What for, how’s it work.

[Area51BS]

Tailgate support bracket. Seems they just bolt to existing mounts and hinge locations. What exactly is it helping? Can’t be helping the hinges. Keep tailgate from bending down? Don’t have one. Just wondering.

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[azbittel]

Braces the hinges together to increase rigidity and balance load evenly between them. I agree with your hint of skepticism though. I think it is a bit of a half measure and if there is actually a worry of failure due to stress from heavier wheel or other wheel-carrier-mounted equipment, there are two much better solutions... Replace the hinges with beefier ones, or mount the tire/other equipment to the bumper on a swing arm. Both solutions are already available aftermarket, though at a much heftier price than the brace.

 

[CptSamFalcon]

I bought the Hammerbuild solution for the bracing but also so that I could attach rotopax to it.

They certainly work. The Raptor broncos even look like they come with one from the factory plus we have many many examples of this type of thing running on Wranglers for years and stopping the tailgate creasing/bending.

 

[Tech Tim]

The aluminum tailgate has quite a bit of flex to it, the brace stiffens it all up.

 

[Felix808]

I think it is a bit of a half measure and if there is actually a worry of failure due to stress from heavier wheel or other wheel-carrier-mounted equipment, there are two much better solutions... Replace the hinges with beefier ones, or mount the tire/other equipment to the bumper on a swing arm. Both solutions are already available aftermarket, though at a much heftier price than the brace.

Yep.
I went for the bumper replacement to put the weight on the frame for longevity. It also let me mount a fuel can carrier for when I need it.

 

[Area51BS]

Thanks all. Will add when I replace OEM tires down the road

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