags I got for christmas, so plan to do some more investigating while I have stuff off.

So - as to what it could be -- throw a dart and you'll hit something. The tailgate is a never-ending pit of noise, or at least seems like it. I can't seem to fix them faster than new causes pop up.

 

[guyparker]

Wow, mine doesn't seem so bad now. Little rattles I expect, but big ones, not so much. I'm going to pull the interior hinge bolts and LockTite them next week. I'm also going to contact HammerBuilt.

 

[TLO]

I second the silicone weather strip back there...
Tony movements in the gate and window/body can make some awful noises

 

[JRW]

I use a small amount of Super lube on the gaskets of the window and door to stop my creaking.

 

[Gluestick]

I had the same issue with the HB tailgate reinforcement bracket and extra weight. I decided to get the RTR and haven’t had a problem since. That or the DV8 or Turn Offroad - all replacing the hinges and changing where the weight is carried can help.

 

[guyparker]

I had the same issue with the HB tailgate reinforcement bracket and extra weight. I decided to get the RTR and haven’t had a problem since. That or the DV8 or Turn Offroad - all replacing the hinges and changing where the weight is carried can help.

i was afraid of that, but it makes a lot of sense. I liked the HB because I could mount my WeBoost antenna on it. I’ll look at the others. Thanks!

 

[Gluestick]

There’s a Molle panel you can attach to the RTR, as well as a hi-lift jack mount. And a jerry can “holster.”

 

[Turn Offroad]

i was afraid of that, but it makes a lot of sense. I liked the HB because I could mount my WeBoost antenna on it. I’ll look at the others. Thanks!

We sell an antenna mount for ours. Let us know if you have any questions!

 

[guyparker]

We sell an antenna mount for ours. Let us know if you have any questions!

I saw that, but I need to understand the difference in your tailgate reinforcement product versus the others on the market. What is the engineering difference?

 

[IwannaGOfast]

My tailgate won't stop making various noises. I get one fixed, three more pop up to take it's place.

I've gone as far as to pull the entire thing off looking for the various rattles, squeaks and creeks.

I have the TOR carrier, and I have literally pulled every bolt out, re-loctited and torqued every single bolt in the entire thing.

Some have been in entirely different areas, but just sound like they are coming from the tailgate. Others have been the tailgate, just random weird spots. And all the usual tailgate ones that are pretty well documented.

My favorite so far was a broken welded nut for the engine skid plate... that somehow sounded like the rattle was coming from the tailgate.

An honorable mention to the wiring harness for the windshield camera behind that plastic shroud, which - yup... sounded like it was coming from the tailgate.

Had my passenger side taillight assembly rattling for a bit, one of the clips didn't get in all the way.

New spare tire bump stops helped with some. Adjusting the tailgate latch bump stop helped with some.

Silicon/lube around the weatherstripping helps with squeaking, particularly with the soft top. The "add another piece of weatherstripping along the top" helped with the hard top a good bit.

TSB trim panel clips on the rear cargo trim pieces helped with some (although now they are a pain in the butt to get back out and love to break the trim panel). Loctite/torqueing the sub enclosure and doing that entire back end with Kilamat helped with some.

Just found one last week on the rear bumper where the tailgate strut was rubbing against the plastic and squeaking. I think one of my current ones is the strut where it connects to the tailgate is just a bit loose on the ball joint and rattles a bit - have a new strut on order since I've blown mine out and will see if that helps.

My weekend project is to re-do my gear loadout with some new bags I got for christmas, so plan to do some more investigating while I have stuff off.

So - as to what it could be -- throw a dart and you'll hit something. The tailgate is a never-ending pit of noise, or at least seems like it. I can't seem to fix them faster than new causes pop up.

You should probably invest in a better stereo.

 

[Turn Offroad]

I saw that, but I need to understand the difference in your tailgate reinforcement product versus the others on the market. What is the engineering difference?

We use 1/2" steel for the hinge replacements, a fully boxed design for superior stength, brass hinges sleeved with a stainless steel pivot that contacts the bolt so that there is no rubber to flex or degradation of the brass over time. Full line of accessories. Not a single failure in the field and we are the only ones I know of willing to do what is shown in the video below.

 

[guyparker]

We use 1/2" steel for the hinge replacements, a fully boxed design for superior stength, brass hinges sleeved with a stainless steel pivot that contacts the bolt so that there is no rubber to flex or degradation of the brass over time. Full line of accessories. Not a single failure in the field and we are the only ones I know of willing to do what is shown in the video below.

Thanks, I've been off grid and was going to watch the video on your site once I got home (about 30 minutes ago). So your solution "replaces" the factory hinges? It would help if there was an exploded parts photo.

 

[Turn Offroad]

Thanks, I've been off grid and was going to watch the video on your site once I got home (about 30 minutes ago). So your solution "replaces" the factory hinges? It would help if there was an exploded parts photo.

Yes we completely replace the factory hinges.

You can really see the product parts well in the install video here -

 

[guyparker]

Yes we completely replace the factory hinges.

You can really see the product parts well in the install video here -

Thanks, that helps a ton. Mine will be a little more complicated since I have the WeBoost antenna wiring to deal with and molle panels on both sides of the cargo area. No biggie, I can't stand the loud creaking that the hinges are making now after this weekend. I know it won't fix itself.

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